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And it is Christmas Eve!!
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.
Servings: 12 Cups
Calories Per Serving: 212 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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.
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 post was originally published on December 24, 2013
I’m very confused… Your ingredients say 1 1/2 sticks of butter but your instructions say 2 1/2 so I’m honestly not sure which to use since people are complaining about too much butter?
Hi Taylor, so sorry for the confusion. It is 1 1/2 sticks butter. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
I literally just made this chex mix recipe to bring to my family’s Christmas this weekend. And I must say, it is so good! I followed directions exactly, and I did not see how it was too much butter as some bakers are commenting. I really like the wheat chex and added an extra cup of that, and a few more pretzels, and I almost wish I hadn’t because all of the ingredients just soaked up the liquid. Very good and addicting! Thank you, for a recipe that is like what my grandmother used to make. Merry Christmas! ** The only way I may see if it was too much butter for some, is if they were using 2 and a half, or 3 sticks, of butter, or not enough chex mix pieces. This part in the directions was confusing to me at first instead of reading it as “two 1/2 sticks”, I read it as 2 & a 1/2 sticks — ” (I normally do the full 2 1/2 sticks) “.**
I’m so glad you commented because I haven’t been able to figure out the butter thing for a good hour hahaha… But now that I understand how she meant the butter amount it still doesn’t add up… Did you use two 1/2 sticks like she states in the instructions part or 1 1/2 sticks like she listed in the ingredients section? Thanks for your help I’m making this tonight
HI! I use anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 sticks butter. SO sorry for the confusion.
Hi, SO sorry I didn’t get your reply comment sooner, I never got a notification 🙁
I am making this recipe again tonight, and as I come back to the web page I see your comment.
I used two half sticks of butter (1 cup total) previously, and will again tonight.
Hope you made it and it turns out amazing!
I love homemade Chex mix and definitely want to try this version! Do you put the Chex mix on a sheet pan into the oven or use a Dutch oven like pictured?
Disregard my question! I just read previous comments and found my answer. Sorry for being “that person”…haha
I put the chex mix on a sheet pan. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
Thank you for sharing your mom’s recipe. Mom’s are super special.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy this recipe Laura!
That is the exact recipe my mom used. She added 4 tablespoons of Tabasco.
Gives it just enough kick in the background.
Thanks for the memories.
Russ Boyer
That is so great! Thank you Russ!
My Brother Died Nov 17th I the only one left in my family ! I miss Christmas at my Parents Home with my Family so much ? So meny things my mother made ( from scratch ) for us ! Thanks for your Mother’s recipes !
I am so sorry for your loss Bruce. I hope you have a good holiday season with your family and enjoy this recipe?
My grandma always made her famous Chex mix around the holidays and this is pretty close to it! It’s bascially the same recipe on the side of the Chex cereal box, but more of the “extra” good stuff as she always said. The people who are complaining about too much butter are the people that don’t treat themselves once and a while. Of course it’s bad for you but there is a reason this is only made around Thanksgiving and Christmas! If it’s too soggy for you then just leave it in the oven for a while longer. Super super delicious and I thank you for this recipe!
I am so glad you love this recipe Lindsey! It is a great treat! Thank you!
Perfect seasonings. Thank you for sharing your moms recipe- I love the taste.
I am so glad you like this! Thank you Susan!
Thx easy.
I can memorize this one
Thank you!
I’m confused as to how much butter.
2 cups or 2 sticks?
It is 2 sticks. recipe is fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thank you! 🙂
In looking for a good chex recipe. After a few failed attempts, I’m trying this! You had me at “adding more butter & seasonings” 😉 I do have a question tho, do you bake it in your Dutch oven?
I don’t normally bake it in my dutch oven, but just used it to mix everything up. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Hope you love this recipe! 🙂
Made this last night and oh.my.goodness! It’s so good. I bookmarked it & no longer need to try for the perfect check. I followed the directions just as you stated and I have no idea why some say it turned out soggy. Mine actually burnt a teeny bit but that’s how we like it. Thank you so much!!!!!
I am so glad this turned out amazing for you Amy! Thank you!
I read through most of the comments and am excited to try a batch of this as my family has been on a Chex mix kick lately. However, I do have a question regarding the salt/sodium. I have a major salt sensitivity and wonder how salty this turns out with this mix of season salt and worchesshire sauce. Do you have an idea on how to adjust the seasonings without it coming out bland? I like cooking and trying new recipes but I admit I’m timid about experimenting (I’ve had some MAJOR fails over the years) if not given explicit instructions to follow. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks for posting this recipe!
Hey Lisa! I would reduce the amount of seasoned salt to 1 or 1 1/2 teaspoons. You can always add more salt if you feel it is needed. Hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions. Enjoy!
I have two small children with autism it is very hard to find things they like! We don’t buy chips, but since they are still on the WIC program we get so much cereal we don’t know what to do with! They like store bought Chex mix and so tonight at midnight I’ve prepped 3 batches of your moms recipe and hope to have some snack bags for diaper bag and car ready to go! Thanks!
WOW! SO awesome they like it! Thats the perfect snack. Thanks for making it Sasha (:
Thanks for saying how much butter 1 stick is. I have been in England 30 years and cannot remember what a stick of butter is in real terms!
I have been making a version (lateral thinking from something my mom sent that is Not the real stuff she used to make) from what I get here and always up the butter because it doesn’t seem enough. So, thank you for confirmation.
No Chex except wheat, unless you go to a posh store somewhere. So, I use the store brand wheat Shreddies or whatever they chose to call them. Very good because they are thick. and I put in honey nut loops (store brand honey Cheerios) because I usually can’t find pretzels. The kind I grew up with had pretzels, not bagels. So, anyway…up the nuts and with those two cereals still pretty good.
Just came on here to remind myself how much the original called for in things as I can’t find the recipe mom sent that was new-fangled.
Hi, I tried this recipe but there was waaay too much butter. The cereal wouldn’t crisp properly and everything was very oily. If you make this recipe I suggest you halve the butter called for.
Hi Courtney! So sorry this did not turn out too great for you. I hope you make this again, with half the butter and love it. Thanks!