Yes, it's that popular candy from the popular Netflix series Squid Game. I remember so many people making these after binging the show! A popular Korean street food also known as Ppopgi, the best way I can describe it is brittle honeycomb - sweet, crunchy, nutty, toffee-like, and at times pleasantly bitter. Only two ingredients, we can't get simpler than that. The challenging is the timing. Nothing to fear, I'll take you through a step-by-step of how I successfully made these. In no time, you can have fun with the whole family extracting these shapes at your home!
We all know classic Chex Mix, but have you tried the Addictive Furikake Chex Mix? As your honorary friend from Hawaii, let me introduce you to one of the BEST salty & sweet snacks you will ever eat! Make it once, and I guarantee your friends and family will be asking when you'll be baking another batch!
Hawaii LOVES their snacks, and this one is no exception. Although people make it year round, you'll commonly find families baking this especially during the holidays. Another sweet and salty island favorite I make regularly is Butter Mochi - have you tried it? Dangerous!
This recipe is modified and adapted from Onolicious Hawaii's blog. I discovered it in fall of 2020 when many of us were still quarantined, so it wasn't much of a holiday mood. I made a big batch of this (that should've lasted me longer than it did), hunkered down, and watched me a LOT of Netflix.
Jump to:
What is Furikake?
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning that typically contains dried seaweed flakes, sesame seeds, dried fish, sugar, and soy sauce. The combination adds a crunchy texture, but most of all an UMAMI flavor that hits all your taste buds! JFC has a variety of furikake mixes - this Nori Komi bottle is my all-time favorite.
Why You'll Love Furikake Chex Mix
Furikake Chex Mix is completely customizable. You choose a variety of cereal, chips, and coat it with a quick butter-soy sauce syrup. It's sprinkled generously with furikake and baked until the entire mix is toasted and crispy. You get sweet from the cereal, and saltiness from the chips and furikake. The question will be how can you NOT love it.
What Furikake Chex Mix Is Made Of
- Cereal: Pick your favorite 3. In my biased opinion, Honey Chex, Corn Chex, and Honeycomb cereal are a MUST. There's also Wheat or Rice Chex, and I do love me some Crispix. Please feel free to use any combination.
- Chips: Popular bags are Bugles, Fritos, and any shape pretzels. You can also use peanuts, almonds, Cheez-It's, how about Goldfish or Cheetos!
- Butter/Soy Sauce Syrup: Syrup is made with melted butter, light corn syrup, vegetable oil, soy sauce. and sugar. This coating is what makes the mix EXTRA crunchy and crispy once baked. If you are trying to avoid using corn syrup, you can use brown rice syrup, maple syrup, or honey instead.
- Furikake: The star seasoning.
How To Make Furikake Chex Mix
Arrange your cereal and chips into two large baking pans.
To make the syrup, melt butter in medium saucepan. Add sugar, corn syrup, oil, and soy sauce and heat until sugar has melted.
Pour syrup over cereal and chips evenly in both pans.
Toss all the cereal and chips are coated evenly with the syrup.
Sprinkle on furikake generously and mix well.
Stir mix regularly as it bakes, and a few times as it cools.
Suzy's Tips For Success
- Use two deep large roasting pans: The depth allows you to mix without the cereal and chips spilling over everywhere. Although I like to discourage using one-time disposable pans, they work great for easy clean-up.
- Alternate pans in oven: Switch racks halfway if you're using both the upper and lower oven racks for even baking.
- Keep track of how many times you stir: Write down the time you start baking and set a timer for 15 mins. Make a tally every time you stir, this will help you not lose track. Did you stir it 4 or 5 times? I'm unfortunately at that age where I forget!
Best Way To Store Furikake Chex Mix
You can store in airtight bags or jars at room temperature in a cool place for 2-3 weeks. They stay crunchy and perfect to give as holiday treat bags. I have never kept Furikake Chex Mix long enough to freeze, but I have read they will last for 2-3 months. Who are these people?
FAQ
It's commonly found at most Asian markets in the pantry/seasoning aisle. Nowadays, I find it at many nearby major supermarkets, including Trader Joe's. If all else, you can order it on Amazon.
You'll want to distribute the hot syrup so it evenly coats the cereal and chips evenly. Not doing so will result in the syrup just pooling at the bottom of the pans.
Of course! This is a very flexible recipe - it's completely up to you. You could add in Takis, Goldfish, Cheez-It's, peanuts, or Hot Cheetos. Go crazy!
Sure! Half the syrup recipe or simply just add more cereal and chips. I personally LOVE having my entire Chex mix coated so I always make the full recipe - it makes every bite EXTRA crispy!
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Equipment
- 2 Deep large roasting pans use disposable pans for easy cleanup
Ingredients
- ½ box Corn Chex Cereal
- ½ box Honey/Wheat Chex or Crispix Cereal
- ½ box Honeycomb Cereal
- 1 bag Bugles any size
- 1 bag Fritos any size
- 1 bag Pretzels any shape/size
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ½ cup light corn syrup or brown rice syrup, maple syrup, or honey
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1.7 oz furikake seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250℉ (121℃).
