Halloween Chex Mix
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This easy Halloween Chex mix recipe takes crispy chex cereal, salty pretzels, and crunchy bugles, coats them in caramelized brown sugar, and tosses them with chocolatey M&Ms and peanut-buttery Reese’s Pieces for the ultimate Halloween snack mix.
Don’t miss these other Halloween treats we love: Halloween cake mix cookies, Halloween bark, and mummy treats.
The crunchy, salty, and sweet treat is the perfect snack for Halloween parties. It is easy to make, always a crowd-pleaser, and has festive pops of color for Halloween. For a snack mix to enjoy throughout the Fall season give this brown sugar cinnamon chex mix a try.
Make this homemade chex mix recipe this Halloween and I am sure it will become a family favorite with your family as it has in our house!
Ingredients
This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
For this easy recipe you will need:
- Chex cereal— the crispy cereal forms the base of the easy Halloween snack mix.
- Pretzels— I used mini pretzel twists but pretzel sticks would work as well.
- Bugles— the crunchy, funnel-shaped corn snacks make a tasty addition to the festive snack mix.
- Butter— either salted or unsalted will work for this recipe.
- Light Brown Sugar—combines with the butter to make the sweet caramel sauce.
- Vanilla extract— adds a touch of sweet vanilla flavor
- M&M candies— Grab a bag of the Halloween “ghoul mix” for fun and festive Halloween colors. Or use regular M&Ms for an easy chex mix recipe any time of year. Peanut M&M candies work well too!
- Reese’s Pieces— incorporates peanut butter flavor into the mix and adds a pop of fall colors.
Additions and Variations
Cereal: Try a combination of rice chex and corn Chex. Or a combination of Chex and Crispix.
Nuts: Pecans, almonds, walnuts, or peanuts would make a great addition to the sweet and salty Halloween chex mix.
Candy: Mix in some of your favorite Halloween candies. Candy corn, candy eyes, and candy pumpkins would all make fun add-ins.
& more: mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, caramel corn, or kettle corn would also be great in this yummy mix!
How to make Halloween Chex Mix
This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix Chex cereal, pretzels, and Bugles on the prepared baking sheet. Spread into an even layer and set aside.
Step 3: In a medium saucepan, combine butter and light brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring often, over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute or until smooth and combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Step 4: Carefully pour the brown sugar butter mixture over the cereal mixture on the lined baking sheet. Use a spatula to turn / toss to coat everything in the sauce.
Step 5: Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Step 6: Remove from the oven and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Use a spatula to turn the mixture once or twice again while it cools to help break up any large clumps.
Step 7: To a large mixing bowl, add the cooled Chex mixture, M&Ms, and Reese’s pieces. Toss to combine.
Storage
Store your delicious chex mix in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure that the party mix has cooled fully before adding the M&Ms and peanut butter candies. Otherwise, they will melt!
- If you are making ahead, wait until just before serving to add the candies to the Halloween mix.
Happy Halloween and Happy snacking!
More Halloween Party Treats
- Frankenstein rice krispie treats
- Pumpkin cookie dough pops
- Monster eyeball donuts
- Witch hat cupcakes
- See all my favorite Halloween treat ideas here! 60+ recipes!
Halloween Chex Mix
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups Rice Chex
- 2 cups pretzels
- 2 cups Bugles
- 1 cup Halloween M&Ms
- ½ cup Reese’s Pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Chex cereal, pretzels, and Bugles on the prepared baking sheet. Spread into an even layer and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring often, over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute or until smooth and combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Carefully pour the sauce over the Chex mixture on the lined baking sheet. Using a spatula, toss to coat.
- Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Use a spatula to turn the mixture once or twice again while it cools to help break up any large clumps.
- To a large bowl, add the cooled Chex mixture, M&Ms, and Reese’s pieces. Toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container until serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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I love these recipes
Can one put this in freezer until used?
While I am sure that you technically could freeze it for a couple of week, I haven’t tried it myself so I am not sure how it would taste once thawed. I worry that it may not have the same crisp and crunchiness.
I would love to have emails of recipes and crafts for Halloween sent to me please and thank you.
While I do not have an e-mail list specific to Halloween you can sign up for my general e-mail list using the form on my homepage: https://crayonsandcravings.com/
I followed recipe exactly. Used (dark) brown sugar. Came to boil. Used time to continue boiling for time directed. It was liquid and poured over cereal mix, but it was grainy. The mix was yummy, but very messy and not as pictured. Loose grains/crumbly sugar all over. Not sure what I’m missing here. Should I have boiled longer than 1 minute? Was my sugar not dissolved enough?
Glad it still tasted yummy but the loose sugar in the mix doesn’t sound right. Next time try with light brown sugar and boil and stir until well combined, even if it takes a bit longer than 1 minute.
Made this yesterday. Any tips/tricks so the cereal mixture doesn’t stick together when it cools?
Next time try using a spatula to turn / break up the mix after it comes out of the oven and then again after it cools for 5 or 10 minutes. That should help!
We made this for a “Halloween themed” camping trip last weekend! It was AMAZING. I seriously couldn’t stop eating it. Everyone agreed. We plan to make it again for the holidays using Christmas m&ms.
I mixed all dry ingredients together in my giant Tupperware bowl then poured the hot caramel mixture over and mixed with a spoonula. I added ghoul mix m&m’s and candy eyeballs. It is delicious & my friend named it Monster Mix. Thanks for the great recipe!
The recipe I made was similar, but also used candy corn, harvest mix, and pumpkins. (Any combo would work). Also, it called for 2 baking sheets lined w/parchment. Yummy! Something for everyone!
Mine burned in the oven. I cooked for less time and on a lower temp then 350. I picked what I could that was burned. What did I do wrong.
Did you bake it at 300 F and turn/stir the mix halfway through?
I made this today and as of right now it’s cooling. I don’t think it’s going to turn out right. My butter brown sugar was thinner than in the picture. I do not know what I did wrong followed the instructions completely. I am upset that I have wasted time and money on a receipt that will go in the trash !
How did your snack mix end up turning out?
Very good, I added nuts and cheese it’s, I also used homemade brown sugar, mixed the Chex pretzels cheese it’s and bugles in a bowl when adding the sauce. Very tasty!