by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Make this fun and irresistible Furikake Chex Mix for a holiday gift exchange, movie night, or potluck. This Hawaiian favorite blends crunchy cereals, pretzels, Bugles, and roasted green peas with a sweet-savory glaze and Japanese rice seasoning. Every bite is crispy, addictive, and full of Japanese-inspired flavor. It’s an easy crowd-pleaser you can personalize with your favorite mix-ins.

Furikake Chex Mix is a fun treat to make during the holiday season. Prepare a big batch, pour it into small jars or bags, and hand them out to neighbors and friends—This crunchy snack mix keeps well, travels beautifully, and everyone asks for the recipe without fail.

Just remember to toss the mix often while it bakes and cools so the pieces stay crisp, glossy, and separate—you don’t want them to clump and stick together!

  • A homemade gift everyone loves – It’s perfect for holiday gifting, school treats, and snack swaps.
  • Flexible and fun – Customize the cereals, nuts, and seasonings to create endless variations.
  • Great for parties and snacking – It disappears fast at gatherings and potlucks. People can’t stop eating it!

Bon Appetit – Julia Child and Karen Soo shares the same birthday.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Corn Chex
  • 4 cups Wheat Chex
  • 4 cups Honeycomb cereal
  • 4 cups Bugles corn snack
  • 2 cups pretzel sticks
  • 1 bag Japanese roasted green pea snack (2.5 oz, 73 g per bag)

For the Seasoning

For the Syrup

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, 8 Tbsp)
  • 1/2 cup brown rice syrup (most recipes use corn syrup, but I use brown rice syrup for a healthier option with more neutral flavor)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup neutral oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 250ºF (120ºC). Gather all the ingredients

To Make the Syrup

  1. In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup unsalted butter over medium heat. Then add 1/2 cup brown rice syrup,1/2 cup sugar,1/4 cup neutral oil, and 2 Tbsp soy sauce.
  • Lower the heat to avoid boiling and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat to cool slightly. Meanwhile, prepare the party mix blend.

To Prepare the Party Mix

1. Add 4 cups Corn Chex, 4 cups Wheat Chex, 4 cups Honeycomb cereal, 4 cups Bugles corn snack, 2 cups pretzel sticks, and 1 bag Japanese roasted green pea snack to a large baking pan with high sides.

2. Whisk the syrup again to blend well, then evenly distribute it over the party mix. Toss well with two silicone spatulas until evenly coated.

3. Sprinkle 1 jar nori komi furikake on top and toss well until all pieces are evenly coated. If you like it spicy, sprinkle with 2 tsp shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice), to taste.

To Bake

1.Bake at 250ºF (120ºC) for 1 hour. After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and toss the mix, then return it to the oven to continue baking. Toss the mix every 15 minutes (3 times total).

2. After 1 hour, remove from the oven and let it cool completely. As it cools, toss it every 15 minutes (at least 3 times) to break up the clusters so they separate and don’t stick together.

Nami’s Tip: If you skip this step and your party mix clumps, bake it for another 15 minutes until the syrup melts and the mix becomes loose again. Then take it out and be sure to toss it every 15 minutes this time!

To Serve

  1. Enjoy! Serve right away or package it into airtight bags or containers for gifting.

To Store

  1. You can keep in an airtight container or mason jars and store it in a dark, cool place for up to 2–3 weeks or in the freezer for 2–3 months.