Due to circumstances beyond my control (a crazy family), I missed out on a lot of things in my childhood that others take for granted. Strangely enough, one of those things is Chex mix. I never tasted Chex mix until I was 30 and it was quite an enjoyable discovery. But living and cooking for a spouse with Celiac Disease put Chex Mix back into the forbidden recipe book, never to see the light of day.
Once Chex started offering gluten free varieties of its cereals, everything changed. I got the family heirloom Chex mix recipe from my Mother In Law (we call her Mama Bear) and have made it as an occasional snack/treat for special occasions. This is by no means health food, it’s to be eaten sparingly and as a treat, not an everyday food. Here’s how to make gluten free Chex mix.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 Cup Organic Peanut Butter
- 1/2 Cup Organic Butter
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Honey
- 1/8 Cup Water
- 12 Cups Gluten Free Chex (any flavors)
- 3/4 Cup Slivered Almonds
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans
- 1 Cup Peanuts (optional)
- 1 Cup Raisins (optional)
Directions:
- Combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, honey and water in a large saucepan. Heat on low until gently bubbling.
- Pour hot liquid over dry ingredients and mix well.
- Spread on baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 15 minutes.
It’s a very simple recipe for a special treat. And the great thing about Chex Mix is its versatility – you can add any number of your favorite ingredients; raisins, pretzels, bagel chips, shredded coconut, currants, or banana chips, just to name a few.
Maybe a batch of Chex mix is just the thing to accompany watching a football game on a chilly autumn afternoon, or to enjoy over a board game with the family during the holiday season. And maybe this recipe will encourage you to recall fondly when your Mom used to make it for you when you were a child, and dig out your own family recipe for Chex mix.
Photo credit: Jess Lander on Wikimedia with Creative Commons License