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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)!
I often think of cupcakes for Christmas, never try any Chex mix like this. It seems easy to make, maybe I try this weekend.
Thanks for your recipe.
Thank you Marina! xTieghan
Just wondering if you could clarify. Do you bake the mixture right in the cast iron pan? Or are you supposed to spread out on baking sheets?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Monica,
I spread the mixture out on baking sheets. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Best recipe I’ve found for chex mix!
Thank you Angela! xTieghan
Taught my g-daughter this recipe to teach her how to read a recipe and cook it. Came out delicious.
Thanks, Tieghan!
Aw that is so great! I am really happy you both enjoyed this one, Eric! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, this looks so delicious and the recipe which you have shared is so easy to make, I am surely making it this weekend and I am going to let you know how it turned out, How about if we add some M&Ms in it?
Hey Ahmer,
Sure you could certainly do that! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe. We make this all the time for our camping trips and road trips! It is so easy and delicious. I use dots southwestern style pretzels, kicks the flavor up a little bit.
Thank you Tara! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Looks great! The recipe is quite simple and easy to prepare, added to the menu for this weekend. Will try it and prepare for the coming Christmas season. Thanks and have a nice day!
Thank you so much! I hope you love this recipe when you get a chance to try it! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, thank you for sharing your mom’s Christmas chex mix recipe with us. I just made it this morning and I CANNOT stop snacking away at it. Super super yummy. I cannot wait to try the other chex mix recipes you have on your blog in the near future. 🙂
Thank you Nicole! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!! xTieghan
Great guide! I made it according to your recipe and the taste is great! Everyone in the family likes it, it makes me happy. Thank you.
Thank you so much Lisa! I am really glad this turned out so well for you all! xTieghan
I will dedicate it for this year, thank you for sharing this recipe
Thank you so much Donda! xTieghan
Made this for my husband and he loved it. I don’t even like chex mix and I could not stop eating it! Your mother is a genius!!
Haha thank you Donna! I am glad this turned out so well for the both of you! xTieghan
Amazing recipe. Im trully love it.
Haha that is so great! Thank you so much Anna! xTieghan
Love this recipe and make it all the time! I do a half recipe often but keep all seasonings the same (except reducing butter) to make it even more flavorful. Thanks for sharing this recipe, it’s definitely a favorite in our house!
Thank you so much Abby! I am so glad you are loving this recipe! The perfect snack haha! xTieghan
Look yummy! One of my favorite Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix, nice to see your recipe, easy to follow, will cook this for family this weekend. Thanks you!
Thank you so much Thomas! I hope your family loves this! xTieghan
I’ve been using this recipe for chex mix for a few years now and it’s the best one I’ve found! It’s the only one I use. You’ve got the perfect amount of butter and seasoning which really makes it perfect! LOVE IT!!
Wow yes! That is so amazing to hear, Angela! Thank you so much for trying this! I hope you continue to enjoy this and many others! xTieghan