bowl of hot honey snack mix on table with bottle

Sweet & Spicy Snack Mix

We have hopped on the latest food trend and have fallen in love with hot honey. It is fantastic on pizza, cornbread or just about anything that needs a little boost of sweet and spicy flavor. It was a no brainer to use it in this sweet and spicy snack mix!

We love our Chex Mix around here. From the classic Microwave Chex Mix to Sweet & Salty Cranberry Snack Mix, the savory and sweet varieties are all delicious. For this Hot Honey Chex Mix, we merged both sweet and savory into one amazing snack.

Hot Honey Recipe

Hot Honey Chex Mix has just two simple ingredients in the sauce that coats and caramelizes Chex cereal, pretzels and nuts. The hot honey is infused with chilis and offers all the flavor you need along with a good amount of salty butter of course.

Depending on how spicy you like your food, you can opt for the original hot honey or extra hot. I stuck with the original and it offers a nice hint of spice that goes wonderfully with the caramelized honey cereal. Even my Kindergartener loved it! If I was making it for myself, I would go for the extra hot, but I love my food spicy.

Rice, Wheat and Corn Chex cereal, butter, cashews, pretzels and hot honey on table

large bowl with Chex cereal, pretzels and cashews

How to make Hot Honey Chex Mix

Grab all your dry ingredients and mix them in an extra large bowl or roasting pan. Here is what you will need

Corn Chex Mix

Rice Chex Mix

Wheat Chex Mix

Pretzels

Cashews -> use any nut you like, cashews are just our favorite

If you want to make this gluten free, it’s easy to just use extra rice and corn Chex and leave out the wheat Chex and pretzels.

Mike's Hot Honey Jar with honey dripping down

Hot Honey Butter Sauce

Melt one cup of butter in a microwave safe bowl and whisk 2/3 cup hot honey into the butter until it is well combined. Pour the hot honey butter sauce over the cereal mix and stir very well so everything is coated. It takes a few minutes to make sure all the cereal is well coated, so don’t rush this step.

How to make homemade hot honey

If you don’t have a bottle of hot honey, add 2/3 cup honey to a small saucepan along with 4 teaspoons chili flakes. Heat and simmer for 2 minutes, being sure NOT to allow the honey to boil.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, or until the honey has reached your desired level of heat. Strain the honey into the melted butter. If you want an extra spicy snack mix, feel free to leave the chilis in the honey.

Baking Chex Mix

Bake the hot honey coated Chex Mix at 350°F for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully stir the cereal. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Stir and return for a final 5 minutes.

Line your kitchen table with wax paper while the Chex Mix is baking. I like to tape two long four foot pieces together so it’s easier to pour the cooled Chex Mix into a large bowl when it is cooled.

Using a spatula, spread the the Hot Honey Chex Mix over the wax paper. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes. Try your best not to sneak a bite right out of the oven, because it will burn your mouth. Not that I’m speaking from experience…

snack mix in bowl with botte of hot honey

Storing Spicy Chex Mix

When the Hot Honey Chex Mix has completely cooled, store it in an airtight container. It keeps well for at least a week, not that it will stick around that long. This sweet and spicy Chex Mix is highly addictive!

If you love spicy snack mix recipes, be sure to try some more of our favorites

Honey Sriracha Snack Mix – Similar sweet and spicy goodness, but with delicious sriracha.

Buffalo Ranch Snack Mix – This classic flavor combo is great in Chex Mix.

Cheddar Sriracha Snack Mix – This cheesy spicy snack mix is another great option with Cheeze-Its.

Notes

*If you don't have hot honey, add 2/3 cup honey to a small saucepan along with 4 teaspoons chili flakes. Heat and simmer for 2 minutes, being sure NOT to allow the honey to boil. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, or until the honey has reached your desired level of heat. Strain the honey into the melted butter. If you want an extra spicy snack mix, feel free to leave the chilis in the honey.