I thought Chex Mix only came from a bag until I was in my twenties. My mom would buy those little individual bags for our lunch boxes, and I never questioned where they came from. It wasn’t until a coworker brought homemade Chex Mix to a potluck that I realized people actually made this stuff at home.
The thing is, once you make it yourself, you can control what goes in it. This cinnamon sugar version skips all the salty nuts and pretzels and goes straight for the sweet stuff. It’s like having dessert that you can eat by the handful without feeling too guilty about it.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix
- Super quick to make – Ready in under 20 minutes, this sweet snack is perfect when you need something tasty fast or want to whip up a treat for unexpected guests.
- Only 4 ingredients – You probably already have everything you need in your pantry – just cereal, butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Kid-friendly snack – The sweet cinnamon coating makes this an instant hit with children, and it’s much better than store-bought sugary snacks.
- Perfect for parties – This makes a great addition to snack bowls at gatherings, and you can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
- Sweet and crunchy – The combination of buttery cinnamon sugar coating with crispy cereal creates an addictive texture that’s hard to stop eating.
What Kind of Chex Cereal Should I Use?
Rice Chex is the classic choice for this recipe and gives you that perfect light, crispy texture that holds up well to the cinnamon sugar coating. You can also use Corn Chex if that’s what you have on hand – it works just as well and has a slightly different flavor that some people actually prefer. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even mix different types of Chex cereals together for variety. Just make sure whatever cereal you choose is fresh and hasn’t been sitting in your pantry for months, as stale cereal won’t crisp up properly when you bake it.
Options for Substitutions
This simple snack mix is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:
- Rice Chex cereal: You can easily use Corn Chex or Wheat Chex instead of Rice Chex. Other cereals like Crispix or even plain Cheerios work too, though the texture will be slightly different.
- Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, that’s fine – just use it as is. You can also substitute with melted coconut oil or vegetable oil, though butter gives the best flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Brown sugar works great here and adds a deeper, caramel-like flavor. You can also try coconut sugar or even powdered sugar, though you might need to adjust the amount slightly.
- Cinnamon: Feel free to experiment with other warm spices like pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or even a pinch of nutmeg mixed with the cinnamon. Start with less and taste as you go.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake people make with cinnamon sugar Chex mix is not melting the butter completely, which leads to uneven coating and some pieces staying plain while others get too soggy. Make sure your butter is fully melted and still warm when you toss it with the cereal, then immediately add your cinnamon sugar mixture while everything is still hot so it sticks properly. Another common error is using too high heat when toasting – keep your oven around 250°F and stir every 15 minutes to prevent burning, since the sugar can go from golden to burnt very quickly. For the best crunch, let the mix cool completely on the baking sheet before storing, as putting it away while warm will make it lose that satisfying crispy texture.
What to Serve With Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix?
This sweet and crunchy snack mix is perfect on its own, but it really shines when you pair it with other cozy treats. I love serving it alongside a warm mug of hot chocolate or apple cider – the cinnamon flavors just complement each other so well. It’s also great as part of a movie night spread with some popcorn and other finger foods, or you can pack it up in small bags as a sweet snack for road trips or lunchboxes. For holiday gatherings, try setting it out in a big bowl next to some nuts and dried fruit for a simple but satisfying snack table.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Store your cinnamon sugar Chex mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. I like to use a big glass jar or plastic container with a tight lid to keep it nice and crunchy. It’s perfect for grabbing handfuls throughout the week!
Freeze: You can freeze this mix in freezer bags for up to 3 months if you want to make a huge batch. Just make sure it’s completely cooled before freezing, and it’ll taste just as good when you’re ready to snack on it.
Refresh: If your Chex mix loses some of its crunch after a few days, just spread it on a baking sheet and pop it in a 250°F oven for about 5-10 minutes. This brings back that satisfying crispiness that makes it so addictive to munch on.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 3-4 minutes |
| Total Time | 13-19 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 6-8 g
- Fat: 28-32 g
- Carbohydrates: 140-150 g
Ingredients
- 4 cups plain rice chex cereal
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet and Bowls
- 4 cups plain Rice Chex cereal
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Line a large baking sheet or plate with wax paper, parchment paper, or paper towels and set it aside.
In a large bowl, add the Rice Chex cereal and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar mixture and set aside.
Step 2: Melt the Butter and Coat the Cereal
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- Rice Chex cereal from Step 1
Melt the unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop.
Immediately pour the melted butter over the bowl of Rice Chex cereal, stirring gently to ensure all the cereal pieces are evenly coated with butter.
Step 3: Microwave and Add Cinnamon Sugar
- cinammon sugar mixture from Step 1
- butter-coated cereal from Step 2
Microwave the butter-coated cereal for 2 minutes, stopping to stir after 1 minute.
Next, add half of the cinnamon sugar mixture, stir very well, then add the second half and stir again thoroughly to evenly coat every piece.
Microwave the mixture for another 1 minute.
I like to give it an extra good stir here so that the cinnamon sugar sticks to every bit of cereal for even flavor.
Step 4: Cool the Cereal
Pour the coated, hot cereal onto your prepared lined sheet or plate, spreading it out into a single layer to ensure even cooling.
Let it cool completely before serving or storing.
Once cool, store the cereal in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
For a little extra texture, sometimes I crush a handful of the finished pieces before serving for more crunchy bits!
Easy Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups plain Rice Chex cereal
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet or plate with wax paper, parchment paper, or paper towels and set it aside. In a large bowl, add the Rice Chex cereal and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar mixture and set aside.
- Melt the unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop. Immediately pour the melted butter over the bowl of Rice Chex cereal, stirring gently to ensure all the cereal pieces are evenly coated with butter.
- Microwave the butter-coated cereal for 2 minutes, stopping to stir after 1 minute. Next, add half of the cinnamon sugar mixture, stir very well, then add the second half and stir again thoroughly to evenly coat every piece. Microwave the mixture for another 1 minute. I like to give it an extra good stir here so that the cinnamon sugar sticks to every bit of cereal for even flavor.
- Pour the coated, hot cereal onto your prepared lined sheet or plate, spreading it out into a single layer to ensure even cooling. Let it cool completely before serving or storing. Once cool, store the cereal in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For a little extra texture, sometimes I crush a handful of the finished pieces before serving for more crunchy bits!
