Nuts and Bolts Recipe: Easy Holiday Snack Mix

Posted January 17, 2019| Updated February 4, 2022 Recipes

There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than by preparing a festive Nuts and Bolts Recipe.

With its finger-licking-good seasoning and satisfying crunch, Nuts and Bolts are traditionally made of a combination of seasoned cereals, nuts, pretzels and other crunchy morsels like sesame sticks or spicy wasabi peas.

The popular Christmas party snack, also known as Nuts n’ Bolts, has been delighting carb, garlic and nut loving snack fans around the holidays for decades!

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What are Nuts and Bolts?

Traditional Nuts n Bolts offer a humorous take on the “nuts and bolts” commonly found in a handyman’s workshop. The holiday snack mix features pretzel sticks (the bolts) and nuts (which take on the form as Cheerios, as well as mixed nuts).

Nuts and Bolts recipes vary wildly based on family tradition but the majority consistently feature Chex and Cheerio cereal as well as roasted nuts and pretzel sticks. The recipe is so easy to customize that many families develop their own signature snack mix each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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A Festive Family Snack and Party Mix

Nuts and Bolts recipes were first popularized in America and Canada and are traditionally considered a North American holiday snack or party mix. Today, the popular holiday snack is enjoyed all over the world, 365 days a year!

My sister and I looked forward to the cooler months in Canada as we knew our parents would prepare the families Nuts and Bolts recipe each Thanksgiving. It’s an easy recipe to make with children as it’s fun for kids to dump out all those cereals and nuts. There are no knives or flames required so it’s a safe and fun holiday tradition to enjoy with the whole family. It doesn’t hurt that our Nuts and Bolts recipe tastes great too!

Also known as Holiday Snack Mix and Christmas Chex Mix, the recipe is traditionally prepared in the Fall and Winter. We enjoy serving Nuts and Bolts at the cottage in Muskoka in the summer too!

Nuts and Bolts Recipe: Easy Holiday Snack Mix | dobbernationLOVES (3)

When To Make Nuts and Bolts

Most people usually dust off their Nuts and Bolts recipe during the holidays as they’re a fixture at Christmas parties.

My family loves our nuts and bolts recipe so much that my parents have extended the “party mix snacking season,” from Canadian Thanksgiving until after Christmas. I love this Chex mix so much that I make it year round, and you should too!

Christmas Party: the most popular time of year to prepare a traditional Nuts and Bolts recipe is during Christmas. I like to serve them around the home in separate bowls to encourage guests to move.
Thanksgiving Dinner: we traditionally prepare our first Nuts n Bolts recipe of the season during the Thanksgiving holidays. Family and friends who arrive for turkey dinner know to march straight into the kitchen to enjoy pre-dinner snack mix munching.
Super Bowl Snacks: if you’re a sports fan, there’s no better way to liven up a beer-sloshed gathering than with a well seasoned snack mix dotted with mixed nuts.
Oscar Party: if sports aren’t your thing, you’re likely more keen to gather for an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy, Emmy, or RuPaul’s Drag Race Party. Serve our Nuts and Bolts recipe and your friends will be licking the bowl clean.
Cottage and Camping: if you store your nuts n bolts in an airtight container they’re a great snack to enjoy on your next camping trip. Or if you’re planning to relax at the beach or lazing at the dock during the summer it’s the perfect snack mix to enjoy with a cold beer while tanning.

Nuts and Bolts Recipe: Easy Holiday Snack Mix | dobbernationLOVES (4)

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Get Creative with Your Nuts and Bolts Recipe

We’ve spent decades fine tuning our families Nuts and Bolts recipe. Because Nuts n Bolts are an easy to prepare party mix, you can add or remove ingredients to best suit your taste.

Vegan Nuts and Bolts Recipe: if you eat a plant based diet, tinker with the ingredients in the Nuts and Bolts sauce. Swap out butter for a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil.
Gluten-free Nuts and Bolts Recipe: if you’ve got Celiac it’s easy to prepare a gluten-free nuts and bolts recipe. Many of the cereals today are made of oats, rice and corn. Simply swap out pretzels and Shreddies for your favourite gluten-free options and enjoy!
Nuts and Bolts for Garlic Lovers: I’ve met many nuts n bolts lovers who add twice the amount of garlic in their recipes. Feel free to kick it up a notch until you’ve got the desired punch of garlic for your palette.
Nut-free Nuts and Bolts: for those allergic to nuts you can absolutely leave these out. Replace the nuts cup for cup with additional cereal, or find a crunchy nut-free substitute such as wasabi peas.
Dill Flavoured Ranch Nuts and Bolts Recipe: I’ve been to a few Christmas parties where the snack mix was flavoured with homemade ranch. It’s a perfect idea for those who love dill!
Healthy Nuts and Bolts Recipe: the easiest way to make our Nuts and Bolts recipe healthier is by cutting back on the butter. When my parents prepare Nuts and Bolts for our family during the holidays they cut out half the fat. The nuts and bolts will be more dry and less flavourful, you’ve been warned. Another option is to add half butter and half olive oil to your sauce and play around the the proportions to suit your tastes. You can also emphasize healthier nuts and cereal to increase the vitamins and minerals as well as fibre in your nuts and bolts recipe.

Nuts and Bolts Recipe: Easy Holiday Snack Mix | dobbernationLOVES (7)

Nuts and Bolts Recipe Supplies

Before making Nuts and Bolts you’ll need to ensure you have the correct items in your kitchen. We’ve linked the ingredients and supplies below on Amazon to make your online shopping experience easy.

