This sweet, crunchy snack mix has been making the rounds for years, and if you’ve ever had it at a party, there’s a good chance you’ve immediately asked for the recipe. In fact, it earned the internet nickname “crack mix” because it’s so addictive. (I’m not saying it’s a good nickname- just reporting the lore!) The magic is in the buttery caramel-ish coating that transforms simple ingredients into an irresistibly chewy crunchy treat. I love the addition of almonds and coconut for extra flavor and texture, but don’t let that stop you, it’s just as delicious if you leave out one (or both!). We often make it with just the cereal.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
- Rice Chex cereal
- Golden Grahams cereal
- Sliced almonds
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Butter – Always use real butter if you can. If you must substitute, try to use something with a similar fat content and consistency.
- Granulated sugar
- Karo syrup – This is light corn syrup (which is not the same thing as the industrial high fructose corn syrup we’ve been told to avoid, by the way). It’s the clear kind, not the brown kind. You can find this on the baking aisle near the maple syrup.
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
How to Make Chewy Almond-Coconut Chex Mix
- First you’ll toss your cereals, almonds, and coconut in a big bowl. You’ll want plenty of room to mix and stir, so it helps to use an even bigger bowl than you think you need!
- Next you’ll mix up the sweet glaze that holds everything together. Butter, corn syrup, and sugar get boiled together, then you’ll add some vanilla and pour it over your cereal mixture.
- Mix everything together and enjoy! If you’d like, you can spread it out on parchment to cool before transferring back to the serving bowl.
Storing and Other Tips
- Before storing, ensure the mix has cooled completely (spread it out on a parchment lined baking sheet to speed this process up). Then store in an airtight container at room temp and enjoy within a few days for best results.
- Mix it up: Lots of readers in the comments had great ideas for other additions to this mix. Lots of them recommended chocolate or white chocolate chips mixed in at the very end! Feel free to experiment with other mix-ins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just cool completely and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
No one is stopping you from diving right in, as long as it’s not too hot! But the chewy coating develops as the Chex mix cools!
Sure! Cellophane bags, trat boxes, or mason jars should work well for gifting!
Chewy Coconut-Almond Chex Mix
Ingredients
- 6 ½ cups Rice Chex cereal
- 4 ½ cups Golden Grahams cereal
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut
- ¾ cup butter (12 tablespoons)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light Karo syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- In a VERY large bowl (or on a cookie sheet), combine cereals, almonds, and coconut. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, combine butter, Karo syrup, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and almond extract. While the mixture is still hot, pour over the cereal mixture and stir well so the candy mixture coats the cereal.
- Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool. Serve in a large bowl or divide into individual portions.
Notes
- Before storing, ensure the mix has cooled completely (spread it out on a parchment lined baking sheet to speed this process up). Then store in an airtight container at room temp and enjoy within a few days for best results.
- Mix it up: Lots of readers in the comments had great ideas for other additions to this mix. Lots of them recommended chocolate or white chocolate chips mixed in at the very end! Feel free to experiment with other mix-ins.
Nutrition
Questions & Reviews
Question… would adding cornstarch, with the vanilla as the last step, keep this from being so chewy?
If you don’t want it as chewy, don’t cook it quite as long. Cornstarch will just make a mess. 🙂
In our family it is simply known as ” Addiction”.
We’ve always called it St. Nick’s Mix. We put ribbon coconut instead of shredded in it. A little more expensive (you can get it at whole foods type stores), but well worth it.
We call this Mormon Crack at our house due to it’s addictive non-stop eating desires it brings out in each of us. A little more Politically correct way might be Crackilicious.
I Love this stuff! I don't know what it was called, but I've had it with dried cranberries and white chocolate drizzle… it was pretty dang amazing. Definitely the "stuffing my face" one around this bowl!
My friends call it "better than sex chex"!
I pour this syrup over popped corn mixed with chopped pecans and slivered almonds. My family and friends request it often. We call it 'Popcorn Krunch' although it is good chewy. I also have to admit -it is highly addictive and fattening! But delicious!
The only difference I've noticed is that my friend had chocolate chips in hers so I'm going to add that also.
THANK YOU! My friend made a recipe just like this for a Halloween party last week. I wanted to try it but couldn't find it anywhere online. Then I thought of your blog and sure enough you had it. You are awesome!
We love this recipe, and Only make it ONE time a year… so at our house it is 'Christmas Crunch' and we give it out to our neighbors!