Everyone goes crazy over this amazing candy coated Christmas Crunch Mix made festive with sprinkles, M&Ms and mini gingerbread man cookies. It’s sure to be a huge holiday hit!
Give ‘Em Something to Ho Ho Ho About
If you make one treat this holiday season, make this one! Everyone loves it! It’s sweet and slightly salty with lots of crunch that’s just so fun to make and munch on. Red and green candies and adorable gingerbread men make this tasty treat so fun and festive.
It’s one of my absolute favorite treats to take to holiday parties, to give as delicious gifts to friends and to keep a big jar full of on our kitchen counter throughout the season. So so yummy!
What Do I Need to Make Christmas Crunch Mix?
It’s soooo easy to make! Here are all the goodies that go into this delicious holiday version of Chex mix.
- 4 cups rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups frosted or regular Cheerios
- 2 cups snaps pretzels or holiday-shaped pretzels
- 1–1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
- 1 (16 ounce) package vanilla candy coating
- 1 (2.9 ounce) container holiday festive sprinkles
- 1 cup red and green M&M’s minis or regular M&M’s
- 1 cup red and green peanut M&M’s
- 2 cups gingerman mini cookies
How to Make Christmas Crunch Mix
In a large bowl, combine the Chex cereal, Cheerios, pretzels and peanuts.
In a microwave safe bowl or the container the candy coating comes in, melt the candy coating according to package directions, usually 90 seconds to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 second interval until melted and smooth. Be sure not to over melt the candy coating as it will burn and become too thick to stir and coat the mix evenly. Pour the melted candy coating over the ingredients in the large bowl and toss to coat with a large spoon. Ingredients should be evenly coated in the candy coating.
Spread the mixture out in an even layer on a parchment paper covered sheet pan. Immediately sprinkle with the sprinkles and then the M&M’s. Lay gingermen cookies evenly across mixture. You can find mini ginger men cookies at Target, Kroger or Walmart. I have also used these I found on Amazon.
Allow mixture to cool completely. Break apart to serve. Store in an airtight container or baggie at room temperature.
The combination of flavors and textures is so satisfying and slightly addicting. I love the addition of the mini gingerbread men cookies because they give the mix that ginger cookie flavor that’s so specific to the holiday season. And they’re just so darn cute too!
More Scrumptious Snack Mix recipes
From Easter to Halloween to the everyday munchies, my Scrumptious Snack Mix Recipes are deliciously impossible to put down. Sweet, salty, and everything in between, these snack mixes are always a huge hit!
This is such a great treat to make when you’re looking for something quick that’s guaranteed to be a hit. If you do make this Christmas Crunch Mix, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 
I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Happy snacking!
xoxo,
You can find the adorable Santa Feet Snack Bowl on Amazon!
Print
Christmas Crunch Mix
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 25 cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
Everyone goes crazy over this amazing candy coated cereal snack mix made festive with sprinkles, M&Ms and mini gingerbread man cookies. It’s sure to be a huge holiday hit!
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups frosted or regular Cheerios
- 2 cups snaps pretzels or holiday-shaped pretzels
- 1–1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
- 1 (16 ounce) package vanilla candy coating
- 1 (2.9 ounce) container holiday festive sprinkles
- 1 cup red and green M&M’s minis or regular M&M’s
- 1 cup red and green peanut M&M’s
- 2 cups gingerman mini cookies (I find them at Target, Kroger or Walmart) I have also used these I found on Amazon
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the Chex cereal, Cheerios, pretzels and peanuts.
- In a microwave safe bowl or the container the candy coating comes in, melt the candy coating according to package directions, usually 90 seconds to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Be sure not to over melt the candy coating as it will burn and become too thick to stir and coat the mix evenly.
- Pour the melted candy coating over the ingredients in the large bowl and toss to coat with a large spoon. Ingredients should be evenly coated in the candy coating.
- Spread the mixture out in an even layer on parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle with the sprinkles and then the M&M’s. Lay gingerman mini cookies evenly across mixture.
- Allow mixture to cool completely. Break apart to serve. Store in an airtight container or baggie for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
This mix will keep great for at least 2 weeks when stored in a sealed container or jar.
Well this is just about the holly-jolliest thing I’ve seen all day! Snack mixes like this are so delicious, and I love your festive visual 🙂 🙂
Made this tonight. So yummy!! I couldn’t find the mini gingerbread men cookies so we substituted Teddy Grahams instead. Thanks for
a great recipe!! ????
Hi! Question….salted or unsalted peanuts?
Hi Dan! I use lightly salted peanuts for the salty/sweet combo, but you could use either since they’re being coated in the candy coating. Enjoy!
Thanks! I think the salted peanuts would work well with all of the sweetness.
The gingerman minis are impossible to find. They didn’t have them at all in Ohio ???????? I’m going to keep looking. Not in any Target’s up here
Hi! Do you have any suggestions for replacing peanuts? (Need to make it nut free for teacher gift!)
Hi Elana! I would suggest just leaving them out. Or you could add in some Kix type cereal. I hope they love it!
Where did you purchase the Santa bowl?
I found it at Target many years ago, but they were selling it on Amazon recently: https://amzn.to/36DKuR4. It’s saying out of stock right now, though. Bummer!
Aldi has some mini gingerbread cookies now, yay!
★★★★★
This looks so festive and delicious, but leaving out the peanuts will not make it safe for anyone with a peanut allergy. M&Ms are usually not peanut safe. Candy coating and sprinkles are often not peanut safe, either. So for school gifts or anyone with a peanut allergy, be sure to read all labels to ensure they say “Made in a nut free facility.”
Hi just curious if anyone has made it with a different topping like melted chocolate?
Recipe says yields 25. 25 what? Cups or servings? If serving, what size?
Thanks for any help.
Hi Cindy! It makes about 25 cups once broken into clumps and I usually plan for about a cup per person to enjoy if serving at a party. Enjoy!