Furikake Chex Mix

I’ve always been an avid fan of classic Chex Mix. The massive batches of homemade, extra-Worcestershire Chex Mix I made for my dorm mates resulted in my college nickname “Chex Girl.” I’ve made the craveable, crunchy snack on the regular since. So imagine my rapture when, on a visit to Hawaii, I tasted a new-to-me, sweet-salty spin on the cereal-based snack! 

How Is Furikake Chex Mix Different From Regular Chex Mix?

The Hawaiian version of Chex mix begins in the familiar way with rice Chex, corn Chex, and pretzels, with some variation of extra cereal like Honeycomb cereal, but that’s where the similarities end. This moreish mix takes a Pacific turn with the addition of furikake, the Japanese seasoning made of tiny flakes of nori seaweed and sesame seeds. It adds an umami punch to lots of Hawaiian foods like poke, rice bowls, musubi…and also Chex mix! 

What Is Furikake?

Furikake comes in packets and glass jars with a wide range of flavor add-ins. Some contain bonito (smoked and dried fish flakes), tart ume plum, freeze dried kimchi, or even crunchy egg bits. Though all of the flavors of furikake work here, I go for the simple nori-sesame version (labeled “nori komi furikake”) from Ajishima brand. Try Trader Joe’s furikake if you’re avoiding MSG. 

Syrup Makes It Stick

To get the furikake to stick, a mixture of butter, corn syrup, and soy sauce is used to coat the cereal mixture. Though corn syrup is traditional, I prefer Lyle’s Golden syrup, because it’s made with pure cane sugar and it adds a subtle caramel dimension to the snack instead of just straight sweetness. Look for it in the baking aisle. Be sure to stir the syrup mixture thoroughly through the snack mix before adding the furikake or it will sink instead of sticking to the cereal. 

Puppy Chow

Let's Talk Mix-Ins

To boost the Japanese-inspired flavor profile, I add wasabi peas for crunch and a pop of sinus-clearing spice. Look for the dried peas coated with wasabi in the bulk section of the grocery store, or wherever Asian snacks are sold.

I forgo the Honeycomb cereal, as it tears up the roof of your mouth and I find the sweetness a little too intense. Instead I include a salty snack to balance the sweetness of the syrup: either Cool Ranch Doritos or Bugles. I can’t have Chex Mix without nuts to dig around for, so I add a can of sesame stick-nut cocktail mix to round out the sweet-salty tableau. Regular salted nuts will do in a pinch.

Tips for Making Furikake Chex Mix

• Use rimmed baking sheets—Use rimmed baking sheets to make sure the ingredients don’t escape while stirring.
• Stir it regularly—Stirring the mix every 20 minutes will ensure everything is evenly browned.
• Let it cool—Once baked, let the mixture cool before digging in. I know this bit is difficult, but it will be soggy at first and will become crisp as it cools, so it’s worth waiting.