If you’re looking for a party-perfect treat that practically shouts “celebration!” you are going to fall in love with this Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix. It’s crunchy, sweet, and absolutely packed with colorful flair—making it the ultimate festive munch for summer gatherings, picnics, or anytime you want to bring a smile to the snack table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive and Colorful: Every handful of this snack mix is bursting with patriotic colors, making it an instant hit for holidays and special occasions.
Quick and Easy: With just about 20 minutes from start to finish, you can whip up this Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix even when life gets busy.
Sweet Meets Crunchy: The combination of candy-coated Chex, creamy yogurt pretzels, chewy raisins, and chocolate candies is an absolute texture extravaganza.
Perfect for Sharing: This recipe makes enough for a crowd—and it’s designed for easy snacking at cookouts, potlucks, or anywhere friends gather.

Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering the key players for this snack mix couldn’t be simpler, but every ingredient brings something delightful: vibrant color, irresistible crunch, or a dose of sweet nostalgia. Here’s how each one makes this Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix shine!

Red Candy Melts: These are your go-to for that rich, red hue and a shell of candy sweetness around the Chex cereal.
Blue Candy Melts: Adds the bold, eye-catching blue pop, and works exactly like the red to coat your cereal in sugary goodness.
Rice Chex Cereal: The neutral, crispy canvas that soaks up those colorful coatings—perfect for snacking and holding up to tossing.
Confectioners Sugar: Gives each coated Chex an extra touch of sweetness and that powdery soft, frosted finish.
Vegetable Shortening: Helps your candy melts reach silky-smooth perfection for easy, even coating.
Red, White & Blue M&M’s: They bring chocolatey crunch and those iconic holiday colors scattered all throughout.
Yogurt Covered Raisins: Chewy, creamy, and a touch tangy—they break up the sweetness and add luscious little bites.
Yogurt Covered Pretzels: Salt meets sweet here, and the pretzels lend a big, bold munchy texture to the whole mix.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is how infinitely flexible it is! You can swap ingredients in and out to match your own taste buds, special dietary needs, or whatever you’ve got on hand.

Go Nutty: Add a handful of roasted peanuts, almonds, or cashews for an extra salty crunch.
Make It Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pretzels and double-check your candy ingredients to keep every bite safe for sensitive snackers.
Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted white chocolate all over the finished mix for an extra decadent finish and a little more “white” flair.
Add Dried Fruit: Swap the raisins for dried cranberries, cherries, or blueberries to match the color theme and fruitiness level you love.

How to Make Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix

Step 1: Melt the Candy Melts

Start by melting your red candy melts with a touch of vegetable shortening—either in the microwave (short bursts, stirring in between) or gently on the stovetop with a double boiler. The shortening is the secret for that wonderfully smooth, pourable texture that glides over the cereal.

Step 2: Coat the Chex Cereal

Once your candy melts are silky and smooth, pour in one cup of Rice Chex and gently stir until every piece is lavishly coated. Don’t rush this step—the more evenly you coat, the better the finished mix will look and taste!

Step 3: Shake with Sugar & Cool

Spoon those candy-coated Chex into a big plastic baggie with powdered sugar, then gently shake to coat each piece until frosted all over. Pour out the cereal into a sieve to shake off the excess sugar, then spread the pieces on parchment for cooling and hardening.

Step 4: Repeat with Blue & Assemble

Repeat the same melting and coating process with the blue candy melts and another cup of Chex. Once everything’s cool, toss the red and blue Chex together with yogurt covered pretzels, M&M’s, and yogurt covered raisins. Gently stir so the colors and textures mingle, then serve and enjoy!

Pro Tips for Making Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix

Super Smooth Melting: Don’t skip the shortening—it creates a perfectly pourable candy melt, ensuring every Chex piece gets coated instead of clumping.
Coating Without Crushing: Use a big zip-top bag and gentle hands to coat your cereal with sugar so you don’t accidentally turn those precious Chex into crumbs.
Cooling Magic: Spread the coated cereal pieces in a single layer on parchment for speedy cooling and the crispiest, pop-in-your-mouth texture.
Mix-Ins Go Last: Make sure your candy-coated Chex are completely cool before tossing with pretzels and M&Ms, to keep every piece crisp and colorful—no melting or sogginess!

How to Serve Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix

Garnishes

To dial up the festive spirit, you can sprinkle a few extra red, white, and blue M&M’s or edible glitter right before serving. For an even bigger wow factor, try scattering some patriotic confetti sprinkles on top!

Side Dishes

This snack mix is a treat all on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with other picnic classics like lemonade, fruit skewers, or a big bowl of popcorn for a full snack table that feels celebratory and fun for all ages.

Creative Ways to Present

Fill mason jars with Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix for grab-and-go favors, or scoop the mix into decorative paper cups for easy party snacking. You can even pile it onto a festive platter and nestle in mini flags for a true holiday showstopper.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any extra snack mix stored in an airtight container at room temperature and it’ll stay crisp and delicious for up to a week—a lifesaver when you want grab-and-go treats ready for days!

Freezing

You can freeze this snack mix if you want to make it way ahead of time. Just be sure it’s completely cooled first and stored in a freezer-safe container; it’ll keep its crunch for up to three months. Allow to thaw uncovered for best texture.

Reheating

There’s no need to reheat this mix—just make sure it’s at room temperature before serving. If it feels a little soft after freezing, you can spread it out on a baking sheet to air-dry for a few minutes and revive the crunch.

FAQs

Can I make Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix ahead of time?

Absolutely! This snack mix holds up beautifully for several days if stored in an airtight container, making it the ideal make-ahead treat for parties and picnics.
What if I don’t have candy melts?

No worries—white chocolate chips tinted with gel food color can work in a pinch. Melt them gently and color with red and blue gel for the festive effect.
Is Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix gluten-free?

It can be! Simply use gluten-free pretzels and double-check that all candies and cereal choices are gluten-free to safely share with sensitive snackers.
How do I keep the coated Chex from sticking together?

After tossing the coated Chex with powdered sugar, always spread them out on parchment paper to cool completely. This helps them stay beautifully separated and crisp.

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you try this Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix for your next celebration—or just because! It’s playful, colorful, and absolutely irresistible, guaranteed to brighten your table and bring smiles to every snacker.

Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.7 from 686 reviews

Author: Lisa
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Snack
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

This Red, White, and Blue Snack Mix is a delightful mix of sweet and crunchy treats perfect for patriotic celebrations or anytime snacking.

Instructions

Melt Red Candy Coating: In a double boiler or microwave, melt red candy melts and 1 tablespoon of shortening until smooth.
Coat Chex Mix: Pour melted red candy over one cup of Rice Chex, coat with powdered sugar, and cool on paper.
Melt Blue Candy Coating: Melt blue candy melts with shortening, then repeat coating process with the second cup of Chex.
Assemble Snack Mix: Combine coated Chex with M&Ms, yogurt-covered raisins, and pretzels in a bowl.
Finalize: Gently mix and store the snack mix in an airtight container.

Notes

Ensure the candy coatings are completely cooled and set before combining with the other mix-ins.
Feel free to customize this mix with your favorite snack additions.