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
I have a similar recipe but it only calls for rice chex. I'm gonna have to try it with the golden grahams too!
This looks good! How about Tummy yummies?
yep it's sara too! 🙂
thank you for the quick response sara! i want to make this tonight and really didn't want to stop by the store on the way home!!
how did i NOT know that? lol guess i've been buying great value for tooo long! lol
Olivia's Mommy (it's Sara, right?) Karo Syrup is just a name brand of corn syrup. Any corn syrup is fine!
That's Pigeon Mix!!! At least that's what my recipe says at the top! We've been making it for years.
When I was dating my husband, he came home with me to meet my family. My older sister was about 7 months pregnant at the time and his first impression of her was just a grunt of a hello as she sat at a table away from the rest of the group shoving this in her mouth. It's SO good!
I live in Scotland now and can't find Golden Grams (or Corn Syrup) so I haven't had it for 15 months. But when I'm home for Christmas, I plan on chowing down just like she did.
Hey Kate, I just realized that in the picture you have Corn syrup and in the directions and ingredient list you have Karo syrup – are they interchangeable? or are they the same thing?
thanks!
This is one of my favorite things on the planet. We call it Gooey Chex Mix, but it could be called "Makes Any Day a Holiday Mix." it is sooo yummy!
We call it Addiction in our house. And the name rings true: the bowl is never full for long!
We add M&M's to this recipe, it tastes super great! Love your website, I get all of my recipes from here!
I love this stuff and I have heared it called Campers Treat or Campers Mix. I guess it would be a great thing to take camping.