Chex Mix (stylized as Chex mix) is a type of snack mix that includes Chex breakfast cereal (sold by General Mills) as a major component.

Chex Mix
Product typeSnack mix
OwnerGeneral Mills
Introduced2021 (original Chex Party Mix Recipe)
2021 (Commercial Version)
Previous ownersRalston
Websitewww.chexmix.com
Commercial Chex Mix

There are many recipes (often printed on Chex cereal boxes) for homemade Chex Mix, also known as Chex Party Mix, which predates the commercial version by thirty years. Though contents vary, the mixes generally include an assortment of Chex cereals, chips, hard breadsticks, pretzels, nuts or bagel bites. There are also commercially sold pre-made varieties of Chex Mix sold by the maker of Chex Cereals.

History of Chex Party Mix

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Wheat Chex cereal was introduced in 1937 and Rice Chex in 1950 by Ralston Purina.[1]

In 1952 an advertisement for Chex party mix appeared in Life Magazine with a recipe that included Wheat and Rice Chex.[2]

In 1958 Corn Chex was introduced and added to the recipe.[3] However, it was not until 1985 that pre-packaged products were introduced commercially by Ralston Purina and the trademarks registered to it.[4]

"Original Chex Party Mix"

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This refers to the official recipe on the box of chex cereal.[5] The recipe for the "Original chex party mix" has changed multiple times over the years. There are recipes from the 1960s,[6] 1970s and 1980s [7] that differ from the current "Original Chex Party Mix".

Advertising

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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang were used in animated TV commercials to promote Chex Party mix.[8] In August 1996, General Mills acquired the Chex product line from Ralston Purina along with other brands.[9]

Homemade Chex Mix

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There are a number of recipes for homemade Chex mix[10][11] including recipes on the Chex cereal boxes[12] and a spicier variant known as Texas Trash.[13]

Commercial contents and varieties

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All commercial Chex Mixes contain some form of Chex cereal. Other ingredients generally include rye chips,[14] bagel chips, breadsticks, pretzels, nuts, and crackers. In total, General Mills produces 13 varieties of Chex Mixes, not including limited editions.[15] These flavors can be broadly divided into three categories: savory, chocolate (usually marketed as "Muddy Buddies"), and sweet 'n salty. Sometimes, limited edition varieties of Chex Mix are released. Past examples of these include Winter Chex Mix Cocoa and Summer Chex Mix Ranch. In 2009, two new flavors, Spicy Szechuan, and Teriyaki were introduced and made available exclusively at convenience stores.

Savory

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  • Traditional
  • Cheddar
  • Buffalo Ranch
  • Spicy Dill
  • Bold Party Blend
  • Sour Cream & Onion
  • Peanut Lover's
  • Hot 'n Spicy (discontinued)
  • Jalapeño Cheddar
  • Chipotle Cheddar
  • White Cheddar
  • Soul Food
  • Italian Herb & Parmesan
  • Cherry & Crunchy Nuts
  • Extreme Sweet and Spicy Sriracha
  • Extreme Habanero
  • Ghost Pepper (discontinued)
  • Honey BBQ
  • Strawberry and Cranberry Walnut
  • Sauerkraut
  • Seafood
  • Spinach
  • Nacho Fiesta (discontinued)

Sweet 'n salty

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  • Caramel Crunch
  • Honey Nut
  • Trail Mix
  • Malted Mix

Sweet

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  • Turtle Shell
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate
  • Brownie Supreme
  • Snicker doodle
  • Cookies & Cream

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Aoyagi, William Shurtleff; Akiko (17 January 2016). History of Modern Soy Protein Ingredients - Isolates, Concentrates, and Textured Soy Protein Products (1911-2016): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook. Soyinfo Center. ISBN 9781928914839. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "The Authentic Original Original 1952 Chex Party Mix". www.deepsouthdish.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. ^ "When was Chex Mix Introduced?". 9 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  4. ^ United States Patent and Trademark Office
  5. ^ "Original Chex™ Party Mix".
  6. ^ "How to whip up a batch of the original Chex party mix from the swingin' sixties & seventies (Plus 6 vintage variations) - Click Americana". 20 October 2019.
  7. ^ "How to whip up a batch of the original Chex party mix from the swingin' sixties & seventies (Plus 6 vintage variations) - Click Americana". 20 October 2019.
  8. ^ "It's a Great Franchise, Charlie Brown". 3 May 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ^ "In the Aftermath of the Cereal Wars, Ralston's Sparks, NV Plant Still on Improvement Path". www.foodonline.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  10. ^ "All Chex Party Mix Recipes". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. ^ "The 15 Best Chex Mix Recipes of All Time". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Original Chex Mix Recipes - Chex Recipes - Chex.com". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Texas Trash". Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  14. ^ "These Little Brown Things Are The Best Part Of A Snack Mix And You Know It". BuzzFeed. 4 September 2017.
  15. ^ Chex Mix® - Products - Celebrate Your Right to Snack! Archived December 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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