5-Minute Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
Chex mix is so addicting and once I start eating it, it’s so hard to stop. One handful turns into five. Whoops. And then I made another batch.
What makes this version even more dangerous is how fast and easy it is. No baking or slow cookers required.
I have recipes for Crock-Pot Maple Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix and Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola but they take longer to make. This version comes together in the microwave in 3 minutes.
There’s some flexibility in the recipe depending on what you have on hand and enjoy. I used Honey Nut Chex and Wheat Chex. The Honey Nut stays crisper and is sweeter while the Wheat Chex turns chewier and nuttier.
I used honey-roasted peanuts, mini pretzels, candy corn, and orange-flavored dried cranberries. If you want to use a different type of nut, style of pretzel, substitute a different type of candy like M&Ms or chocolate chips, or another type of dried fruit, feel free. I haven’t tried using honey or maple syrup rather than corn syrup.
The mix is salty-and-sweet, crunchy, crispy, slightly chewy, and there are so many flavors and textures in every bite. The pumpkin spice flavor is present without being overwhelming, the honey-roasted peanuts add a nice touch, there are caramel undertones from the brown sugar, and the orange-flavored dried cranberries slightly perfume the mix.
My daughter’s favorite parts are the salty pretzels and the sweet candy corn. She’s a candy corn addict. Since there’s only 2 tablespoons of butter in the entire batch that’s permission to mindlessly snack until your heart’s content.
5-Minute Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
This mix comes together in the microwave in 3 minutes. There’s some flexibility in the recipe depending on what you have on hand and enjoy. If you want to use a different type of nut, style of pretzel, substitute a different type of candy, or another type of dried fruit, feel free. The mix is salty-and-sweet, crunchy, crispy, slightly chewy, and there are so many flavors and textures in every bite. The pumpkin spice flavor is present without being overwhelming, the honey-roasted peanuts add a nice touch, there are caramel undertones from the brown sugar, and the orange-flavored dried cranberries slightly perfume the mix.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Honey Nut Chex (other varieties of Chex may be substituted)
- 2 cups Wheat Chex
- 2 cups mini pretzel twists
- 1 cup honey-roasted peanuts (peanuts or another nut may be substituted)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 3/4 cup dried orange-flavored cranberries (dried cranberries or another dried fruit may be substituted)
- 3/4 cup candy corn (or try M&Ms, chocolate chips, etc.)
Directions:
- To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the Honey Nut Chex, Wheat Chex, pretzels, peanuts, and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a 2-cup glass measuring cup or a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 30 seconds.
- Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, pumpkin pie spice (looks like a lot but you need an ample amount to flavor the entire batch), salt, and stir to combine.
- Place measuring cup in the microwave and heat on high power until mixture is bubbly and boiling, about 30 seconds but watch it very closely because it can go fast.
- Evenly drizzle brown sugar mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
- Place bowl in the microwave and heat on high power for 3 minutes, stopping after each minute to stir.
- After the mix has cooled for about 5 minutes, add the cranberries, candy corn, and stir to combine. Serve immediately. Mix will keep airtight at room temp for up to 1 week.
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This looks delish, and who doesn’t LOVE Chex Mix?! Plus, only three minutes to make? Yes please!! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and yes to 3 minute recipes! :)
Let me guess: this is impossible to stop eating. So addictive, I can already tell! And I’m like your daughter with the candy corn. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. And if it’s balanced with something salty, so amazing!
Your guess is correct….beyond impossible to stop. We went through 2 batches of this stuff in just a few days. Soooo good.
I remember waiting for the chex mix when I was a kid….it took forever in a low oven with mom stirring it every 15-20 min. A 5 min recipe using the microwave is the best short cut ever! Chex mix seems to be addictive with just about any kind of seasoning but the sweet pumpkin pie flavor would really do it for me too!
Paula this was one of my fave Chex mix blends EVER, of all time. So good!
YES!! This looks fantastic. I’d need to rehome it immediately or I’d eat it until my mouth was raw, ha!
hi
I rarely re-make recipes after the batch is done (you can relate no doubt) but this…I remade. A blessing and a curse, but it was SO GOOD, we had to have more!
This look SO addictive!!! Yuuuuuuum.
I have nothing interesting to say except CANDY CORN!!!
You can keep your pumpkin, your caramel, your apples, all your fall flavors, but GIVE ME ALL THE CANDY CORN!!!
You have to make this!! And send the recipe to your mom! This is total midwest potluck sit around the driveway and pass out Halloween candy kind of snack food!
I purposely avoid candy corn because of its addictive qualities. Same thing with Chex Mix. This is wickedly tempting, Averie!
Both of those items are SO addictive and this stuff was….beyond all addictive! So you definitely need to make it! :)
Yum! This is the perfect fall game day snack right here!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
First of all I love how fast this is…waiting for Chex mix is the hardest part…and I ‘m with your daughter..I love candy corn only the traditional one not the one with brown.
Yeah brown candy corn wouldn’t go over well in this house either :)
I don’t think I’d be able to stay out of this. It looks so good. And I love house it has dried cranberries and honey roasted peanuts. Sounds great!
I LOVE fun holiday mixes like this! All those delicious goodies in there sound amazing!
So in love with all your snack mix recipes Averie!
Thanks, Marla! Hope you guys are doing great! :) xo
i love the sweet n’ salty theme going on here! this is sure to be a party pleaser!
This is like childhood nostalgia and modern pumpkin everything mentality all rolled into one delicious salty sweet snack. I love the creativity and nostalgia at work here.
Salty and sweet is where it’s at!
It is wonderful. I used half honey roasted peanuts, half honey roasted cashews, and regular dried cranberries. For the candies, I used half pumpkin spice candy corn, half M and M’s candy corn seasonal variety. Also split the wheat Chex in half and used half Cheerios. I made one double batch. And then another… Yum!
Your blend of items sounds wonderful! Thanks for trying the recipe and glad it came out great for you!
I made the 5 minute pumpkin spice Chex mix yesterday for a party. It was a big hit and everyone was surprised by the pumpkin spice flavor. Out of a whole batch, we had less than a cup left over. Thanks for a delicious recipe.
Love hearing that this was a big hit at the party!