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Modern Vintage: Holiday Chex Mix


Something snapped inside my brain when it came to holiday decorating this year.

I grew up in a household where traditional white lights ruled the roost, where Colonial-style candles lit every window, and no rainbow of colors dare festoon our Christmas tree.

That was how I knew you were supposed to decorate; anything else would be considered tacky, right?

But deep inside my nostalgia-obsessed heart has always beat a desire for humongous old-school bulbs, fluffy white artificial trees, and garishly bright colors glowing throughout the house.

Holiday Chex Mix
Photo: Casey Barber

Thank Target once again for pushing me over the edge. Its $8 miniature white tinsel tree proved irresistibly priced and enough to unleash my retro impulses with a bang.

Strung with a set of neon-pink lights, it liberated me to deck the halls in a style that would fit right at home in Edward Scissorhands’ neighborhood.

Now there are bright orange candles in my windows, a tiny leg lamp (a Minor Award?) on our console, and Chex Mix in my vintage bowls. Come on, what’s more retro than Chex Mix?

Even though savory Chex Mix drenched in buttery Worcestershire sauce has been making the rounds at holiday cocktail parties since bubble lights and tinsel trees were new and innovative, I felt the holidays called for a blend of sweet and salty.

Holiday Chex Mix
Photo: Casey Barber

Replacing the Worcestershire with maple and vanilla, and the garlic and onion powder with the traditional warming spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, seemed appropriately festive for this time of year.

(The plastic lawn flamingos I picked up at the garden center while looking for old-school plastic light-up snowmen might not be seasonally appropriate, but they sure are festive too. Dan wouldn’t let me get a single sheep, though I thought it would be hilariously random.)

I don’t like to mess around with too many add-ons in my Chex Mix: for me, it’s all about how much buttery flavor those cereal bits can soak up.

Holiday Chex Mix
Photo: Casey Barber

(Yes, I am the kind of person who eats cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why do you ask?)

That’s why my holiday version seeks to maximize that sweetly spiced holiday flavor.

Salty pretzels contrast beautifully well with the sweetness of maple and spices, sesame seeds add an extra touch of nutty crunch, and a few handfuls of chocolate and caramel chips let you indulge a bit more, because, hey, it’s the holidays.

My caramel chip of choice is Ghirardelli; it’s got a richness that beats the pants off regular butterscotch chips.

Holiday Chex Mix

If nuts are your jam, go right ahead and add your favorites to the mix: I’m a fan of cashews or coarsely chopped pecans, but my tree nut-allergic husband sticks to the safety of his peanuts.

A full batch of Chex Mix takes 4 ounces (approximately 1 cup) of nuts, so remember to halve that if you’re not going completely nutty.

Serve in your appropriately retro Pyrex appetizer dish, of course, and don’t forget the swinging soundtrack!

Holiday Chex Mix, via goodfoodstories.com

Holiday Chex Mix

Yield: about 12 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Go retro with an easy holiday Chex Mix recipe blending maple, cinnamon, and nutmeg with cereal, nuts, and salty pretzels. A party pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces (about 4 cups) Rice Chex
  • 4 ounces (about 4 cups) Corn Chex
  • 4 ounces mini pretzels or pretzel sticks (cup measurement will vary by style of pretzel)
  • 4 ounces (about 1 cup) nuts of your choice (optional)
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick; 4 ounces) unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup (75 grams; 2 3/4 ounces) maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1/2 cup (85 grams; 3 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup (85 grams; 3 ounces) caramel chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Toss the Rice Chex, Corn Chex, and pretzels together in a large mixing bowl, breaking the pretzels into smaller pieces if desired. 
  3. If adding nuts to the entire batch, do so here. If you're making half the batch nut-free, wait until you've divided the mixture between the baking sheets.
  4. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, then whisk in the maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
  5. Pour the spiced butter over the Chex and pretzel mix and gently stir to coat. 
  6. Sprinkle the granulated sugar and salt over the mixture and stir once more until evenly coated.
  7. Divide the Chex Mix between the baking sheets, spreading in an even layer on each. If you've waited to add nuts to half the batch, do so here. Don't forget to use only 2 ounces (1/2 cup) on a half-batch!
  8. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds, about 1 tablespoon per baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and crispy, stirring the pans every 10-15 minutes to toast the cereal evenly.
  10. Remove the Chex Mix from the oven and cool to room temperature. 
  11. When the Chex Mix is cool, stir in the chocolate and caramel chips.

Notes

Chex Mix will keep for up to 1 week in a sealed container at room temperature. But let's be real, it'll be gone by the end of the week.

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7 Comments

  1. I’m really grateful I got to taste this wonderful chex mix. I love all the toasty cereal bits too. Chex mix is one of my favorite things. I love love love cereal, but since a stomach surgery several years ago, I haven’t been able to eat cereal AND milk at the same time. Chex mix is my workaround to still get to enjoy it.

  2. Orange is the new red, isn’t it?

    Good to know there are others as “over the moon” as I am for this retro fave! I am diabetic and have a hard time with lots of carbs but I’ve learned that adding protein is a good thing for me. I like to add toasted pecans and walnuts to my Chex mix. If adding chocolate chips, toasted filberts would make it sort of “Nutella” like. YUM! Not the way mom made it but that’s OK. Being the grownups now, it’s all about customizing our rituals to make them our own.

  3. My grandma always made chex mix during the holidays. Unfortunately it’s been a long time since I’ve had chex mix and since I’ve been able to spend the holidays with grandma. I think I need to remedy both! Thanks for the inspiration.

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