Christmas Snack Mix with Santa Hats
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You know the holiday season has arrived when this Christmas Snack Mix starts showing up. The perfect blend of sweet, salty and crunchy ingredients, this Chex mix has everything you want in a snack mix recipe.
The base mix is made with simple ingredients – pretzels, popcorn, and Chex cereal. Then we jazzed it up for the holidays by adding edible Santa hats, candies, and sprinkles for a festive touch. And it’s ready in about 30 minutes (and you don’t need to turn on the oven!).
This family favorite snack mix is loved by kids and adults alike. And it’s always a hit when we serve it at holiday parties, movie nights or alongside a cup of hot cocoa for an afternoon snack. If you’re looking for another easy snack recipe, try our Christmas crunch mix.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
And because it’s a budget-friendly recipe it’s a great for sharing. So go ahead and make a double batch – one for you to enjoy and one to give away as homemade gifts. Package the mix in decorative cello bags and tie them off with a ribbon for a festive presentation.
For more festive snack ideas, check out our gingerbread snack mix and reindeer snack mix recipes.
Christmas Snack Mix Ingredients Needed
For the Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
- Mini pretzels – twists or squares will work
- White almond bark – adds sweetness & helps the sprinkles stick to the pretzels
- Holiday sprinkles – to make it festive
For the Santa Hats
- Muddy bites waffle cone snacks – or use Bugle snacks for the base of the hat
- Red candy melts – to coat the hats
- Marshmallow bits or tiny marshmallows – for the pom-pom on the hat
- White sprinkles – use non-pareils to add texture to the hat brim
For the Snack Mix
- Chex cereal – use rice or corn for crunch
- Chocolate coated candy – look for the holiday mix of M&Ms
- Popcorn – grab a bag of the pre-popped kind
- Pretzel crisps – we used the white creme peppermint flavor pretzels
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Sweet and Salty Christmas Snack Mix
Chocolate Pretzels Directions
Prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper, then spread out the pretzels in a single layer.
Melt one block of almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Start with 1 minute, stir, and heat in 10–20 second bursts until almost melted. Stir again to smooth it out.
Drizzle melted white chocolate over the pretzels with a spoon or use a disposable piping bag. Quickly add the Christmas sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
Let the pretzels sit until the chocolate has set up.
Santa Hats Directions
Line another cookie sheet with parchment paper. Then, melt the red candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl using the same method as the almond bark.
Dip the cones into the melted red candy, then place them on the lined baking sheet to dry.
For the white border, dip the open end of the cone back into the melted candy, then into the white sprinkles.
Add a tiny marshmallow to the pointed end using a dab of melted candy coating as the glue.
Make sure the chocolate has dried and set completely before using the Santa hats.
Snack Mix Directions
Using a large bowl, gently toss the cereal, popcorn, and pretzels together, then transfer onto a large sheet pan.
Melt the remaining almond bark. Drizzle the melted bark over the snack mix and immediately add the holiday sprinkles. Once the coating has set, break the mix into smaller pieces.
Add the candy coated chocolates, peppermint pretzels and Santa hats and carefully mix.
Tips for Making Holiday Chex Mix with Pretzels
- When melting the chocolate, it’s best to do it slowly to avoid seizing. Start with one minute in the microwave, then take the bowl out and mix. If it’s not completely melted, microwave for 10-20 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating cycle.
- When adding the sprinkles, be sure to work quickly so the they stick to the chocolate.
- Be sure to let the chocolate pretzels and Santa hats set and harden before adding them to the mix.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- If you don’t have white almond bark, use white chocolate chips.
- Don’t like peppermint-coated pretzels? Skip them or swap them for plain or chocolate coated pretzel crisps.
- If you can’t find the Muddy Bites for the Santa hats you can substitute with Bugles snacks.
- If you like nuts, toss in some sugared pecans, candied walnuts or peanut M&Ms.
How to Store Christmas Party Mix
To keep the mix crispy, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry spot for up to 1 week.
This crunchy, sweet holiday Chex mix recipe is easy to prepare, making it a great homemade treat for the busy holiday season.
More Easy Snack Mix Recipes…
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Christmas Snack Mix with Santa Hats
Ingredients
Chocolate Pretzels
- 2 cups mini pretzels, squares, twists or a mix of both
- 4 blocks white almond bark, divided
- holiday sprinkles
Santa Hats Ingredients
- ½ cup red candy melts
- 1 package Muddy Bites waffle cone snacks, 2.33 ounces, or Bugle snacks **see notes
- white non-pareil sprinkles, optional
- marshmallow bits, or tiny marshmallows
Snack Mix Ingredients
- 6 cups rice or corn Chex cereal
- 2 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup white chocolate and peppermint coated pretzel crisps, optional
- 1 cup holiday chocolate coated candy
Instructions
Chocolate Pretzels
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay out pretzels in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Melt 1 block of almond bark in a small microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute, stir and continue heating for 10-20 second intervals until the chocolate is almost melted, stirring after each heating cycle.
- Remove bowl from the microwave and stir until the melted bark is completely smooth
- Transfer chocolate to a disposable piping bag or use a spoon to drizzle the pretzels with melted chocolate and immediately add the sprinkles.2 cups mini pretzels, holiday sprinkles
- Set aside for at least 15 minutes or until chocolate has hardened.
Santa Hats
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the red candy melts in a small microwave-safe bowl, following the instructions above.½ cup red candy melts
- Dip the cones into the melted red chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet to dry (this takes about 15 minutes).1 package Muddy Bites waffle cone snacks
- If you are using the white sprinkles, dip the open end slightly into the melted chocolate and then into the sprinkles, creating a white border.white non-pareil sprinkles
- Attach a tiny marshmallow to the top with a very small amount of melted chocolate.marshmallow bits
- Allow the hats to dry before adding to the snack mix.
Snack Mix
- Mix the cereal, popcorn and chocolate-coated pretzels in a large bowl and gently stir. Transfer to a large baking sheet and spread the mix evenly.6 cups rice or corn Chex cereal, 2 cups popped popcorn
- Melt the remaining 3 blocks of almond bark and drizzle over the mixture. Immediately add more sprinkles if desired. Let set until hardened.
- Break the mix into smaller pieces, then add to the peppermint pretzels, holiday candies, and Santa hats and stir to combine.1 cup white chocolate and peppermint coated pretzel crisps, 1 cup holiday chocolate coated candy
Notes
- If you can’t find the Muddy Bites Waffle Cone Snacks, you can use Bugle snacks or cut the tips off of a sugar ice cream cones.
- Store the mix in an airtight container on the counter for up to 1 week.
- Recipe makes 10 cups of snack mix, with a serving size of 1/2 cup.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
