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And it is Christmas Eve!!
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.
Servings: 12 Cups
Calories Per Serving: 212 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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.
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)!
This recipe is the BEST! I’ve made Chex Mix before, following the original recipe and well, it just seemed lacking. This had the perfect combo of spices, worcestershire and butter. This recipe makes a ton….but that was okay cause we were gifting it to several people.
Wow thank you so so much Jackie! xT
I want to make this, but live in Ireland and don’t have seasoned salt. What is a good substitute?
Here are the ingredients for Seasoned Salt
▢ 2 tablespoon salt
▢ 1 teaspoon pepper fine grind
▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder
▢ ½ teaspoon sugar
Hi! You can make your own seasoned salt at home with just a few spices, seasoned salt is usually a mixture of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and sometimes a tiny bit of sugar! Hope this helps 🙂 cT
I have tried throughout the years with various Chex mix recipes and this by far is THE VERY BEST! I’ve gotten more compliments on this and I’m having to make another batch. Thank you again your mom’s recipe is amazing and really sets the mood for Christmas
Hi! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Hope you have an amazing Christmas! xT
Wonderful recipe! (I have always used the original back-in-the-day chex mix recipe, this is better). Thank you!
Thank you so so much Gina! xT
Hands down the best version of this recipe I’ve ever made! The extra spices and butter really make a huge improvement on the original recipe. I couldn’t find garlic bagel chips and didn’t want to use plain so I substituted 2 cups of Cheez-Its and it turned out great. So happy to make this a new family tradition! Thanks for sharing your mom’s recipe! 🙂
I made a batch of Gluten Free/Vegan. Omg. Delicious. TY
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
I have been making this recipe for years now and all my friends and coworkers can’t wait until Christmas because they know they will get this. Last time I made it on our smoker and it was even better. I’m gluten free/dairy free so I had to change it a bit.
Thank you so so much Kellie! xT
Do you bake it on a cookie sheet spread out so they don’t touch or can I use a big Le Creuset Dutch Oven (they are piled together in a big pot)?
Hi Jess! I usually make it on a cookie sheet! xT
This is so good. Sometimes we substitute bacon grease for half of the butter. Both are so addicting!
Thank you so much Teresa! xT
How long can you store this and it will stay fresh?
Usually about a weekish! xT
I followed to a tee and did not have much flavor. Did I miss something? Is it supposed to be a bit bland?
Hey Nik! So sorry to hear that! It should definitely be flavorful and savory! xT
This recipe has become a family favorite now for several years. My kids request I make it when I visit them but most certainly Thanksgiving & Christmas. Getting ready to start my Thanksgiving batch now. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family🍂🦃🍁
Awe, love to hear this, Sally!! Thanks for making so often and your message! xx
We love the ChexMix..Yum.. I have been making this for many years..I put it in ZippLock freezer bags and freeze it, If their is any left over..
Thanks so much Callita! Love to hear this! xT
This is my go to Chex Mix recipe. I love it. I cannot make it often as I eat way too much of it. I usually put mine in our smoker and it is even better!
Hi Bobbie,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, love to hear that it was tasty! xT
I just made this for Father’s Day weekend as Chex Mix is my husband’s favorite snack. Mine came out crispy and so delicious. I divided it between 2 baking sheets and made sure to pop it in the oven right away, to make sure the sauce didn’t make the dry ingredients soggy. It turned out just as I had hoped! We might make this a Father’s Day only recipe to make it special 😊 or maybe Father’s Day AND Christmas Eve haha
Hey Christine,
Happy Friday!! I’m thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for making it and your comment!😎🍑 xx
There was way too much butter the Chex became chewy.
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you felt there was too much butter! xx
It was for my husband’s birthday and he ended up loving the texture so it all worked out in the end! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Simply the best. It’s an annual tradition in our house.
Love to hear this Christine!! It’s a family fave over here as well! Happy Thanksgiving! xT