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Best Easy Quick Sweet & Salty Fall Chex Mix Recipe

Quick Sweet & Salty Fall Chex Mix - featured image
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This quick and easy fall snack mix combines crunchy Chex cereal, pretzels, peanuts, and candy corn with a sweet and salty caramel coating. Perfect for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, or cozy nights in, it’s a nostalgic treat that comes together in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
  • 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • 2 cups pretzel twists, broken in half if large
  • 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
  • 1 cup candy corn
  • 1/2 cup pepitas or pumpkin seeds (optional)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1/4 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine Rice Chex, Corn Chex, broken pretzels, peanuts, and candy corn. If using pepitas, add them too. Gently stir to combine.
  3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup, whisking continuously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Let cool for 30 seconds, then stir again.
  5. Pour the warm butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Gently fold with a spatula until every piece is lightly coated, about 20 folds.
  6. Transfer the coated mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt evenly over the top.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through (after about 22 minutes). Rotate the pan when stirring.
  8. Cool completely on the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. The mix will continue to crisp up as it cools.
  9. Once cooled, break into clusters and serve. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pretzels and check cereal labels. For a dairy-free option, substitute coconut oil for butter. The mix can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks or frozen for up to three months. If the mix becomes soft after a few days, re-crisp in a 250°F oven for 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall chex mix, sweet and salty snack, Halloween snack mix, Thanksgiving appetizer, easy snack mix, chex mix recipe, fall party mix

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