Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

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Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe (1)

I’ve had a lot of different Chex mixes in my day. The ever popular Muddy Buddies are dangerously addictive (and bad for you) with their chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar goodness. I’ve also enjoyed a few of the savory mixes with soy sauce or other “exotic” ingredients (not including pretzels which I’m not a fan of). But this recipe from the Chex website was the closest to something I would actually want to make and eat as a guilt free snack. I adapted it slightly to add some flavor, and to make it edible for all my gluten sensitive friends out there.

I have to admit that there was a time in my life that Chex mix made me shudder. I’m not really a germaphobe, I’ve eaten food off he ground, even licked the pavement as the result of a dare. But Chex mix reminded of the bowl of mixed nuts on a bar; you don’t know whose hands have been in it or where their hands have been. Or even worse you do know because you just saw the person scooping up handfuls of nuts not wash those same hands after using the restroom.

But then I realized that at my own party I can easily remedy this issue, simply by providing a serving spoon. Duh…I mean… Hooray! Chex mix is back baby! My husband can’t quite understand my feelings on this because I’m a huge fan of bulk bins, which he sees as having the same problem. But somehow (thankfully) it’s different in my mind.

This Chex mix recipe was passed on to me by a nutritionist I work with. We made it in the holiday special of the Healthy Cooking on a Tight Budget program, and I’ve since had several participants tell me they made their own to give as gifts over Christmas. While it does have some brown sugar and butter, a lot of the sweetness comes from orange juice concentrate, which also gives it a great citrus flavor.

I couldn’t leave the recipe exactly as is so at home began playing with some different spices to give the flavor a little more oomph. I chose to use corn and rice Chex to make a gluten free mix. You can use whatever varieties you like, I just choose do gluten free whenever it’s that easy to do if I’m not sure of the food sensitivities of my guests. This is a crazy cheap party option whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish to a potluck. It only cost me 18 cents a serving!

Do you have a favorite snack mix?

Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe (2)

Yield: about 10 cups

CRANBERRY ORANGE HEALTHY HOLIDAY SNACK MIX

Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe (3)

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup frozen (thawed) orange juice concentrate
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp all spice
  • 1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 9 cups assorted cereal squares (like Chex)
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Place the butter, brown sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg into a large microwaveable bowl. Melt it all together in the microwave about 2 minutes (until melted and easily mixed).
  2. Mix the cereal and almonds into the now melted mixture. Use a large spoon to stir the cereal and almonds until they are evenly coated. Microwave the mix on high for five minutes, stirring halfway through.
  3. Add dried cranberries and stir again to mix them in.
  4. Spread on wax paper to cool, then store in an airtight container.
  5. Serve in a large bowl (with a spoon!), or divide into 1/2 cup servings and pour into small bags for gifts.

Notes

Approximate cost/serving:I got Chex when they were on sale, 3 boxes for $5. It took less than two boxes to get 9 cups. The total cost was about $3.80 and at 1/2 cup per serving that’s just18 cents a serving!!!

Vegetarian/Gluten Free:Yes to both though it’s not vegan due to the butter.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 244Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 167mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 4gSugar: 13gProtein: 5g

Nutrition information is an estimate only.

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Nutritional and cost information is for estimating purposes only, and subject to variations due to region, seasonality, and product availability.

Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to make your own Chex Mix? ›

Homemade Chex Mix Is Cheaper AND More Delicious Than The Store-Bought Stuff. Chex Mix offers variety: the crisp cereal, toasty pretzels, the unique crunch of the bagel chips. This homemade recipe puts the store-bought to shame.

How do you keep Chex Mix from getting soggy? ›

The best tip for avoiding the sogginess is the make sure to stir up the mixture well each 15 minutes as it bakes. This will allow the chex mix to cook evenly and allow all pieces to get baked and crispy. After baking, make sure to store in a airtight container or Ziploc.

