Sweet & Salty Chex Mix Recipe

Name: Sweet & Salty Chex Mix Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 cups cereal ((see notes)); 1 cup Salted Butter; 1 cup dark brown sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp cloves; 1 tsp cardamom; 1 tsp ginger; 1 tsp cayenne; 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips ((see notes)); 1 cup almonds ((see notes)); edible silver leaf ((optional))

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This sweet & salty Chex mix recipe is the perfect holiday snack, with an active prep and cooking time of just 20 minutes. Crispy cereal is layered with spiced toffee, semi-sweet chocolate, and chopped almonds. A sprinkle of silver leaf gives the snack the perfect festive sparkle.

A sweet and salty Chex mix recipe is plated and ready to be served.

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This festive holiday sweet and spicy Chex mix recipe is a happy fusion of chocolate bark and traditional Chex mix. A unique spice blend featuring traditional holiday spices and a dash of cayenne pepper gives the toffee a bold flavor. If you've never tried the combination of spices and chocolate, you're in for a treat!

A layer of semi-sweet melted chocolate chips topped with chopped almonds is the perfect finish and balances the spiced toffee well. The silver leaf, a symbol of celebratory desserts in Pakistan, is added for a flawless holiday finish.

Some other fun recipes to make over the holidays are mini bundt cakes (holiday spice cakes), almond cake (Pakistani bakery style), and orange glazed zucchini bread with dates.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredient notes
Substitutions & variations
Step-by-step instructions
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQS
Other holiday recipes you may like
Sweet & Salty Chex Mix Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Perfect holiday recipe - Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser, this recipe makes the perfect snack or appetizer while everyone waits for dinner. If you're headed over to spend the holiday with friends and family, this sweet & salty Chex mix recipe is easy to transport.
Great gift idea - This recipe is perfect to batch and distribute as holiday gifts for neighbors, school teachers, and anyone on your list.
Easy to customize - The best part about this Chex mix is its versatility. Change the spices and add different nuts; the sky's the limit!

Ingredient notes

Ingredients for a sweet and salty Chex mix recipe are lying on a white kitchen counter.

Cereal - I use multigrain cinnamon Life cereal for this recipe as I find it crispier than Chex.
Butter - Use a good quality butter with a high-fat content, like Kerrygold, for a rich toffee.
Brown sugar - Always use dark brown sugar when making the toffee for this recipe.
Spice blend - I use cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and cayenne for the spiced coffee. This sweet and salty Chex mix recipe is not spicy but has a little kick that pairs perfectly with the toffee, chocolate, and almonds.
Chocolate chips - I like to use semi-sweet chocolate for this Chex mix. My favorite brand is Ghirardelli, but feel free to use your favorite brand of chocolate chips.
Almonds - Whole, raw, unsalted almonds give this recipe the perfect texture.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

Substitutions & variations

Use a different cereal - Use the traditional Chex mix cereal for this recipe. It comes in 3 assorted varieties: wheat, corn, and rice. Mix them up, or use the one you like best. If you want this recipe to be gluten-free, use rice chex mix.
Try a different chocolate - Feel free to experiment with dark or white chocolate to change things up occasionally.
Experiment with the spices - Change up the spices. If you want to keep things simple, use a store-bought holiday or pumpkin spice mix. If you're not a fan, eliminate the cayenne and swap the cardamom for nutmeg for that authentic holiday feel.
Switch up the toppings - Try nuts like peanuts, pistachios, or hazelnuts instead of the almonds. Add some fruit like dried cranberries, mango, or candied orange peel. Even shredded coconut can be used to add a fun twist of flavor to the Chex mix.

Step-by-step instructions

Cereal is spread on a baking sheet while a toffee mixture is being cooked in a saucepan.

First step - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread the cereal evenly.
Second step - Start making the toffee by melting the butter in a medium saucepan.
Third step - Add the brown sugar once the butter is completely melted and stir to mix.
Fourth step - Mix the prepared spice blend with the sweet and salty mixture.

Toffee is cooked, and drizzled over cereal for a sweet and salty Chex mix recipe.

Fifth step - Bring the mixture to a boil and cook on high heat.
Sixth step - The toffee must boil for at least 3 minutes until a thermometer reads 300 degrees farenheit.
Seventh step - You will know the toffee is ready when you have a sticky and frothy mixture with bubbles.
Eighth step - Pour the toffee over the cereal and bake immediately for 5 minutes to help the toffee set.

Freshly baked cereal and toffee are layered with chocolate chips and chopped almonds.

Ninth step - Remove the baked cereal with toffee after 5 minutes and sprinkle the chocolate chips in an even layer.
Tenth step - Wait about 1 minute for the chocolate to soften. Once the chocolate chips start turning glossy, use a spatula to spread them in an even layer.
Eleventh step - Immediately sprinkle with the chopped nuts so they stick to the chocolate. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1 hour to allow time for everything to set.
Twelfth step - Remove the tray from the freezer and garnish with edible silver leaf. Break the Chex mix into pieces and serve.

Expert Tips

Use the right sugar - Always use dark brown sugar to make the toffee. It has a richer color and flavor as it contains more molasses, which makes it perfect for this recipe.
Cook the toffee properly - Not cooking the toffee long enough results in a chewy texture. Cooking it too long will make it brittle, grainy, and slightly bitter.
Have everything prepped - This is crucial as everything moves fast in this recipe. Waiting too long before baking the toffee will cool it down, and it won't have the right texture. Similarly, the chocolate won't melt if you wait too long to sprinkle it, and the almonds won't stick to the Chex mix if the chocolate cools down.