A recipe for white trash consisting of Golden Grahams, Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, and chocolate candy M&M’s coated in melted white chocolate. Popular around Christmas but can easily be customized for any holiday!
Texas White Trash has many names and variations. It is a popular candy to make around Christmas but can be customized with different colored M&M’s and sprinkles for various holidays and special occasions throughout the year.

One thing about white trash, is that everyone’s recipe is a little bit different. That’s where it gets the “trash” name from – you combine things you have left such as a little of this cereal, a little of that, something salty, some nuts and top it with melted white chocolate.
I make my white trash candy with a combination of Golden Grahams and Chex cereal.
Ingredients
- Golden Grahams - I love the flavor and crunch of the cereal coated in white chocolate.
- Rice Chex - Rice or corn Chex will work.
- Pretzels – You can use mini pretzels or pretzels sticks.
- Peanuts – Salted cocktail peanuts.
- M&M’s – One cup of M&M’s adds a pop of color and can be customized to each holiday.
- White Chocolate Chips – I have made these with Nestle Toll House Premier White Baking Morsels and Ghirardelli white baking chips. Both worked great.
- Canola Oil – A little oil mixed in with the white chocolate chips helps it to have a better consistency as it melts.
How To Make White Trash
- Place parchment paper on a large cookie sheet, set aside.
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make sure the sides of the bowl are tall enough so that the snack mix does not fall out if you stir it.
- Combine white chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir and then microwave at 15 second intervals until melted.
- Pour melted white chocolate over dry mixture. Stir until evenly coated. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely. If desired, break into smaller pieces once white trash has cooled.
Note: I like to place the baking sheet of White Trash in an empty oven overnight to let it harden.
Variations
White Trash can be customized in so many ways – a great way to use up the random boxes of cereal that you have left in your pantry.
- Use different cereals. As long as you use four cups total of cereal you can customize with what you have. Cheerio’s and Chex seem to be some of the most commonly used cereals.
- Swap the pretzels for another salty treat such as popcorn or bugles. Those ingredients seem to be more common in recipes originating from the Midwest.
- Use a different nut or omit all together.
- Swap M&M’s with dried fruit.
- Add sprinkles for extra holiday cheer!
- For a more adult version, swap the peanut for cashews or macadamia nuts and the M&M’s for Craisins or dried cherries.
Storage & Serving
Store in an air-tight container at room temperature. White Trash Snack Mix will last for at least two weeks.
It makes a great small gift to share. Package it in a cellophane gift bag with ribbon for a easy small gift.
📖 Recipe
White Trash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Golden Grahams
- 2 cups Rice Chex
- 1 cup Pretzels
- 1 cup Peanuts cocktail
- 1 cup M&M’s
- 12 oz White Chocolate Chips
- 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil; set aside.
- Combine Golden Grahams, chex cereal, pretzels, peanuts, and M&M’s in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine white chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir and then microwave at 15 second intervals until chips are melted. Stir between intervals and be careful to avoid overcooking the white chocolate.
- Pour melted white chocolate over cereal mixture. Stir until evenly coated. Spread onto prepared baking sheet and let chocolate harden. Break into smaller pieces.
I hope you enjoy this easy no-bake holiday treat. It’s a go-to for me around the holidays because it can be prepared in about ten minutes (plus time to cool). December is a very busy month and it’s nice to have something to share that can be prepared so quickly. It is a crowd favorite and can be made for many occasions throughout the year!
Cheers,
For another easy dessert be sure to try my Easy Homemade Brownies!
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