Every year when I was growing up, my Aunt Ruby would make up baskets of goodies for all her extended family and I eagerly anticipated her visit each year to dig into all the delicious treats she slaved away in her kitchen to make. Sometimes there would be cookies, sometimes her homemade summer sausage, and always her famous party mix.
I never knew until recently why it was so much better than other party mixes until I finally asked her for the recipe and discovered her secret ingredient. Life Cereal!! It looks so much like Chex Cereal that it’s camouflaged and you don’t really notice it visually, but it gives a hint of sweetness to every bite that makes this buttery, salty concoction utterly addictive.
If you already have a favorite party mix recipe, try substituting in some Life cereal for part of the Chex–I think you’ll like it!
Aunt Ruby’s Party Mix
I’ve scaled down and altered the recipe a bit since her original recipe makes enough to feed an army. If you’d like to feed an army, click here for her original recipe.
Printable recipe
Printable recipe with picture
In a large roaster pan, mix together:
4 cups Rice Chex Cereal
4 cups Corn Chex Cereal
4 cups Wheat Chex Cereal
4 cups Life cereal
3 cups pretzel sticks
2 cups Spanish peanuts (roasted & salted)
In a saucepan, melt together:
2 sticks (1 cup) butter or margarine
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Pour the mixture over the cereal and mix well. Bake uncovered in preheated oven at 250 degrees for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool and store in an airtight container or Ziploc bags.
Veronica's Cornucopia 
Interesting, don’t know if I’ve ever had it with Life cereal or not but I know I use to love that cereal when I was 7 or 8. My great Uncle got us started on it..lol Anyway, your right, this chex mix stuff is addiciting and there are sooo many ways to fix it. At the “Taste Of Home” cooking school the lady informed us that if you submit a new recipe for the “Chex” party mix and they pick yours, you can win 5k. They do this every year.
LikeLike
I’ve heard about that! I’m just not creative enough to come up with something never done before. I guess adding Life is new, but I think they go for stuff like “Buffalo Wings Chex Mix” or “Turtle Chex Mix.” Something that has a theme.
LikeLike
Its really nice party time foods. Thanks for providing nice cooking tips for nice foods
LikeLike
Adding Life cereal is such a great idea! I’m a huge fan of the sweet/savory combo so I know I’d like this even better than regular Chex Mix!
LikeLike
Mmmm, I’ve never made my own Chex mix but I can already tell I would be addicted to this one! Next time we have a party I’ll have to remember this (if not, I could risk downing it all by myself–not good).
LikeLike
Veronica I could eat a whole bowl of this stuff. It’s deadly and so very good.
LikeLike
I have been thinking about Chex party mix for weeks. I like the Life cereal addition!! Have you heard of Texas Trash? I want to try that so bad.
LikeLike
I think I know what you’re talking about! I was going to do a post on it but I think I’m out of time. Maybe I’ll post it tomorrow. Anyway, are you talking about the cereal that’s mixed with M&Ms and coated with white chocolate? I call it “White Trash” or “Christmas Crack.” It’s really addictive!
LikeLike
I’m glad this doesn’t have a lot of butter in it!!! (you GOT the sarcasm, right?)
I used to make this all the time. I would make it with other stuff, smear it with Reddinbackers butter spread and sprinkle ranch on it. Bugels were my favorite in it!!
LikeLike
There are so many ways to make it, and I’ve never tasted a bad one! I just wish I didn’t like it so much–I am addicted.
LikeLike
Pingback: Thankful Thursdays #30 « Veronica's Cornucopia