My Family’s Favorite Snack Is So Good, We Always Quadruple the Recipe

Show up at my family’s house for any holiday or gathering between October and January, and you will be sure to find a massive bowl full of this one recipe.

I’d go as far as to say that this treat is a more important of our holiday dinner spreads than turkey or mashed potatoes. I’d pick it over Halloween candy any October. I genuinely cannot remember a holiday where my mom wasn’t doubling the recipe over and over again to make enough batches to go around.

But unlike many cherished, “secret” family recipes, this dish isn’t a fancy meal or dessert. Actually, it probably counts more as a snack than anything else. Plus, it's not really a secret: It comes from the side of a cereal box. 

However, there is nothing that will make your guests happier than a big bowl of homemade Chex Mix. It is the first stop for most members of my family once they walk into our house. Plus, it's so easy to prepare, you’ll have no trouble making it all season long.

Chex Mix is My Family’s Most Cherished ‘Secret’ Recipe

I’ve never been the biggest fan of store-bought Chex Mix. It's not that pre-made Chex Mix isn't delicious, it's probably because the snack is so much better when my mom makes it homemade. 

This recipe is another one that my mom adopted from my dad’s side of the family. As the hostess for most of my childhood family holidays, my mom had no choice but to add Chex Mix to her recipe book. For over twenty years, she has always made countless batches of Chex Mix to go around, only to turn around and realize it disappeared in minutes.

It might not seem like the fanciest appetizer to enjoy at a holiday party, but it is the best thing to munch on while waiting for dinner to cook. When hosting, my mom never has to worry about anyone getting hungry. Everyone, including kids, loves it, and it is easy to make ahead and pull out whenever someone wants something to nibble on. It makes the house smell delicious, too.

It's impossible to count the amount of batches of Chex Mix my mom will make during a holiday season. The rapid pace at which it disappears is evidence that this snack always gets appreciated. Not only is it a great pre-appetizer, it also is a great recipe to put in tins and give to neighbors and loved ones as a gift. It's great for special occasions, but also is a wonderful after-school snack, as well.

This one simple addition to our holiday parties and feasts makes such a difference but really could not be easier. It might be my family’s most cherished recipe, but it isn't a secret. You could find it in your nearest grocery store at this very minute.

How To Make Homemade Chex Mix

My family’s beloved Chex-Mix recipe doesn’t come from the kitchen of a creative, recipe-savvy grandparent. We don’t keep it in a locked box, for only trusted members of the family to have access to. It's just the Chex-Mix recipe from the side of a box of Chex.

Like the recipe for cookies on the side of a bag of chocolate chips, the best recipe for Chex Mix is already on the side of the box. The only change my mom makes to the recipe when she makes it is that she quadruples it. 

In fact, it would cause a lot of drama in my family if any changes were made to this recipe: no marshmallows, chocolate chips, or dried fruit allowed (even though I think all of those additions sound delicious). We stick to the recipe on the side of the box and keep making it until it seems outrageous to continue running back and forth from the grocery store for more Chex cereal.

If you don’t have a box of Chex in your pantry yet, we have an extremely similar recipe on our site. I promise, it is going to change your life. The warm mix of spices and melted butter poured on top of this crunchy snack keeps you saying “Just one more handful,” until you realize you have an empty bowl in front of you.

After pretzels, cereal, and nuts are baked until golden and crispy, they become even more delectable. So much so, that many guests might say this is their favorite dish you served while visiting your home for the holidays. Not because your other dishes weren’t delicious but because there is just something about Chex Mix that keeps you going back again and again for more.

Get the recipe: Homemade Chex Mix