- Divide each of the cereal, Bugles, Fritos, and pretzels evenly into two deep large roasting pans and set aside.½ box Corn Chex Cereal, ½ box Honey/Wheat Chex or Crispix Cereal , ½ box Honeycomb Cereal, 1 bag Bugles , 1 bag Fritos, 1 bag Pretzels
- To make the syrup, start by melting the butter In a saucepan on med-low heat. Once it's fully melted, add in the sugar, vegetable oil, corn syrup, and soy sauce. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved.1 cup unsalted butter, ⅔ cup granulated sugar , ⅔ cup vegetable oil , ½ cup light corn syrup, 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- Pour syrup evenly over the two pans, making sure to divide it equally. Using two rubber spatulas or big spoons, toss the mix until all the pieces are coated evenly with the syrup.
- Sprinkle bottle of furikake evenly over the two pans. Stir until seasoning is mixed evenly.1.7 oz furikake seasoning
- Bake at 250℉ (121℃) for one hour. Take out both pans from the oven and stir the mix every 15 mins. Alternate pans if using both upper and lower oven racks.
- Remove pans from oven. After 15 mins, stir one or two more times to prevent pieces from sticking to each other.
- Allow to cool completely before storing. If you pack mix while slightly warm, the moisture from the steam will create less crunchy pieces.
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CJ says
Chex mix is one of our favorite snacks, so we decided to try this recipe. It was perfect. We opted for the honey version and it was just the right amount of sweet and savory. What a great recipe! We will be making this many more times in the future!
Suzy says
So happy to hear! Yes, this snack is so addictive. Thank you so much for trying the recipe, I'm so glad the family loved it!
Vegas Best Ideas says
Great new blog Suzy! Definitely going to try some of these recipes, especially this mix that will be perfect for the holidays. Hope you have a great Christmas and see you again in the new year! 💙 T & G
Suzy says
Thank you so much, Tamara! You and Gord have a wonderful holiday and let me know next time you'll be in town!
CC says
My family and I enjoyed this Furikake Chex Mix on our road trip! Perfect blend of sweet, salty, and crunchy! We even plan on making some for Christmas gifts.
Suzy says
Amazing! They are a great road trip snack. Thank you so much for trying the recipe, and I definitely hope it becomes a holiday favorite, Carissa!
Steph says
I would give this 10 stars if I could. My husband is currently standing over the stove munching on the mix as it’s cooling. Why did I wait so long to make this? This will definitely be staying on our snack rotation.
Suzy says
That's because YOU did a great job, mama! I'm so glad the family loves it and yes - they are so addicting especially warm. Thank you so much for taking the time, my friend. Next time - add your Goldfish crackers!
Stephanie says
Not a fan. Maybe I didn't measure correctly. oh well. Just not for me, I guess.
Suzy says
Hello Stephanie. Thanks for the feedback, and you're right - Furikake is definitely an acquired taste. There's many sweet and salty snacks I do not care for. I hope you find other munchie treats you enjoy, and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Katrina says
This furikake Chex mix has been my mom and i’s new Christmas tradition to make for our friends and family for two years now and we look forward to making it every year! <3
Suzy says
I look forward to it every year, too! Thank you for making it your family's tradition, Katrina. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
Sara says
I recently made this for family and my husband’s coworkers, and everyone was so impressed! My husband’s coworker told him it was the best furikake Chex mix she had ever tried! I weighed all of my ingredients between the two pans to make sure everything was as precise as possible, and it came out perfect! Thank you for your wonderful recipes, Suzy!
Suzy says
Amazing! That makes me so happy, Sara. Yes, the only downside of this furikake Chex mix is it's soooo addicting. But it's the holidays. I'm so glad your husband's co-workers loved it. Thank you so much for trusting my recipe!
Vegasbythebite says
Adding all the ingredients to my shopping list for pickup and making this weekend!
Other recipes I've seen call for the full cereal boxes, and I'm unlikely to eat the remaining half boxes of Chex - should I just use the full thing or will that throw off ratios too much?
Suzy says
Hello! I highly recommend purchase two disposable deep roasting aluminum trays for this recipe - available at any grocery store! I know it's one-time use, but trust me. Empty out half the cereal box equally into both trays (not family-size cereal, the normal box) and mix it together. Once you make the syrup and pour it over the mixture, you will be able to gauge better if you need more cereal/chips. Some families like their Chex mix WELL coated = less cereal. Some like it LIGHTLY coated = more cereal. So if it's your first time making it, you'll be able to determine after. That's why I give the option of using the full cereal. Start with using half of each cereal box, add the syrup, and stir. If you feel you have much more syrup to go, add more cereal. To be completely honest, most people who make it for the first time feel the amount it yields is A LOT... until they start to eat it. It's also the perfect treat bag to give to fellow teachers ;), friends, etc. So you may not feel you'll get through it, but you will - I promise!