Cheerios
Shreddies
Crispix
Rice Chex
Pretzels
Cashews
Peanuts
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Almonds
Sesame Sticks
Worcestershire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Smoked Paprika
Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cups
Rubber Spatula Spoon
Large Roasting Pan
Stainless Steel Pot

How To Make Gourmet Holiday Snack Mix

Print Recipe

Nuts and Bolts Recipe

Celebrate the holidays by preparing our festive Nuts and Bolts Recipe. The popular holiday snack mix features seasoned cereals, nuts and pretzels.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chex mix, holiday snack mix, Nuts and Bolts Recipe

Servings: 14

Calories: 222kcal

Ingredients

5 cups Wheat Chex Shreddies
5 cups Corn Chex Crispix
5 cups Rice Chex
5 cups Cheerios
3 cups pretzels
1 cup cashews
1 cup peanuts
1 cup hazelnuts
1 cup pecans
1 cup almonds
2 cup sesame sticks
2 cups salted butter melted
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250F.
Place butter in medium pot and melt over the stove while the oven is preheating.
Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. Stir well to combine.
In a large roasting pan combine cereals, nuts, pretzels and sesame sticks.
Pour sauce into the roasting pan a half cup at a time, stirring gently to combine.
Bake for 2 hours, stirring the Nuts n Bolts every 30 minutes.
Once cooled, store the party mix in air tight containers or Ziplock bags.

Nutrition

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FAQs

What to use instead of bugles in nuts and bolts? ›

add cheeses, hoops, and I would say to add bugles, but I just found out they're discontinued in Canada. so let's collectively take a moment to grieve. so instead, we're adding corn chips, more hoops, Czech cereal, pretzels, crisp mix, and none of that bad stuff that nobody likes.

Explore More ›

How to get nuts and bolts in Dreamlight Valley? ›

After unlocking it, look for almond plants and harvest almonds from them. With each harvest, you'll get two almonds. After grabbing both these ingredients, you can go to any cooking station and make Nuts & Bolts by interacting with the pot.

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How long is homemade chex mix good for? ›

Make Ahead Instructions: Chex mix tastes freshest when served within 2-3 days of making it, but it will last stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Freezing Instructions: Chex mix freezes great! Store in freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.

What is another name for Chex Mix? ›

First off this recipe can be found under many names besides Party Mix such as Chex Mix, Nuts and Bolts, TV Mix, or Snack Mix.

Get More Info Here ›

What is a good substitute for Bugles in snack mix? ›

These are a delicious corn chip that holds up well to this recipe and provides the salty crunch to the snack mix. If you can't find Bugles, you could use pretzel twists or another corn chip like Fritos.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you get the royal pickaxe in Dreamlight Valley? ›

Royal Pickaxe

Go to Scrooge McDuck's shop and follow the path on its right side, to the east. You'll see a large rock with a pickaxe stuck on it. Go up to it, and attempt to remove it from the rock. Of course, you are worthy, so it'll pop right out for you to keep it for yourself.

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Is it cheaper to buy Chex Mix or make your own? ›

Homemade Chex Mix Is Cheaper AND More Delicious Than The Store-Bought Stuff. Chex Mix offers variety: the crisp cereal, toasty pretzels, the unique crunch of the bagel chips. This homemade recipe puts the store-bought to shame.

Keep Reading ›

Is Chex Mix healthy or not? ›

But sadly, what makes it taste so good also makes Chex Mix not the healthiest option. It's full of refined grains, sugar, and tons of sodium. That's why I love to make my own healthy, Gluten Free Chex mix that's just as addicting without the ultra-processed stuff.

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Why did my Chex Mix burn? ›

NOTE: Many readers have had issues with their mix burning at 325 degrees. I haven't had this problem, but I would recommend baking at 250 degrees F to avoid this potential issue. In a large roasting pan, stir together the cereals, pretzels and nuts.

Tell Me More ›

Why is Chex Mix not in Canada? ›

Chex has really not caught on as a brand in Canada. Although many other products of General Mills, like Cheerios, are very popular, Chex is seen as a “niche” product.

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What was the first flavor of Chex cereal? ›

Wheat Chex cereal was introduced in 1937 and Rice Chex in 1950 by Ralston Purina. In 1952 an advertisem*nt for Chex party mix appeared in Life Magazine with a recipe that included Wheat and Rice Chex. In 1958 Corn Chex was introduced and added to the recipe.

Find Out More ›

Are Crispix and Chex the same? ›

Crispix is a blend of corn and rice cereal, while Chex is packed individually as corn, rice, or wheat. Alternatively, you could use Barbara's Multigrain Spoonfuls.

What is comparable to Bugles? ›

It's called Tongari Corn — a salty, crispy, horn-shaped corn snack that's been made by House Foods in Japan since the 1970s. Tongari Corn looks and tastes very similar to Bugles, which are no longer sold in Canada. The Japanese snack is sold at many Asian grocery stores across the country. ( Danielle Nerman/CBC)

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What is similar to a bugle? ›

A cornet and trumpet are similar, in that they are like bugles with valves. You still can get different pitches by buzzing differently, but with valves, you can get all the notes in between the buzzed notes.

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Why were Bugles banned? ›

Bugles were discontinued in Canada in early 2010 due to a decrease in customer demand, but were soon brought back in November 2011 due to a renew in demand.