Get ready to meet your new favorite snack obsession. This Churro Chex Mix is an unbelievably delicious and addictive treat that captures all the warm, cinnamon-sugar goodness of a classic churro in an easy-to-make party mix. Every bite is a perfect combination of crunchy, cinnamon-coated Chex cereal and salty pretzels, with delightful, chewy bursts of caramel mixed in. It’s a sweet and salty masterpiece that’s baked to crispy perfection and is guaranteed to be the first thing to disappear at any party, movie night, or holiday gathering.
Why This Snack Mix is a Must-Make
This isn’t your average Chex mix. Here’s why it’s so special:
- Incredibly Addictive: The sweet, salty, and crunchy combination is perfectly balanced and will have you coming back for handful after handful.
- The Taste of a Churro: The warm cinnamon-sugar coating baked onto the crunchy cereal perfectly mimics the flavor of a freshly made churro.
- Easy to Make a Big Batch: This recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd and is incredibly simple to prepare.
- A Perfect Party Food: It’s a unique and beloved snack that is perfect for holidays, game days, or any time you need a crowd-pleasing treat.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients to create a truly spectacular snack.
For the Snack Base:
- Rice Chex Cereal: 1 (12-ounce) box.
- Pretzels: 3 cups of your favorite small pretzels.
- Caramel Squares: 1 (11-ounce) package of Kraft caramel squares, unwrapped and quartered.
For the Churro Coating:
- Butter: 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, melted.
- Sugars: 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar and ¼ cup packed light brown sugar.
- Cinnamon: 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 tablespoon.
Step-by-Step Guide to Churro Perfection
Follow these simple steps for a perfect, crunchy, and delicious snack mix.
Part 1: Prepare the Coating and Base
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 ¼ cups of granulated sugar and the 2 tablespoons of cinnamon until well combined.
- Combine the Snack Base: In a very large bowl, combine the Rice Chex cereal and the pretzels.
Part 2: Coat the Mix
- Make the Butter Mixture: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the melted butter, the ¼ cup of packed brown sugar, and the vanilla extract until smooth.
- First Coat: Pour the butter mixture over the Chex and pretzels in the large bowl. Use a spatula to gently toss everything together until the cereal and pretzels are evenly coated.
- Second Coat: Sprinkle the prepared cinnamon-sugar mixture all over the coated cereal. Toss again, gently but thoroughly, until everything is well-coated in the sweet cinnamon goodness.
Part 3: Bake and Finish
- Spread and Bake: Pour the coated mixture onto your prepared baking sheet and spread it out into a single, even layer.
- Bake Low and Slow: Bake for 45 minutes, taking the pan out to stir the mix every 15 minutes. This low and slow baking method is key to making the coating crispy and crunchy without burning.
- Cool and Add Caramel: Remove the Chex mix from the oven and let it cool on the pan for about 15 minutes. Once it’s no longer piping hot, sprinkle the quartered caramel pieces over the mix and toss gently. The residual heat will soften them just enough to make them chewy.
- Serve and Store: You can serve the Churro Chex Mix right away or let it cool completely. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Tips for the Best Churro Chex Mix
- Stir, Stir, Stir: Don’t skip the step of stirring the mix every 15 minutes while it bakes. This is crucial for ensuring that every piece bakes evenly and gets perfectly crisp.
- Wait to Add the Caramels: If you add the caramel pieces while the mix is too hot, they will melt completely. Letting the mix cool for 15 minutes is the perfect amount of time to soften them without creating a sticky mess.
- Mix It Up: Feel free to add other fun ingredients! Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, Bugles, or different shapes of pretzels would all be delicious additions.
- Perfect for Gifting: This Chex mix makes a fantastic homemade gift for the holidays. Package it in festive tins or cellophane bags for a sweet, shareable treat.
Easy Churro Chex Mix
This sweet and salty Churro Chex Mix combines crunchy cinnamon-sugar coated Chex cereal, salty pretzels, and chewy caramel pieces for the ultimate snack. Perfect for parties, movie nights, or holiday gifting.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- medium mixing bowl
- large rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups small pretzels
- 11 oz Kraft caramel squares, unwrapped and quartered
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
- In a very large bowl, combine Rice Chex cereal and pretzels.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour butter mixture over Chex and pretzels. Toss gently until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over coated cereal and pretzels. Toss gently until well coated.
- Spread mixture evenly onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Cool for 15 minutes, then add quartered caramel pieces and toss gently.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Notes
Stir every 15 minutes while baking to ensure even crisping. Wait until the mix has cooled for 15 minutes before adding caramel pieces to keep them chewy instead of melted. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.