Marmite Chex Mix Recipe: Savory Snack Mix with a British Twist

Oh my gosh. Where to start? I’m going to be a little stream-of-consciousness here, so bear with me. First off: I’m a confirmed anglophile.

I adore British literature, history, architecture, food, and television—especially British comedy. From Keeping Up Appearances and Monty Python to The Office, I love them all, but Mr. Bean holds a special place in my heart.

I’ll admit it: I’m probably the biggest Mr. Bean dork around. I’ve watched every episode so many times I can practically recite them, and I still snort-laugh each time.

Okay, so what does this have to do with Marmite Chex Mix? Picture a giant bowl tasting like warm Worcestershire sauce Twiglets. If Mr. Bean isn’t your reference point, hang on—I’ll explain.

Marmite Chex Mix is, in my opinion, the new pinnacle of Chex mixes. It captures the buttery umami of Marmite spread on toast while delivering the addictive crunch of a snack mix turned up to eleven.

I could eat it by the bucket. Or, rather, by the bowl. Why hasn’t someone thought of this sooner?

For those of you who recoil at the mention of Marmite or Vegemite, please hush—there are plenty of us who love it, and we’ll be enjoying this one.

Quick Mr. Bean tie-in: in the episode “Do It Yourself, Mr. Bean,” he has a disastrous New Year’s party and famously runs out of Twiglets. As an anglophile, I had to try Twiglets, so I ordered a pack years ago and became hooked on those knobbly, pretzel-like Marmite-flavored snacks. My family loved them, too—but importing them was pricey and they became a rare treat reserved for special viewings.

Then a simple idea hit me: make a Twiglet-like snack at home. Our first attempt—pretzel sticks tossed with Marmite and oil—worked flavor-wise but left my kitchen in a sticky mess. Microwaving Marmite with oil didn’t combine well: the Marmite bubbled and the oil barely melted in. The flavor was great, but the texture and process needed improvement.

The solution was to provide a better vehicle for Marmite’s bold flavor. If Mr. Bean had offered his guests a bowl of Marmite Chex Mix, maybe the party would’ve gone differently.

That realization led to Marmite Chex Mix—essentially Twiglet-inspired Chex Mix, or Marmite “Nuts & Bolts.” I felt pretty clever. Then another idea: skip the microwave and oil, and use butter instead. Buttered toast with Marmite is quintessentially British, and melting Marmite into butter over low heat creates a silky umami sauce that coats cereal and pretzels evenly without the sticky, clumpy mess.

Worcester Sauce Twiglets Recipe

I added Worcestershire sauce to mimic the deeper, tangy notes of some Twiglet varieties and to capture that lost “Worcester Twiglets” flavor some people mourn. The result is a buttery, crunchy, Twiglet-like snack mix that our family loves and that Mr. Bean would probably approve of.

Before your Christmas or New Year’s festivities fizzle like Mr. Bean’s party, slip into your cozy socks, set aside the turkey for a minute, grab a jar of Marmite (or Vegemite if you prefer) and a stick of butter, and make a Chex Mix your UK-loving friends will rave about. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Marmite Snack Mix

About the Marmite amount listed in the recipe: Marmite is polarizing, and even fans vary in how much they like. Two teaspoons is a gentle start for newcomers or light fans. Three tablespoons is for the devoted Marmite lover. Most people will find a happy medium between those amounts—adjust to taste.

Do not microwave the butter and Marmite together in a small container. Marmite bubbles aggressively and can overflow while butter melts more slowly. Use a small saucepan over very low heat: the butter and Marmite will melt together smoothly into a velvety sauce. Yes, you’ll have one more pot to clean, but it’s worth it.

If you must use a microwave, pick a very large microwave-safe bowl so the mixture has room to bubble without spilling. Stir frequently during the brief cooking time and be prepared to transfer everything carefully. Spreading the coated mix on a sheet pan to cool is easiest; fewer stray pieces escape that way.

Vegans: substitute Earth Balance or another vegan buttery spread in place of butter, and seek a vegan Worcestershire sauce if you want to keep the recipe fully plant-based.

Marmite Chex Mix

Rebecca Lindamood

This Chex Mix blends American snack tradition with British Marmite flavor to create a crunchy, salty, Twiglet-like treat.

Ingredients

3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Wheat Chex
2 cups thin pretzel sticks
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons to 3 tablespoons Marmite or Vegemite
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

Instructions

If baking, preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).
In a very large mixing bowl, gently toss together the Rice, Corn, and Wheat Chex with the pretzel sticks.
In a small saucepan over very low heat, melt the butter and Marmite together, whisking and swirling until smooth. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Pour the mixture over the cereals and pretzels and toss gently to coat evenly.

To Bake in the Oven:

Spread the coated mix evenly on a half sheet pan. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow the Marmite Chex Mix to cool on the pan, then store in an airtight container at room temperature.

To Cook in the Microwave:

Transfer the mix to a very large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread the mix on absorbent paper towels or a sheet pan to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition based on the exact ingredients you use if needed.