There may not be words for how addictive this Chipotle Caramel Chex Mix is.
OH MY GOSH. This chipotle caramel Chex mix is life. I’ve been waiting weeks to share it — every time I planned posts, I considered swapping in this recipe because it’s that good.
Finally, here it is.
Serious flavor explosion.
It’s all about sweet heat. The combination of smoky chipotle and caramel is unreal — I’ve made this six times in the last two months and bought ingredients again just to make it for Christmas.
Even Eddie, who isn’t usually into Chex mix, can’t stop eating it. He’ll rarely take a bite of store-bought snack mix, but homemade, especially this one? He devours sheet pans of it.
The ingredients are simple. I don’t use a heavy caramel sauce because that can clump everything together and make it less snack-mix-like. Instead, this version uses butter, light corn syrup, brown sugar and spices to create a caramel coating that’s sticky enough to coat every piece without turning the mix into a single mass. It also makes your kitchen smell amazing.
This isn’t my first time making homemade snack mix, but it’s the first that balances sweet, salty and a little spice so perfectly. I used classic Chex mix components here, but feel free to add cheese crackers, different nuts or anything you love.
Just want to eat this forever. Okay, bye.
Chex Mix Recipe
Chipotle Caramel Chex Mix
2 hours
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle pepper seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 cups rice Chex cereal
- 4 cups corn Chex cereal
- 2 cups mini pretzels
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 cup cashews
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Combine the butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, chipotle pepper and smoked paprika in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the butter is melted and the mixture looks glossy and caramel-like.
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Place the rice Chex, corn Chex, pretzels, peanuts and cashews in a large bowl. Pour the caramel mixture over the top and toss well to coat — use your hands if needed to ensure every piece is covered.
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Spread the coated mix evenly across the two prepared baking sheets. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring and turning the pieces every 15 minutes. After removing from the oven, continue to toss the mix every 10 minutes or so as it cools so it doesn’t clump. Store in a sealed container or zip-top bag.
Notes
This recipe makes a generous amount of Chex Mix — perfect for gifting or parties.
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I appreciate you so much!
Look at that caramel and that crunch!