This gooey Chex mix recipe was a staple in our house every holiday season while we were growing up- a couple of years ago I even made about 10 batches of it and took it around to our neighbors as a Christmas gift.
It is easy to throw together, the kids can help make it, and it is finished and ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. Warning: it’s super addicting.
I have absolutely no control when I make this, I just can’t stop nibbling. I even had it for breakfast this morning. It’s cereal, right?
Makes sense why another common name for this is “Christmas Crack!”
This isn’t only a great Christmas recipe. You can take this to your next game night, make a big batch for your family, or use it as neighbor gifts. The options are endless!
Ingredients in Gooey Almond Coconut Chex Mix:
- Rice Chex cereal
- sweetened coconut
- slivered almonds (can also use sliced almonds)
- sugar
- butter
- corn syrup
- salt
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to make Gooey Almond Chex Mix:
- Spray a LARGE (the biggest you can find) bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour in the entire box of Chex cereal, coconut, and almonds. Gently mix together.
- Mix together the sugar, butter, light corn syrup, and dash of salt in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- Bring to a full boil, turn heat down to medium, and cook for three minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour over the cereal mixture in the big bowl and stir evenly.
- Spread cereal evenly on wax paper (I just spread the wax paper on my counter) and let cool.
- Once it cools, you can bag it up in little cellophane bags and share with neighbors and friends. Or put it in a bowl and dig in (I love when it’s warm and gooey!).
- You can also store it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and it lasts for a couple of days.
Storage Instructions
For daily snacking, keep your mix in a cool, dry place like a pantry.
- Avoid the Fridge: Never store Chex Mix in the refrigerator; the cold and humidity will cause it to lose its crunch and become soggy.
- Airtight Container: Transfer cooled mix to a tightly sealed Tupperware, glass jar, or heavy-duty Ziploc bag. Squeeze as much air as possible out of bags to maintain crispness.
- Shelf Life: It stays fresh for 2 weeks on average, though it tastes best if eaten within the first 2–3 days.
Tips for making Gooey Almond and Coconut Chex mix:
- It’s important to use a large bowl when making this recipe because it makes a ton, and it is also very difficult to stir, so it can get a little messy. This the THE BOWL that I used in the picture above (you could also use two mixing bowls if you don’t have a huge bowl).
- You will also want to spray the bowl with non-stick cooking spray because once you add the gooey goodness, it will stick like crazy.
- As you cook the gooey mixture on the stove top, stir constantly because it will easily burn.
- If it starts to boil over, just turn the heat down a little bit.
- Use a large wooden spoon to mix it all together in the bowl.
Enjoy More Delicious Chex Mix & Trail Mix Recipes
Homemade snacks are a lifesaver for us and our kids. Check out our comprehensive collection of delicious homemade snack recipes.
Gooey Almond and Coconut Chex Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 ounces Rice Chex Cereal
- 7 ounces sweetened coconut, shredded
- 5 ounces slivered almonds
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 ¼ cup corn syrup
- dash salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Spray a LARGE (the biggest you can find) bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour in the entire box of Chex cereal, coconut, and almonds. Gently mix together.
- Mix together the sugar, butter, light corn syrup, and dash of salt in a medium saucepan over med/high heat.
- Bring to a full boil, turn heat down to medium, and cook for three minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour over the cereal mixture in the big bowl and stir evenly.
- Spread cereal evenly on wax paper and let cool.
- Once it cools, I bag it up in little cellophane bags and share with neighbors and friends. Or put it in a bowl and dig in!
- You can also store it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and it lasts for a couple of days.
Notes
- You will also want to spray the bowl with non-stick cooking spray because once you add the gooey goodness, it will stick like crazy.
- As you cook the gooey mixture on the stove top, stir constantly because it will easily burn.
- If it starts to boil over, just turn the heat down a little bit.
- Use a large wooden spoon to mix it all together in the bowl.
Nutrition
Video
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
I make this every year for my neighbor plates. The only difference is I add golden graham cereal too. Yummy!!! 🙂
This sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try it
I haven’t heard of this chez mix recipe before. Sounds delish and so simple to make. Just bought some yesterday so I will have to try it with this box. Can’t wait!!! In fact I think I will forward it to my daughter in college. She might enjoy this while studying for finals.
Ooo looks very yummy.
