Party mix is always a popular choice for parties, and this addicting White Chocolate Cashew Party Mix recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining! Or bag it up with a cute holiday tag for holiday food gifts.

This Christmas Crack is one of our favorite Christmas Snacks and it is incredibly delicious!!! Check out all my other Holiday Gift Ideas from the Kitchen.

Note: I was compensated by PLANTERS for posting about their Deluxe Mixed Nuts and Cashews on Instagram. As always, all opinions are my own.

a bowl of festive party mix

Why You Must Make this Holiday Party Mix

I love any excuse to make this irresistible white chocolate party mix. Often called “white trash,” the inspiration for this recipe appeared in our local Junior League cookbook, Winners, years ago.

  • That party mix had a variety of Chex cereal, Cheerios, and peanuts. I tweaked the recipe to add my favorites ingredients. I always pick the cashews out of a nut bowl if given the opportunity, so swapping out the peanuts for cashews was a must. Plus the Christmas-colored M&M’s make it so festive! This holiday white chocolate cashew party mix is highly adaptable, but I think you’ll love my version.
  • This Christmas Crack can be made for any holiday. Just swap out the Christmas-colored M&M’s for another holiday combo.
  • With fortified cereal and nuts, there is more nutritional value in this holiday snack mix, than other munchies.

2 small bowls of holiday snack mix

White Chocolate Party Mix for an Appetizer Board or Dessert Buffet

I was hosting our dinner club and wanted to scale down on appetizers. Having a few slabs of cheese, some fruit, crackers, nuts and this holiday party mix was just right. Not too much to spoil our appetites, and something for everyone!

For holiday parties, if you’re serving a few different desserts, a bowl of this holiday white chocolate party mix is a perfect addition. Those with a lighter appetite can nibble on this sweet-salty treat. If you love white chocolate as much as I do, you’ll want to make some other white chocolate treats, too.

a bowl of snack mix sitting on a cheese appetizers appetizer

Cheese Board Tips

When having a crowd over for drinks or a meal, I love making a cheeseboard. So easy and no cooking involved! Here are a few of my tips for the best results.

  • Have an odd number of cheeses. I usually serve 3 or 5 different kinds of cheese depending on the size of my group and what else I have on the menu.
  • Vary the firmness, flavor, origin of your cheeses. Soft and hard cheeses, mild and sharp flavored cheeses, plus cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk cheeses.
  • Serve a variety of crackers, crisps, and toasts. I usually have a gluten-free option available.
  • Intersperse seasonal fresh and dried fruit, jams, and nuts. A bowl of dip or a snack mix is also a terrific addition. Try for a variety of sizes and textures for visual appeal.
  • Also, watch your color palate. The reds and oranges of the fruit and cheeses made for a cohesive, but not too matchy-matchy look. I love grouping each ingredient together.
  • Pick a pretty platter or wooden cutting board for your arrangement. Add cheese knives and spreaders as needed.

holiday cheese platter

Ingredient Notes:

  • PLANTERS Whole Cashews – PLANTERS has been my go-to brand of nuts since I was a child. If you want the best of the best, look for their Deluxe Whole Cashews. Perfect in my Holiday White Chocolate Party Mix or for eating out of hand.
  • White Chocolate – I use Ghirardelli white chocolate bars and chop them. White chocolate chips can also be used, but I prefer the higher-quality bars.
  • Rice Chex – Other Chex versions are fine.
  • Pretzels – I used Snaps, but other small shapes will work well, too.
  • M & M’s – Look for the seasonal bags for different holidays depending on what occasion you’re serving this party mix.
    a bowl of party mix next to cans of Planter's roasted nuts

Party Mix Taste Testers

Three out of 8 of our dinner club members were around for my initial photo shoot. They were good sports as they had to pause before digging in so I could get a few shots! I hope you’ll whip up a batch of this white chocolate party mix for your next gathering!

They all enjoyed this addition to our holiday party appetizer spread. Make it for gifts or for any holiday gathering!

party guests snacking on party foods like snack mix and dips

More Snack Mix Recipes

bowls of White Chocolate Cashew Party Mix

Holiday White Chocolate Cashew Party Mix

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 12

This addicting White Chocolate Cashew Party Mix recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining or to give as holiday food gifts!

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces good quality white chocolate, chopped
  • 4 cups Rice Chex
  • 1 cup pretzels, I used Snaps
  • 1 cup whole cashews, I used Planters Deluxe Whole Cashews
  • ¾ cup M & M's, holiday colors

Instructions

  1. In a heat-safe bowl, microwave white chocolate, stopping and stirring at 30-second intervals until smooth and melted.
  2. In a large bowl, combine Chex, pretzels, cashews, and M&M's.
  3. Slowly drizzle white chocolate over the mixture, stopping to gently toss, until all the mix is evenly coated.
  4. Spread the mixture out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool.
  5. Break into bite-sized pieces and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1/2 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 282Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 223mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 4g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

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