No October party is complete without a festive Halloween appetizer. Let this Halloween Chex mix recipe be the anchor of the table! It’s salty and sweet, has tons of candy mix-ins, and is scary good. Plus, it makes a large batch so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd at your Halloween party! Add a platter of spooky mummy hotdogs, spider cookies, and a cauldron of Halloween punch, and your ghostly guests won’t think twice about their brimming baskets of candy.
How do you make Halloween Chex mix from scratch?
There are lots of different ways to make a really good snack mix. Some recipes call to make a sweet, candy coating, while others toss the whole mix in white chocolate and coat it with sprinkles. We like the balance of lots of salty ingredients like corn and rice cereal, pretzels, and peanuts, coated with a buttery mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup. Once baked, the mix celebrates the toasty flavors of fall. Toss it with your favorite Halloween candy like Reese’s pieces and candy corn, then add some chocolate chips (because every good snack mix needs chocolate!).
How long does Halloween Chex mix stay fresh?
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, it’ll stay fresh for about a week. But it’ll last longer (several months) stored in the freezer!
Why is my homemade Chex mix soggy?
It could be because your cereal, pretzels, and nuts didn’t have enough room to cook and dry out. Be sure to spread the mixture into a single, even layer on the baking sheet before it goes in the oven so the ingredients aren’t piled on top of one another.
Can I make this for other holidays?
Absolutely! Use this base recipe for any holiday. The candies are what make it feel festive, so play around with them to match your occasion. Use white chocolate chips and pastel-colored chocolate eggs for an easy Easter treat. Or lean into a Christmas theme with red and green candies. Need an appetizer for a baby shower? Use either pink or blue candies, depending on the baby’s gender (or a mix of both if it’s a surprise!) For any occasion, other great mix-ins are miniature peanut butter cups or peanut M&Ms.
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 3 c.rice Chex cereal
- 3 c.corn Chex cereal
- 4 c.mini twist pretzels
- 2 c.roasted, salted cashews
- 1stick salted butter (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 c.brown sugar
- 2 tbsp.maple syrup
- 18- to 10-oz. bag peanut butter candies, such as Reese’s pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 1/2 c.candy corn
- 1 c.chocolate chips
Directions
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- 1Preheat the oven to 275°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Add the cereals, pretzels, and cashews in a single layer.
- 2Place the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave on high to melt, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and whisk well until combined.
- 3Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture and toss gently until evenly coated. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cool completely on the sheet tray, stirring occasionally.
- 4Add the peanut butter candies, candy corn, and chocolate chips. Toss gently on the baking sheet.
- 5Transfer to a serving bowl, or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
