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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)!
This was such a big hit in my office last year, I am making again this year! I make two versions – one with and one without nuts.
I am so glad everyone enjoyed this! Thank you! xTieghan
The is the absolute yummiest Chex mix recipe I’ve ever had. I make it every Christmas. And is so delicious with a variety of additional munchies! It never lets me down. The salt, the flavors, the delicious Rich goodness! Thank you so much to you Teighan and your mom for publishing this recipe! Happy Holidays!
Haha YES! I am so glad you loved this chex mix Wendy!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed this! xTieghan
this recipe is so bum bum cheeks i will maybe make it sometime maybe.
I hope you do! Thank you! xTieghan
Can I replace worcestershire sauce with another one? Also, how should I choose rice, brown rice or white rice?
HI! The sauce is kind of a key flavor here, but if you can’t use it, I recommend either just omitting it or replacing with LOW sodium soy sauce. For the Chex cereal, you should use a combo of rice Chex, corn Chex, and Wheat Chex. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I made this but added too much seasoning salt so it’s too salty how can I remedy this?
Hi Rimmy, the only way to fix is to add more of the dry mix. Just add more if the dry mix (so the cereals, nuts, etc.) until the Chex Mix taste good to you. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
This was really good. Husband ate it all.
Love to hear that! Thank you Mattie! xTieghan
wowww I can’t believe how good this looks. Definitely trying this weekend.
Thank you Myriam! xTieghan
I love to cook and I’m always looking for new recipes for my menu, which makes me always interested in my work. Today’s my lucky day, mom’s secret christmas eve chex mix recipe is great, just follow the instructions and everything is easy, I like it. Thanks for your sharing
Thank you so much! So glad you like to cook, I hope you enjoy all of the recipes you try of mine! xTieghan
Love this recipe! I made it last chrismas for the 1st time! An i plan on making it every Christmas from here on out! I actually got some in the oven now lol! Going to watch some Halloween movies with the fam and snack on the chex mix 🙂
Sounds like a perfect evening to me! Thank you for sharing Brandy! X Kelly
This is great choice for Christmas eve, I make this sometime, but will try your recipe soon. Thanks for sharing the secret..
Thank you so much! xTieghan
it’s not letting me reply to my comment but wanted to clarify – i used 4.5 cups of each chex, not 1.5! Also, unsalted preanuts and salted pretzels ?
I think I can make this and store for dessert, don’t need wait till Christmas. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Haha you shouldn’t! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
It’s quite easy to do with a non-chef like me, haha
Thank you very much
So great! Thank you so much Sanchez! xTieghan
Thanks so much for this! Made it once per the recipe exactly (except substituting something else for the pretzels cuz pretzels suck) but it was too buttery and salty for all of us, and we all love both haha.
Made it again yesterday and cut out 1/3 of the butter (used one stick) and 1/4 of the Worcestershire sauce (used 3 tablespoons) and then also baked it for an extra 15 minutes, which really helped.
Next time I’ll do the same thing, but will use unsalted butter. There’s enough salt from the seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce already.
I am so glad you enjoyed this Lou! I hope it turns out better for you with unsalted butter! xTieghan