I love this stuff and love when people make it for me. I have never had the recipe so thanks for sharing. I would love it if you could link this up to our linky party going on right now.
http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday-5.html
Oh my goodness I want this NOW! I’m going to make it for sure…but I’m worried because I think I’ll eat it all!
This looks delish! I think my family would eat this up.
This is perfect for me, because so many chex mixes have pretzels etc. This is completely gluten free. I’m going to try this!
YUM, YUM, YUM! This looks delicious!
love this! I have everything for it! I think well be trying it this month:> Thanks for linking up and sharing:>
I brought this to school for a get together and everyone loved it. I’m not sure I mixed the corn syrup and cereal well enough. It kind of pooled on the wax paper. I also added milk chocolate chips once it had cooled.
Made it and loved it! Yum!
I make this for my family ALL THE TIME!! Its one of our favorites. Love your food blog..Can’t wait to try some of your yummy recipes!
We made this and loved it! Yum:) My husband added a dash of salt to a portion of the recipe and enjoyed it. This has made it to my list of holiday goodies to share! Mahalo!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Let’s try this again…silly sticky fingers. I made this and LOVED the flavors, but did not like that it was gooey. Is there a way to make it so it is dryer like other chex mixes? I can’t seem to keep my fingers out of the bowl.
I LOVE this stuff!!!! I always add white chocolate chips and M&M’s to it… I can always find a way to make something unhealthy even more unhealthy 🙂
This comment has been removed by the author.
I was given a batch of this 12 years ago for Christmas with the recipe attached. I made it for a year or two, then lost the recipe. I have been looking for it ever since! I’m headed to the store right now!!!! Thank you!!!!
We add golden grahams and pretzels. The salt with the sweet just puts this way over the top! So delish!
So the mix is supposed to be gooey? I guess if is was in individual bags for a childrens party it would be fine. Think Im going to try it for a Wii Fitness Fun Nite this Friday for 5-12 year olds:-)
This sounds delicious and I love coconut. My only question is this sticky when pickup with leaving you with sticky fingers?
I was surprised how crispy the cereal remains, but love the gooey goodness!
This is soft but doesn’t really leave your fingers way sticky. You may have to lick the gooey goodness off of your fingertips! But we’re all about that! 🙂
Finally made this today & I can’t stop eating it! It hasn’t even cooled yet! Absolutely delicious! I hope I have some left over to share 🙂
We LOVE this recipe!!! Thank you so much for sharing. It is so addicting we call it ‘crack’. That’s its name around here. People call and request that i bring ‘crack’ for this or that function. When at the grocery store my kids will remind me to get the ingredients for ‘crack’. We get some pretty funny looks! HA! My niece texted this morning and requested the recipe for crack. So i sent her this link. Again, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Amy!! You are so sweet! Glad everyone likes your “crack”. It’s good stuff!
YUM! made THIS tonight after a friend introduced me to it. She adds mini m&m’s so that’s what I did too- so delicious and very addicting!
Maybe I did something wrong? But its way too gooey. If i cut back on the corn syrup to 1 cup and 1/2 cup butter would i get a bit lighter version?
This is a gooey and chewy chex mix. It’s not meant to be dry, that’s why “gooey” is in the title of the recipe. You could add a little more cereal to the mix and it wouldn’t be as gooey. Hope this helps.
I want to make this on Saturday and take it to a family reunion 3 days later. How long is it good for? Thank you.
This is good for about 4-5 days in an airtight container. But to be honest, it doesn’t last long at all! It’s our favorite. You should be just fine making it 3 days ahead of time. Just be sure it’s sealed up tight.
Can I make this in the microwave?
This cannot be made in the microwave because you need to be stirring constantly as it boils.
If you want to take this to the next level, add 1 tsp.of almond flavoring.
I love the six sisters many variations of the Chex mix ‘muddy buddies’!! For this recipe I took it up a notch and toasted the coconut and almonds first. Brings out a more nutty flavor. Thank you once again! These are always a hit!
Oh YUM! That sounds amazing!
I make a version that uses chex and Golden Grahams together! So so good!
Throw some honey grahams into this and now your talking!
Excellent post
Thanks
Hey, I grew up in your neighborhood! And Thanks for the recipe. I am excited to try this.
Hi Wade!! We love your family! Enjoy this recipe!