Sweet & Salty Christmas Party Snack Mix You’ll Crave Till New Year’s

Let’s be honest: the holiday snacking game can make or break a party. You want bowls guests can’t stop reaching for, flavors that hit every craving, and something you can toss together without a culinary degree. That’s where these Sweet & Salty Christmas Party Snack Mix recipes shine—five bold, crunchy, candy-studded mixes that deliver instant festive joy.

We’re talking movie-night munching, last-minute hostess gifts, and nibbling while you decorate the tree. Each mix brings its own vibe—classic, chocolate-loaded, spiced, fancy, or no-bake chaos in the best way. Grab a big bowl. Maybe two.

1. The Classic Crowd-Pleaser Crunch That Disappears First

This is your nostalgic holiday hug in a bowl—crisp cereal, pretzels, and peanuts coated in a light caramel-butter glaze and dotted with M&M’s. It’s insanely snackable and stays crunchy for days. Bring it to a party and watch it vanish before the mulled wine cools.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups rice chex cereal
• 3 cups corn chex cereal
• 2 cups mini pretzels
• 1.5 cups salted roasted peanuts
• 1 cup honey-roasted peanuts (optional for extra sweetness)
• 1.5 cups red and green chocolate candies (like holiday M&M’s), divided
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup (or honey)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
2. In a huge bowl, combine rice chex, corn chex, pretzels, and both peanuts.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup. Stir until smooth and just bubbling, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.
4. Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients. Toss gently until everything is lightly coated. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes for even crunch. Cool for 10 minutes.
6. Sprinkle in 1 cup of the chocolate candies while the mix is warm but not hot (so they don’t fully melt). Toss, then cool completely. Fold in the remaining 1/2 cup candies.

Serve in big bowls with a scoop for easy snacking. Want variety? Swap peanuts for mixed nuts or add 1 cup of mini pretzel rods for extra texture. Pro tip: Store in an airtight container at room temp up to 1 week—if it lasts that long, seriously.

2. Triple-Chocolate Peppermint Bark Mix That’s Basically Dessert

If hot cocoa and a candy cane had a crunchy little baby, this would be it. You get crispy cereal, salty pretzels, and marshmallows drenched in white and dark chocolate with a peppermint crunch. It looks super festive but takes minimal effort—like your favorite ugly sweater but make it chic.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups corn chex cereal
• 2 cups chocolate chex cereal (or rice chex + 2 tbsp cocoa powder tossed in)
• 2 cups mini pretzels
• 1.5 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
• 8 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (divided)
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional for stronger flavor)
• 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
• 3/4 cup holiday sprinkles (optional but adorable)

Instructions:

1. Line two large baking sheets with parchment. In a big bowl, combine both cereals, pretzels, and marshmallows.
2. Melt white chocolate with 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil in the microwave in 20–30 second bursts, stirring until smooth. Stir in peppermint extract if using.
3. Drizzle half the white chocolate over the mix and toss gently. Spread onto the baking sheets.
4. Melt semisweet chocolate with remaining coconut oil. Drizzle in zigzags over the mix, then drizzle remaining white chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint, flaky sea salt, and sprinkles.
5. Let set at room temp 45–60 minutes or chill for 15 minutes until chocolate firms. Break into clusters.

Serve with hot cocoa or espresso for the ultimate cozy combo. For a dairy-free twist, use vegan chocolate and marshmallows. Extra-credit move: Bag it up with ribbon for ridiculously easy edible gifts—trust me, you’ll look like a snack genius.

3. Maple-Chile Nutty Snack Mix With a Warm Holiday Kick

Meet the spicy-sweet bowl that keeps adults hovering around the table. Maple syrup, smoked paprika, and a touch of cayenne cling to roasted nuts and crunchy bits for a slow-building heat that feels like a fireplace for your taste buds. It’s snack mix with swagger.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rice chex cereal
• 2 cups wheat squares cereal
• 2 cups mini pretzel twists
• 2 cups mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans)
• 1 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional, but lovely)

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large rimmed sheet pan with parchment.
2. Combine cereals, pretzels, mixed nuts, and pepitas in a big bowl.
3. In a saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in maple syrup, soy sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and orange zest until emulsified.
4. Pour over the dry mix, toss to coat, then spread evenly on the sheet pan.
5. Bake 35–40 minutes, stirring halfway, until toasted and fragrant. Cool 10 minutes, then fold in dried cranberries.