How long does homemade Chex Mix keep? ›

Slow cooker: Transfer the mixture to slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 hours, stirring ever 45 minutes. Make Ahead Instructions: Chex mix tastes freshest when served within 2-3 days of making it, but it will last stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

What makes Chex Mix so good? ›

Chex Mix is such a perfect food because it is balanced. Each individual piece retains its own individual texture, shape and flavor, yet together the pieces compliment one another and are coated in the same spice blend. Not all pieces absorb the flavor in the same way — some, like the pretzels, are merely coated in it.

Is Chex Mix healthy or unhealthy? ›

However, in general, Chex Mix tends to be a calorie-dense snack that is relatively high in fat, sodium, and carbohydrates. It's only fattening if you eat enough of it that you go over your daily calories burned.

Is Chex Mix healthy or not? ›

Who doesn't love traditional Chex Mix? It's salty, crunchy, and everyone has a favorite item– the perfect party snack! But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium.

Why is my homemade Chex Mix soggy? ›

Using too much liquid. Don't go over the recipe's suggested liquid amounts; that is a sure way to get soggy mix (which, again, nobody wants). Follow this tip: If you need to make a change in liquid ingredients, just keep the amount the same.

Why does my Chex Mix burn? ›

We're just drying the butter and Worcestershire sauce so the spices and seasonings stick to the Chex and pita chips. If your Chex Mix burned that means your oven is running hot (this is why I always recommend having an oven thermometer!) and you need to use a lower oven temp — you can go as low as 200F!

Can I Rebake Chex Mix? ›

You can bring them back to an edible state by heating them in the oven. This works wonderfully for snacks like crackers, Chex mix, tortilla chips, pretzels and even whole loaves of bread. (If you have stale sliced bread you are better off making toast, crostini or bruschetta.)

Can you freeze homemade Chex mix? ›

Also, be sure your oven is fully preheated before you put the snack mix in. The initial surge of heat to preheat the oven will burn the snack mix in a heartbeat. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The snack mix can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What flavor is original Chex mix? ›

Substitution: The original recipe includes Corn Chex™, Rice Chex™ and Wheat Chex™. You can mix and match to suit your taste—just use a total of 9 cups of cereal.

Can you eat old Chex mix? ›

It might be a bit stale though. The date on the package is the best eaten by this date. Once you pass the date, you have gone past the maximum freshness date, so it may start to lose its flavor or freshness. I hope that this answers your question.

What is the least favorite Chex Mix piece? ›

Other than the rye chip, nothing brought more people together than pretzels — combined, 38% marked the circle and square pretzels as the worst pieces.

What is the healthiest part of Chex Mix? ›

The healthiest flavor of Chex mix is the original flavor, which contains only corn, wheat, and rice Chex. The other flavors, such as the cheddar cheese flavor and the ranch flavor, contain additional ingredients, such as cheese powder and ranch seasoning, which can add extra calories and sodium.

What is the best Chex Mix piece? ›

Corn Chex

Corn Chex are indisputably the best part of a bag of Chex Mix. If you've ever tasted Corn Chex on their own, you know they don't need to be doused in seasoning to be enjoyable—you could easily eat them plain.

Are homemade snacks cheaper? ›

Making homemade snacks is almost always cheaper, healthier and better for the environment because there are no packets. We have great ideas and recipes here, but sometimes you just need a grab-and-go snack!

Is Chex mix healthier than chips? ›

Chex Mix is a healthier alternative if you eat potato chips as a snack. Chips have a lot of oil, carbs, and salts. Eating a lot of chips in one go is also not great for you in terms of health. You're not getting any protein or fiber, and thus, you're very far away from a balanced diet.

What is the least favorite Chex mix piece? ›

Other than the rye chip, nothing brought more people together than pretzels — combined, 38% marked the circle and square pretzels as the worst pieces.

How long will Chex Party Mix keep? ›

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

This Original Chex™ Party Mix can be made ahead of time and stored until ready to eat. Once mix is completely cooled, spoon into airtight containers and store for up to 2 weeks in a cool pantry.

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