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This Fall Snack Mix is sweet, salty, crunchy, and impossible to stop eating. Chex cereal, pretzels, cheese crackers, and Honey Nut Cheerios bake in a buttery brown sugar and maple coating until they’re crisp, then get tossed with candy corn, peanuts, peanut butter cups, and mini marshmallows. It makes a big batch, keeps for weeks!
Snack mix is a big deal in our family. Party Mix is a must at Christmas, and Patriotic Party Mix shows up every summer. This version is my fall favorite, with the orange and yellow candy corn and that cinnamon maple coating that tastes like autumn. You really only need the method, and then you can swap in whatever cereal, nuts, and candy you love. If you like warm spices, try my Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix too.
Erin’s Notes
- Sweet and salty in every handful – a crisp, caramel-like coating on salty pretzels and cheese crackers, plus candy and marshmallows mixed in.
- Easy – stir everything together, bake low and slow, and let it cool. That’s it.
- Totally customizable – use any cereal, nuts, or candy you have on hand.
- Makes a big batch that lasts – it keeps for up to 3 weeks at room temperature and freezes for 2-3 months, so you can make it well ahead of Thanksgiving.
- Perfect for sharing – it’s great for parties, game day, movie night, and fall treat bags.
Ingredient Notes
- Chex Cereal – I use a mix of Corn Chex and Maple Brown Sugar Chex, but any variety (or combination) works. Rice Chex, Crispix, and Life cereal are all great too.
- Pretzels – mini twists or sticks, whatever you like.
- Cheese Crackers – I use Cheez-Its, but Goldfish or any small cheese cracker works.
- Honey Nut Cheerios – add a little extra sweetness and crunch.
- Butter, Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, and Cinnamon – this is the coating. Stir it until the sugar is mostly dissolved so it coats everything evenly and bakes up crisp instead of grainy.
- Candy Corn – gives it the classic fall colors. Swap in Reese’s Pieces or fall M&Ms if candy corn isn’t your thing.
- Peanuts – for extra salty crunch. Cashews or pecans work too.
- Mini Peanut Butter Cups and Mini Marshmallows – these get added only after the mix has cooled completely so they don’t melt.
Fall Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 5 cups Chex Cereal
- 2 cups pretzels
- 2 cups cheese crackers
- 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
- 2/3 cup butter, melted
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 cup mini peanut butter cups
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250º F.
- In a large bowl combine chex cereal, pretzels, cheese crackers and honey nut cheerios.5 cups Chex Cereal, 2 cups pretzels, 2 cups cheese crackers, 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
- In a small bowl stir together melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon until well blended and the sugar is mostly dissolved.2/3 cup butter, 2/3 cup light brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pour butter mixture over the cereal and stir until everything is well coated.
- Divide mixture onto 2 large baking sheets and spread out into a single layer.
- Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Once the mixture is cool toss with the candy corn, peanuts, peanut butter cups and marshmallows.1 cup candy corn, 1 cup peanuts, 1 cup mini peanut butter cups, 2 cups mini marshmallows
Notes
- Use any variety and combination of Chex cereal that you like.
- Let the snack mix cool completely before adding the candy and marshmallows so they don’t melt.
- To make a half batch, halve all ingredients and bake on 1 baking sheet for the same amount of time.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for 2-3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Fall Snack Mix
- Combine the base – In a large bowl, combine the Chex cereal, pretzels, cheese crackers, and Honey Nut Cheerios.
- Make the coating – In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon until it’s well blended and the sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Coat – Pour the butter mixture over the cereal mixture and stir until everything is well coated.
- Spread it out – Divide the mixture between 2 large baking sheets and spread it into a single layer.
- Bake – Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Cool – Remove from the oven and let the snack mix cool completely. This is when it turns crispy.
- Add the mix-ins – Once the mixture is completely cool, toss it with the candy corn, peanuts, peanut butter cups, and mini marshmallows. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Bake it low and slow. The long bake at a low temperature dries out the coating so the mix is crisp, not soggy or sticky. Don’t rush it with a hotter oven.
- Stir every 15 minutes. This keeps the edges from overbrowning and helps everything coat and crisp evenly.
- Use a single layer. Splitting it between 2 baking sheets gives everything room to crisp up. A crowded pan steams instead.
- Let it cool completely before adding mix-ins. If the mix is even a little warm, the marshmallows and peanut butter cups will melt into a sticky mess.
- Need less? You can easily cut the recipe in half and bake it on 1 baking sheet for the same amount of time.
Variations & Mix-In Ideas
This is where you can get super creative and make it your own. Use whatever sweet and salty mix-ins that you have on hand or enjoy!
- Candy – Swap the candy corn for Reese’s Pieces or M&Ms, or use a mix. Change up the colors and this works for any holiday.
- Cereal – Use any Chex variety, or try Crispix or Life cereal in place of some of the Chex.
- Popcorn – Toss in popcorn or caramel corn after the mix has baked and cooled.
- Nuts – Use cashews, pecans, or any mixed nuts in place of the peanuts.
- Pretzels and crunchy add-ins – Try chocolate or yogurt-coated pretzels, or add chow mein noodles for extra crunch.
Serving Ideas
- Thanksgiving – Set out a big bowl for snacking before dinner, or add it to the dessert table.
- Game day – It’s perfect for football Sundays and tailgates.
- Parties and movie night – Serve it in a big bowl or individual cups.
- Treat bags and gifts – Pack it into cellophane bags or jars for neighbors, teachers, classroom parties, or Halloween.
Storage & Freezing
Room temperature: Store your fall snack mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.
Freezer: This snack mix freezes really well. Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2-3 months. Let it sit at room temperature to thaw before serving.
It usually wasn’t baked long enough, or it wasn’t cooled completely. The full hour at 250°F, stirring every 15 minutes, is what dries the coating so it turns crisp. It finishes crisping as it cools, so let it come all the way to room temperature before storing it.
Up to 3 weeks ahead if you store it in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer than that, freeze it for up to 2-3 months.
Leave out the peanuts and peanut butter cups and add extra pretzels, cereal, or candy in their place. Be sure to check the labels on your candy and crackers if you’re serving someone with a nut allergy.
That is such a fantastic mix. I love this because I can serve it on game day or on Thanksgiving or Christmas, too.
I love everything that goes into this! I will be making for our next party!
Mmmm…. This snack mix looks so inviting! Perfect for our Friday movie night!
My kids really enjoyed this snack mix! Thanks so much for sharing!