Serve with craft beer or a bourbon cocktail for peak holiday vibes. Want it milder? Cut cayenne to a pinch and add 2 tablespoons brown sugar. For extra crunch, toss in 1 cup corn nuts after baking so they stay insanely crisp.

4. Salted Caramel Pretzel-Toffee Mix That Tastes Like A Fancy Gift Box

This one is pure luxury: shards of pretzel toffee, buttery pecans, and cinnamon cereal pieces kissed with flaky salt. It’s the kind of snack that makes people ask, “Who made this?” Feels expensive. Takes under an hour. Win-win.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cinnamon toast-style cereal
• 3 cups rice chex cereal
• 3 cups mini pretzel twists
• 1.5 cups pecan halves
• 1 cup chopped dark chocolate (60–70%)
• 1 cup toffee bits or chopped pretzel toffee (see quick toffee below)
• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more to finish
• Quick Pretzel Toffee:
• 2 cups mini pretzels (additional to the amount above)
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Make pretzel toffee: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, top with parchment, and arrange 2 cups mini pretzels in a single layer.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar; boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and pour over pretzels. Bake 8–10 minutes until bubbling and deep amber. Cool completely, then break into bite-sized pieces.
3. In a large bowl, combine cinnamon cereal, rice chex, 3 cups mini pretzels, and pecans.
4. Microwave dark chocolate in 20–30 second bursts until smooth. Drizzle half over the cereal mix and toss lightly.
5. Fold in pretzel toffee shards and toffee bits. Drizzle remaining chocolate. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
6. Let set until chocolate firms, then break into clusters.

Serve on a pretty platter with extra flaky salt. For a nut-free version, swap pecans for pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Pro tip: This mix makes stellar gifts—pack in tins with parchment and add a cinnamon stick for aroma.

5. No-Bake Santa’s Trail Mix For Last-Minute Magic

Ten minutes. One bowl. Maximum cheer. This mix is the colorful, kid-friendly, office-hero snack you pull together when you need something festive fast. It’s chewy, crunchy, sweet, salty—and it holds up all night on the party table.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rice chex cereal
• 3 cups honey-nut cheerios or similar oat cereal
• 2 cups mini pretzel sticks
• 1 cup salted cashews
• 1 cup yogurt-covered raisins
• 1 cup dried cherries or cranberries
• 1.5 cups red and green chocolate candies
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup mini peanut butter cups or peanut butter chips
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional snow effect)
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a giant bowl, combine cereals, pretzels, cashews, yogurt raisins, and dried fruit.
2. Add chocolate candies, white chocolate chips, and mini peanut butter cups. Sprinkle in salt and cinnamon. Toss gently to distribute.
3. If using coconut, sprinkle over the top like snow and give it one last toss.

That’s it. Bowl to table, done. Want it allergy-friendly? Use seed butter chips and swap cashews for roasted chickpeas. For a cleaner take, try dark chocolate chunks and unsweetened coconut. Pack leftovers in small zip bags for “Santa fuel” on Christmas Eve.

Snack Mix Success Tips

Keep mixes crunchy by cooling completely before storing—warm steam makes things soggy. Use parchment-lined sheet pans for easy stirring and cleanup. And taste as you go; a pinch more salt can take a mix from good to “give me the bowl.”

How To Store & Gift

• Storage: Airtight containers at room temperature for 5–7 days; chocolate-coated versions can go 2 weeks.
• Freezing: Most mixes (except marshmallow-heavy) freeze well up to 1 month. Thaw uncovered to keep crunch.
• Gifting: Mason jars, tins, or cellophane bags with a cute tag. Include allergen notes for nuts/gluten.

Mix & Match Add-Ins

• Crunch: Bugles, corn chips, pita chips, sesame sticks
• Sweet: Toffee bits, chocolate-covered espresso beans, candied ginger
• Fruit: Dried apricots (chopped), golden raisins, freeze-dried raspberries
• Nuts/Seeds: Pistachios, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds
• Spices: Gingerbread spice, chai spice, cardamom sugar

Ready to be the snack hero of the season? Pick a mix, crank some carols, and get tossing. These bowls of crunchy joy are made for cozy movie nights, impromptu parties, and that one relative who always “just wants a little something.” Make one—or make all five—and let the snacking begin.