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Christmas Eve at our house has always had a very specific smell: buttery, garlicky Chex Mix toasting away in the oven while everyone hangs around the kitchen.
My mom’s version is all about adding more of the pieces everyone reaches for first—pretzels, bagel chips, and nuts—then coating everything really well in butter and savory seasoning. It’s crunchy, salty, extra toasty, and one of those simple traditions that instantly feels like Christmas.
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Personally, I am just a tad sad.
My very favorite time of year if almost over and it seems like Thanksgiving was just yesterday. I think the month of December needs to be like a whole sixty days and not just thirty-one. Really, the Christmas holiday deserves a whole two months of celebration in my opinion.
So this is the last of my mom’s recipes.
She only has a handful of recipes, and I’ve already shared three. Maybe next year I will share possibly one of my very favorite things she makes. We only have it once a year and it is amazing. And yes, it is totally all about chocolate and a little booze too. What? Yep, booze in Christmas desserts are a must.
Right now though we are talkin’ Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix. In our family, this too, is only made on Christmas Eve. You walk in the house, take a deep breath and you know right away it’s Christmas Eve at the Gerard’s. It’s one of the best smells ever.
I have to say, it was really weird making this before Christmas. It felt totally wrong and I will probably never do it again. Chex mix is a Christmas Eve only thing around here, and you better bet I will be making another double batch today.
Just gotta have that smell and something to munch on all night.
So, Mom’s recipe is really not a secret, it is just smart.
Basically, she added more of the good stuff. You know, the stuff everybody always picks for. The pretzels, bagel chips and nuts. And then the most important thing she upped? The butter and seasonings. Yup, she is pretty smart.
Gotta have lots of butter on Christmas. Well, really just lots of everything good on Christmas!
Also, Mom has always baked her chex mix in the oven.
Seriously, do not try to make this in the microwave. Eww, that is just not good. Go for the oven.
Nothing is better than chex mix baking in the oven, the Christmas music + movies going and people just about everywhere! Mom and I in the kitchen, the brothers hanging around eating, the brother’s friend joining them and the cousins telling stories and just plain making thing so much better!
Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix.
Ingredients
- 3 cups corn chex
- 3 cups rice chex
- 2 cups whole wheat chex
- 2 cups mixed nuts
- 2 cups bite-size pretzels
- 2 cups garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular bagel chips
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.2. In large bowl, mix the chex cereals, mixed nuts, pretzels and bagel chips. Set aside.3. Melt the butter in a bowl and mix in the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder and a good pinch of pepper. Pour the butter over the cereal mixture, tossing well for 3-5 minutes or until the cereal mixture is evenly coated.4. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes (or just start eating!!). Store in airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Merry Christmas Eve!! It is my favorite night of the year!! 🙂
Oh, and I almost forgot to announce the winner of the KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway. First, can I just say I was BLOWN AWAY by the incredible comments you guys left. WOW! Pretty much every comment was not about a gift for you, it was about making your family happy, healthy and together for the holidays. I read every single comment and really, you guys that is what Christmas is about. Family, happiness and being together. I am simply in awe of all of you! Ok and the winner is Kortnie Madison-King! Congrats!! Shoot me an email as soon as possible (like by Thursday night)!
Hi! I love homemade Chex mix but I think I may have done something wrong with this recipe. I made it last night and it wasn’t crispy, the cereal was still a little soggy. Any ideas on what to do here? Bake it longer? I used a circular cast iron pot to make it in the oven. Any tips are appreciated! Thanks
It might be too much butter for the amount of cereal. Maybe add another half cup of each and it needs to be spread out on a cookie sheet or broiler pan and stir around occasionally while baking
Hey Bonnie,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! So sorry to hear this, I would pop it in the oven a little longer. Happy Holidays!?? xTieghan
Could this be made in the crock pot? My oven is broken and won’t get fixed until after the holidays.
Hey Carrie,
Yes, just follow this recipe:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/easy-crockpot-christmas-eve-chex-mix/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I found this recipe three days ago and I’ve already made it twice! So so good!
Hi Julia,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
Do you normally double this recipe?
Hi there,
It just depends how many people I am feeding:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Making this now!!
I hope you love the recipe Sue!
Thank you so much for sharing your mom’s recipe!! You have given all of us a great gift!
Merry, merry Christmas!
Happy to share Jamie!!
Going to make this Friday night! It makes me sad, though, when people say they only fix a favorite family recipe everyone enjoys, one day a year. I make my moms rum cake or her holiday pies in the summer or whenever I crave it. Thanks for the recipe.
I hope you love the recipe Donna!
How long will this stay good in an air tight container? I want to make this ahead for christmas.
Hey Andrea,
I would say about 5 days. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hi we have made this several times for the holidays and have eaten it well into Jan!
How do you think adding white chocolate chips to this recipe would be? Would it be good for like a salty sweet thing?
Hey Brandi,
Sure, that would work just fine for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
This is so good! Unfortunately I couldn’t find whole wheat cereal, so I added Whisps instead. I also added 3/4 teaspoon of cayenne to give it a little kick. Yum!!!!
Hey Katie,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Homemade chex mix is sooooo much better than store-bought! My mom did the same as yours – double the sauce and baked it in the oven in a big, foil roasting pan. It was my job to stir it every so often so it would get evenly toasty. Yummmm!
Hey Jennifer,
I love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Question… when doubling the sauce do you still use same amount of dry ingredients and bake it for an hour?
Hey Grace,
If you want to double the sauce, I would double the entire recipe. Please let me know if you give it a try, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Wow, this brings back memories of when my Mom made this. The kitchen smelled heavenly and our anticipation as to what was to come when she (my Mom) finished making the mix, we would all dive in. She also put an extra batch of the mix into jars with ribbon to give out at Christmas time as well. Bonus: fun to make with the kids!!
Hey Bill,
Awesome! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! xTieghan
This looks delicious! What kind of seasoned salt do you use?
Thanks Stacey! I just use whatever is at my local grocery store:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hey Stacy, I make this recipe with Lawry’s. It is soooo good!
This is my mom’s go to recipe as well except Bugles instead of bagel chips…..game changer!
Hi Devin! Sounds delicious! 🙂 xTieghan
I can’t wait to make this Chex mix for my family this year!! They are gonna love it
Hi Dana! Thanks so much, I hope you love it! 🙂 xTieghan
Delicious! this is good anytime of the year, I make this for camping trips and road trips! thank you for an awesome recipe!
Hi Tara! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 xTieghan
This is the only Chex Mix recipe I make. It’s so much better than what’s on the cereal box and everyone goes crazy for it. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Berry,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! ☀️xTieghan
So yummy! I’ve made a bunch of times and it’s always a hit! Thanks!
Hey Lisser,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan