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My pumpkin spice snack mix takes the Chex mix everybody already loves and gives it the full fall treatment. Brown sugar and warm pumpkin pie spice baked in with all that salty crunch, and candy corn and candy pumpkins through it. Nobody stops at one handful.
I start making this right after Labor Day and it stays in my rotation all fall. I make it for tailgates, for friends coming over, and for no particular reason at all. If I am putting out a whole spread it usually sits next to my pumpkin pie dip and a loaf of chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
I stir the pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and vanilla into the melted butter and pour that over everything, instead of shaking spice over the top at the end. Every piece comes out coated, so the fall flavor is in the mix itself and the candy is the decoration. People see a bowl of Chex mix, expect the usual, and get something else.
You will see this called pumpkin spice chex mix, or pumpkin chex mix, and it is all the same bowl. If you want more of them, my Chex mix recipes roundup has one for every season, and my pumpkin desserts collection is where the rest of my fall baking lives.
FALL FAVORITE
The Bags of Candy Corn I Buy Before I Need Them
The first bag of candy corn on the shelf at Target is what tells me fall is here. I pick up two whether I have a plan for them or not, and this is what they usually turn into. There is always a snack mix occasion coming, or a snack mix emergency, and I would rather be ready.
Here’s Where Most Go Wrong
The candy goes in cold, or it does not go in at all.
Straight out of the oven the coating is hot and sticky, and a reader told me hers melted when she added the candy too early.
Spread the mix on wax paper and leave it until it is cool to the touch, then toss the candy through. That is the only step in this recipe you can actually get wrong.
The Ingredients Worth Getting Right
- Caramel Bugles: The sweet and salty caramel ones, in the 6 ounce bag. They are the piece that makes this taste different from every other Chex mix. I buy mine at Walmart, and when I went looking on DoorDash they came up at a lot of convenience stores and gas stations, so try those before you give up. If your store does not carry them, regular Bugles are fine. You lose the caramel that way, so that is a good time to add the chips I use with the M&M’s below.
- The M&M’s: This started out with Boo-terscotch M&M’s, back when they were on the shelf. They were a one-season release in 2016 and have never come back, so do not go hunting for them. Now I use whatever fall M&M’s are out that year, and when I want more of that fall flavor I add butterscotch chips, caramel chips, toffee bits or peanut butter chips in with them.
- Honey Nut Chex: Not plain Chex. The honey coating means the base is already a little sweet before anything goes on it.
- Harvest candy mix: Sometimes sold as Autumn Mix. It is candy corn plus the little candy pumpkins, and the pumpkins are the part people notice in the bowl.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix
The whole pumpkin spice snack mix recipe is one bowl, one baking sheet and a low oven.
Step 1: Mix the Dry Base Toss the Chex, pretzels and Bugles together in your biggest bowl. Bigger than you think you need, because you have to stir this without flinging it everywhere.
Step 2: Pour the Coating Over It Stir the melted butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla together, then pour it over the dry mix and stir until everything is coated. Keep going past the point where it looks done, because the pieces at the bottom always get missed.
Step 3: Bake and Stir Often Spread it on a lined baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15.
Step 4: Cool Completely, Then Add the Candy Spread it on wax paper and walk away until it is cool to the touch. Then toss through the M&M’s, harvest candy and Reese’s Pieces.
Easy Ways to Switch It Up
Other things that work in place of Caramel Bugles. If you would rather swap in something else sweet and crunchy, Cracker Jack, Werther’s Original Caramel Popcorn, Crunch ‘n Munch or a caramel puff corn are all in the same neighborhood. I have not baked any of them into this myself, so treat them as a starting point rather than something I am promising.
Anything popcorn based goes in at the end. A reader asked me about adding caramel popcorn and I would toss it through with the candy once the mix has cooled, rather than sending it through the oven.
Want it in the slow cooker? My slow cooker Chex mix is its own recipe rather than this one adapted, so start there instead.
Making It Ahead and Storing It
This is a good one to make a day or two before you need it, which is most of why it ends up at tailgates and parties.
Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature and it holds for up to a week. Sealed up, the coating stays crisp.
More Fall Snack Mix Recipes
- Halloween Chex Mix
- Churro Chex Mix
- Fall Harvest Muddy Buddies
- Christmas Crack Chex Mix
- Hot Chocolate Muddy Buddies
This recipe originally came to Princess Pinky Girl from guest contributor Nicole Burkholder.
Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups honey nut Chex cereal
- 2 cups pretzels
- 6 oz bag Caramel Bugles Caramel Bugles
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz bag Boo-terscotch M&M’s if you cannot find them you can use regular M&M's and add in caramel chips, toffee bits, or peanut butter chips.
- 1 cup harvest candy mix candy corn, candy pumpkins
- ½ cup Reese’s pieces
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the cereal, pretzels and Bugles4 cups honey nut Chex cereal, 2 cups pretzels, 6 oz bag Caramel Bugles
- In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and then pour over the dry mix. Stir to coat.¼ cup butter, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat, spread out the mixture into an even layer
- Bake at 275 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. (Your house will smell AMAZING)
- Spread on wax paper to cool and then toss with the candy pieces.8 oz bag Boo-terscotch M&M’s, 1 cup harvest candy mix, ½ cup Reese’s pieces
- Store in an airtight container and eat by the hearty handful
Jenn’s Notes
- Let the mix cool all the way down before you add any candy.
- Boo-terscotch M&M’s were a one-season release in 2016 and are not coming back. Fall M&M’s or butterscotch chips are what to use.
- Caramel Bugles come in a 6 ounce bag.
Five if I could copy this recipe
Or it was printable
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Boo-terscotch M&M’s were discontinued in 2016.
Yes, sadly they have been discontinued. We look every year and usually will grab the latest Fall M&M’s, but we are always holding out hope for the originals that we created this recipe with. But to get that butterscotch taste, I will add in some caramel chips, toffee bits, or peanut butter chips. It is a super verstitle recipe so there is really no wrong way to make it!
Is it a 16 oz bag or 1-6 oz bag, I’m cornfused.
6 oz. Hope you like this one!
It 1- 6oz, but good luck finding them!
I can’t wait to make this recipe.
Amazing
When you say this is 12 servings how big of a serving does it make? If I want for more people do I need to double it?
Love pumpkin
My candy melted so I only heated it once for 15 minutes.
You don’t add the candy until the mix is completely cooled. Do not add it with the mix before heating. 😊
i am super excited to try this, Do you know how long I can store after I make it? Thank you for the recipe.
thank you for sharing I love chex mix at hollidays this version.sound great to add to my favorites