This Sweet And Salty Christmas Snack Mix combines sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors for the perfect holiday bite. It’s a festive no-bake treat ideal for gift-giving, movie nights, and parties this yuletide season.
Serve it with Homemade Gingerbread Cake, Snowball Cookies, and Peanut Butter Balls, and you’ll have a wonderful holiday spread that friends and family will love!
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No-Bake Jingle Mix: The Ultimate Christmas Snack!
I don’t mean to get you too excited, but when I say this homemade snack mix is the best, I truly mean it. You might call it “Christmas crack, reindeer chow, or holiday party mix,” but I call it irresistible!
This sweet and salty snack mix is always on our holiday table because it’s easy to make and so, so good! It’s a festive treat that combines sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors in every bite. Perfect for gifting, entertaining, or enjoying for holiday movie night.
Top Tips For Perfect Christmas Snack Mix
- Set Up For Success: Before you start, line your counter or baking sheet with wax paper or parchment. This will save time and make clean-up easy.
- Melt Like A Pro: When melting the almond bark, go slow and steady. Pop it in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, so it’s silky smooth without scorching.
- Keep It Moving: Once you pour the melted almond bark over the mix, stir it quickly and gently to coat everything evenly. Add the M&Ms last so they don’t get melty.
- Make It Yours: Have fun adding your favorite goodies! Toss in some nuts, dried cranberries, or holiday-themed sprinkles to give it a personal twist and make it extra festive.
Christmas Snack Mix Ingredients
- Rice Cereal: This is my favorite addition to any custom snack mix. It’s cheap and easy to find and adds the perfect crunch! You can also use corn Chex cereal.
- Salty: I added small pretzels and Bugel’s corn chips to this trail mix to add salt. Both add different yet complementary salty flavors.
- Sweet: Grab those red and green M&M’s, vanilla-flavored almond bark, or white chocolate chips to create contrasting sweetness.
Recipe Variations: Make It Your Own
- Gluten-Free: Use additional Chex cereal instead of Bugel’s corn chips, and make sure the other ingredients are gluten-free (they should be naturally, but it’s always good to check).
- Go Nuts: Toss in peanuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, or walnuts. You can also add Air Fryer Roasted Nuts.
- Make it Festive: Use seasonal M&Ms, such as pink and red or black and orange, for Halloween snack mix or Valentine’s snack mix.
- Autumn Snack Mix: Swap out the M&Ms for caramel chips and mix two teaspoons of cinnamon into the melted vanilla bark and Fried Buttered Cheerios for amazing fall flavors.
Step-By-Step Directions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Mix the cereal, pretzels, and bugles in a large bowl and measure the M&M’s separately. Melt the vanilla bark in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Add the Chocolate: Next, pour this over the crunchy and salty mixture in the large bowl, sprinkle with the candies, and mix gently to coat. Spread this onto parchment paper on the counter or a large baking tray.
- Chill: Let it set up for 30 minutes, break it apart, and store it until ready to enjoy!
Can You Freeze Christmas Party Mix?
Yes, you can, and you should! Stock your freezer for gift-giving, unexpected entertaining or when a snack attack hits. All you do is write the name and freezing date on the container or bag, and place the mix in the freezer. It will stay fresh for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, remove the mix from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, white chocolate is very similar to vanilla bark, but white chocolate is made with cocoa butter and milk powder. The main difference is in how it melts. Vanilla bark melts much easier in the microwave, and it’s unlikely to burn. White chocolate must be tempered and can burn in the microwave if heated too fast.
This is a great recipe to make ahead of time! You can store it on the counter, in the fridge, or in the freezer until you want to serve it. I recommend storing it on the counter if you plan to serve it within the next few days.
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How To Serve This Christmas Chex Mix Recipe
I love just nibbling on this by a cozy fire but it’s also tasty with a warm Mexican Hot Chocolate. Or, you can serve it as part of a large snack tray with Peanut Butter Balls for more sweetness and Parmesan Cheese Crisps for a little savory.
Craving More? Try These Holiday Recipes
If you tried this Festive Christmas Snack Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice cereal
- 4 cups Bugles snacks
- 3 cups pretzels
- 1 11 ounce package M&M candy pieces
- 1 16 ounce package vanilla almond bark (1 pound box)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet or part of the kitchen counter with wax paper or parchment.
- Add cereal, Bugles, and pretzels to a large bowl. Measure M&M candies and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt vanilla bark. Pour over dry ingredients and stir. Add in candy and stir coating all ingredients with melted bark. Pour snack mix on wax paper or parchment. Let set up for 30 minutes. Break apart snack mix and store in an airtight container until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Set Up For Success: Before you start, line your counter or baking sheet with wax paper or parchment. This will save time and make clean-up easy.
- Melt Like A Pro: When melting the almond bark, go slow and steady. Pop it in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, so it’s silky smooth without scorching.
- Keep It Moving: Once you pour the melted almond bark over the mix, stir it quickly and gently to coat everything evenly. Add the M&Ms last so they don’t get melty.
- Make It Yours: Have fun adding your favorite goodies! Toss in some nuts, dried cranberries, or holiday-themed sprinkles to give it a personal twist and make it extra festive.
-
- Gluten-Free: Use additional Chex cereal instead of Bugel’s corn chips, and make sure the other ingredients are gluten-free (they should be naturally, but it’s always good to check).
-
- Go Nuts:Â Toss in peanuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, or walnuts. You can also add Air Fryer Roasted Nuts.
-
- Make it Festive: Use seasonal M&Ms, such as pink and red or black and orange, for Halloween snack mix or Valentine’s snack mix.
-
- Autumn Snack Mix: Swap out the M&Ms for caramel chips and mix two teaspoons of cinnamon into the melted vanilla bark and Fried Buttered Cheerios for amazing fall flavors.
Nutrition
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Debra
Perfect holiday recipe. Ready to add your own changes and make it yours. Always delicious.
Thank youl, Debra! Happy 2025.
~Donya
Georgie
Going to try this one. Thanks for yummy recipe.
Angela
I bought unsalted pretzels by mistake. Do you think these will work in your recipe?
Sure!
Merry Christmas,
~Donya
Linda
Made your mix for a get-together and everyone loved it.
Wonderful! Merry Christmas,
~Donya
Patricia Lancaster Davis
This is wonderful–placed it in small bags, given away as Christmas goodies.
I love this!
Merry Christmas,
~Donya