Chex Mix with Crispy Ramen & Wasabi Peas

If you’re looking to mix up your baking treats this holiday season, this scrumptious I can’t stop eating Chex mix is the bomb. It’s crunchy, sweet and salty, a perfect medley of flavors. But that’s not all; you get even more crunchy goodness from wasabi peas. Those bright green orbs add just the right amount of spicy kick to the mix.

Find your largest mixing bowl for this recipe. You’ll want to coat the mix evenly with the sauce which requires lots of space for your hands to be able to move around freely.

I posted a similar recipe that included broken bagel chips. In this recipe I replaced them with instant ramen noodles. The wavy baked noodles add a whimsical note to the Chex mix.

Invariably, when you break up the ramen you’ll end up with some smaller crumbs that you don’t want to add to the mix. Break up the ramen into a dish first, then transfer the larger pieces to the bowl of other ingredients and either discard the crumbs or save for another use.

The wasabi peas add a nice touch of spice. They are rather addictive so try not to snack on too many before the peas are stirred into the baked Chex mix.

I always include zingy wasabi peas in the mix but you can leave them out if you are making this for young children or for anyone who doesn’t like spicy foods. Keep in mind they don’t transfer any heat to the other ingredients and can easily be taken out or left behind if someone doesn’t care for them.

Choose furikake that doesn’t contain other flavors such as egg, salmon, wasabi, shiso, bonito and so on. The best option is furikake with black and white sesame seeds and nori (seaweed). Many contain salt and sugar and that is fine. Keep in mind the salt and sugar normally settles to the bottom of the jar, particularly with the Mishima brand, which is my go-to furikake. Either shake the jar before using to distribute the ingredients well, or leave behind that part of the seasoning when you get towards the bottom of the jar.

Use a whisk to mix the heated sauce ingredients. At first it will seem as though the butter won’t come together with the other ingredients but keep whisking and voila!

Use two large half sheet pans covered in heavy duty foil. The sauce that coats the mix will be very sticky and harden as it cools. Covering the pans with foil will save you from a laborious clean up.

Once the mix has baked for an hour, you’ll have two pans of beautiful Chex mix. The wasabi peas get tossed in once everything has cooled down.

I give my Chex mix away throughout the year but it’s especially fun to give away during the holidays. There’s something festive about a bowl of Chex mix while sipping on your favorite holiday beverage.

I purchased mylar bags online and ordered some bright labels for my Chex mix. It’s truly an onolicious snack.