Salty, crunchy, delicious nut free Chex mix is a must for the holiday season. This snack mix will be gobbled up in no time! And since it’s allergy friendly, everyone can enjoy it.
With the holidays just around the corner, you might be thinking about how to adapt your favorite classic holiday recipes to be allergy friendly.
What recipes are your must-haves for the holiday season?
Cornbread casserole? Green bean casserole? Turkey and dressing?
One of our family favorites is Chex mix. The usual version of this party mix would contain a lot of allergens – dairy, gluten, and of course tree nuts and peanuts.
But I don’t want you to miss out on a salty, crunchy party snack, so I came up with a recipe for nut free Chex mix for you.
You won’t miss the nuts in this party mix! It’s salty, a little sweet, and nice and crunchy. I’ve had lots of people tell me that they prefer this version to the classic Chex mix recipe printed on the cereal box.
If you’re looking for more nut free snacks, you might like to try this spiced kettle corn.
Ingredient Notes
- Chex Cereal – Several varieties of Chex are gluten free. This recipe uses just the corn and rice Chex, not the wheat Chex that is usually included in traditional snack mix. Of course you should make sure that the processing of Chex is safe for your particular dietary needs. You can read more about what varieties are gluten free here.
- Vegan Buttery Spread – I find that Earth Balance vegan buttery spread works really well in this recipe. I use the soy free version, but you can use any variety that works for your needs.
- Spices – A blend of garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper give this snack a unique, delicious flavor.
- Brown Sugar – The small amount of sugar adds some sweetness to the spiciness of this mix. It balances it out. This is not a sweet recipe – it’s just a hint of sugar.
- Pumpkin Seeds – Pumpkin seeds that aren’t processed with nuts can be found at Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods, or you can find the brand SuperSeedz at many grocery stores or on Amazon.
Step by Step Instructions
- Melt the vegan buttery spread and mix in the spices.
- Pour over the Chex cereal and stir well.
- Bake at 250 degrees F for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.
Make Ahead Instructions
During the hectic holiday season, I love any recipe I can make ahead of time. This recipe can easily be made a day or two in advance. Just let it cool completely on the baking sheet before storing it in an airtight container.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Nut Free Chex Mix (GF, Dairy Free).
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan buttery spread
- 1 ½ Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 ½ cups corn Chex
- 5 ½ cups rice Chex
- ¾ cup pumpkin seeds optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the rice and corn Chex in a large bowl.
- Melt the vegan buttery spread in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl, or in a pan on the stove if you prefer. Add the sugar and spices. Stir well.
- Pour the melted buttery spread and spices over the cereal. Stir well.
- Spread the mixture out on the baking sheet.
- Bake at 250 degrees F for about 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes.
- Once the Chex mix is done baking, sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top if you wish. You can leave them out or add a different type of seed if desried.
- Once cool, store in an airtight container.
Darryl
This was my sister in law’s favorite holiday recipe! It’s delicious.
Amber
Oooh, going to try this. Generational Celiac Disease here, with tree nut, dairy, and soy allergies. This look great.
Katie
Delicious recipe! I love this party snack!
Kathy
Is it spicy? I want to make it with my 3rd graders.
Kelly Roenicke
Nope! Not spicy. But if you want to eliminate the chili powder just to make sure, you can do that!