First Step: Prepare and preheat Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Gather all the dry cereals, pretzels, and salted cashews in a large mixing bowl, combining the base ingredients evenly.

Second Step: Make the hot honey butter sauce In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the salted butter. Once melted, whisk in the hot honey thoroughly to create a smooth, spicy-sweet butter sauce. If making homemade hot honey, gently simmer honey with chili flakes and add apple cider vinegar as described below.

Third Step: Coat the dry ingredients Pour the hot honey butter sauce over the cereal mixture. Gently stir with a spatula or large spoon to ensure every piece is evenly coated without crushing the cereals or pretzels.

Fourth Step: Bake to caramelize Spread the coated mix evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet or roasting pan. Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully stir the mix to redistribute the sauce. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes, stir again, and bake for an additional 5 minutes to achieve caramelization and crisp texture.

Final Step: Cool and store Remove the hot honey Chex mix from the oven and spread it onto wax paper or a clean surface to cool completely this cooling period helps the mix harden and stay crunchy. Once cooled, store the mix in an airtight container at room temperature, where it remains fresh for up to a week.