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Sweet Chex Mix coated in buttery cinnamon sugar is the dangerously addictive snack that disappears the second you set the bowl down. I made a giant batch one chilly November weekend for movie night and Maddie and Lizzie kept sneaking handfuls before it even finished cooling. It is the sweet cousin of our Easy Bugles Ranch Snack Mix.
Three kinds of Chex, two kinds of pretzels, and crunchy pecans get tossed in a cinnamon sugar butter coating, baked until crisp, then dusted with even more cinnamon sugar.
Sweet Chex Mix Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 50 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour
- 🍽️ Serving: 16 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 459kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, and crunchy with warm cinnamon sugar
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our Muddy Buddy Chex Mix
Quick Answer
Toss rice, corn, and wheat Chex with pretzels and pecans in a big bowl. Melt butter with brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon, pour it over the mix, and stir to coat. Bake at 275 degrees F for 45 minutes, tossing every 15 minutes, then toss the warm mix with a cinnamon sugar topping and let it cool until crisp.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Low and slow baking crisps it. Baking at a low 275 degrees for 45 minutes dries out the coating so every piece turns crunchy instead of soggy.
- Tossing every 15 minutes is key. Stirring the mix as it bakes coats every piece evenly and keeps it from burning on the bottom.
- Two sugars build flavor. Brown sugar adds deep caramel notes while granulated sugar gives that crisp, candy-like crunch.
- A second cinnamon sugar dusting. Tossing the warm mix with extra cinnamon sugar at the end makes it taste like a churro in snack form.
- Three Chex plus pretzels and pecans. The mix of cereals, salty pretzels, and buttery pecans gives every handful a different crunch.
- It is a perfect make-ahead. It keeps for weeks in an airtight container, so it is ideal for gifting and holiday snacking.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The ultimate sweet snack mix for parties, movie nights, and holiday gifting.
- It is buttery, crunchy, and impossible to stop eating, just like our Muddy Buddy Sweet Chex Mix.
- It comes together in one bowl and one sheet tray with simple pantry ingredients.
Key Ingredients
This Sweet Chex Mix uses a simple mix of cereals and pantry staples, with a buttery cinnamon sugar coating that makes it irresistible.
- Chex Cereal: A mix of rice, corn, and wheat Chex gives the best variety of texture and crunch.
- Pretzels: Mini pretzels and butter snap pretzels add a salty contrast to all the sweetness.
- Pecans: Buttery pecan halves toast up in the oven for rich, nutty crunch.
- Butter and Sugars: Melted butter with brown and granulated sugar creates the candy-like coating.
- Cinnamon: Warm cinnamon in both the coating and the topping makes it taste like a churro.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This Sweet Chex Mix is easy to customize for any taste or occasion.
- Add chocolate: Toss in M&Ms or chocolate chips once the mix is fully cooled.
- Swap the nuts: Use almonds, cashews, or walnuts in place of the pecans.
- Make it spiced: Add a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice for a fall flavor.
- Go gluten-free: Use gluten-free Chex and gluten-free pretzels.
- Drizzle with white chocolate: A white chocolate drizzle once cooled makes it extra festive.
How to Make Sweet Chex Mix
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F and line a large sheet tray with parchment. In a large bowl, combine the rice, corn, and wheat Chex, both pretzels, and the pecans.
- In a small pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter, then whisk in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon and cook until smooth.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the Chex mix and stir well until everything is evenly coated.
- Spread the coated mix onto the prepared sheet tray and bake for 45 minutes, tossing every 15 minutes.
- Let the mix cool for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon for the topping.
- Add the slightly cooled mix back to the large bowl, toss with the cinnamon sugar topping, and let cool completely until crisp.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Keep the oven low. A low 275 degrees lets the coating dry and crisp without burning the sugar.
- Toss every 15 minutes. Stirring keeps the coating even and prevents sticking and scorching.
- Use parchment paper. It keeps the sugary mix from cementing itself to the sheet tray.
- Add the topping while warm. The warm mix helps the extra cinnamon sugar cling to every piece.
- Cool completely before storing. The mix crisps up as it cools, so let it finish before sealing it up.
- Store airtight. Kept sealed at room temperature, it stays crunchy for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Sweet Chex Mix is the ultimate party and movie-night snack. Set out a big bowl next to salty options like our Bugles Ranch Snack Mix so guests get both sweet and savory.
It makes a fantastic edible gift for the holidays. Bag it up with treats like our Caramel Pecan Logs and Peanut Butter Cookies for a homemade goodie box.
Serve it on a dessert table or snack board with sweet bites like our Candied Grapes. It is the kind of snack everyone keeps coming back to.
Sweet Chex Mix FAQs
Bake it low and slow at 275 degrees F, tossing every 15 minutes, then let it cool completely before storing. The mix crisps as it cools, and an airtight container keeps it crunchy for up to 2 weeks.
Soggy mix usually means it was not baked long enough or was sealed before fully cooling. Make sure to bake the full 45 minutes and let it cool completely, since the coating sets up and crisps as it cools.
Yes, it is a great make-ahead snack. It keeps for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, which makes it perfect for parties and holiday gifting.
A combination of rice, corn, and wheat Chex gives the best variety of texture. If you only have one kind, rice Chex works well on its own since it stays especially crisp.
Absolutely. Wait until the mix is fully cooled, then toss in M&Ms, chocolate chips, or a white chocolate drizzle so the chocolate does not melt from the residual heat.
Once completely cooled, package it in airtight bags, jars, or tins. It stays fresh and crunchy for up to 2 weeks, making it an easy, crowd-pleasing homemade gift.
Craving more snacks? Try our Bugles Ranch Snack Mix next.
Love a sweet and salty snack? This puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is an easy no-bake Chex treat that disappears fast.
For another quick party snack, try our caramel-filled rolo pretzels.
Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Chex Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice Chex
- 2 cups corn Chex
- 2 cups wheat Chex
- 1 & 1/2 cups mini pretzels
- 1 & 1/2 cups butter snap pretzels
- 1 & 1/2 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
For the topping:
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°F. Line a large sheet tray with parchment paper, and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, add the rice Chex, corn Chex, wheat Chex, mini pretzels, butter snap pretzels, and pecans, and set aside.4 cups rice Chex, 2 cups corn Chex, 2 cups wheat Chex, 1 & 1/2 cups mini pretzels, 1 & 1/2 cups butter snap pretzels, 1 & 1/2 cups pecan halves
- In a small sauce pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon, and whisk to combine. Continue to cook until the sugars are dissolved, about 4-5 minutes.1 cup salted butter, 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- Pour the sugar mixture over the Chex mix ingredients in the bowl. Mix well until everything is evenly coated.
- Place the coated Chex mix onto the prepared sheet tray. Bake for 45 minutes, tossing the mixture around every 15 minutes.
- Allow the Chex mix to cool on the tray for 15 minutes. While the mixture is cooling, make the topping by stirring together the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl, set aside.1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Add the slightly cooled Chex mix back to the large bowl. Add the topping mixture and toss to combine.
- It is ready to eat warm, or let it cool completely and store for later use.
Notes
- When baking, make sure to toss the mixture every 15 minutes for even cooking.
- Use parchment paper on your cookie sheets to avoid sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Before adding the topping, let the Chex mix cool a little bit to ensure the best texture.
- Always store at room temperature in an airtight container to maintain its crunch.
- You can serve it on charcuterie boards for a sweet addition.
- Looking for a salty counterpart? Try making a salty chex mix recipe for a delightful salty-sweet duo!
Nutrition
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