For the holidays, I will be back in my kitchen again, cooking up some homemade holiday treats.
One of my favorite recipes for the holidays is a sweet and spicy snack mix because it is always a great gift for those people in your life who mean so much to you.
A Snack mix is an easy recipe to vary, so it is great for parties or gift baskets. I love this snack mix because it is so easy to make and so good.
Today I’m going to show you how to make my Christmas snack mixes.
The 8 Best Christmas Snack Mix Recipes
1. Reindeer Chow
I love festive treats, especially reindeer chow; mine is yummy. I love munching on my reindeer chow for the perfect mixture of ingredients that go so wonderfully.
My reindeer chow has rice cereal, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. The best part you ask?
Well, put in some pretzels for the ultimate salty crunch.
Ingredients
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Corn Chex cereal
1 cup mini pretzels
1 cup holiday M&M’s
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine Rice Chex, Corn Chex and the pretzels.
2. For the soda mixture, place the brown sugar and kosher salt in a heatproof bowl. Pour one warm soft drink into the bowl and stir well.
3. Bring the remaining soft drinks to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat.
4. Gently pour the brown sugar mixture into the boiling soft drinks, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter and melt together in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until smooth. Add the vanilla.
3. Pour over cereal and pretzels; stir gently to coat.
4. Transfer into a large plastic re-sealable plastic bag, add powdered sugar and shake until thoroughly coated.
5. Spread on a baking sheet and cool. Stir in holiday M&M’s when cooled and serve, or store in an airtight container.
2. Holly Jolly Chex Mix
When it comes to creating a celebratory snack, I enjoy including ingredients filled with festive energy: crunchy Chex cereal and pretzels combined with vibrant M&M’s, plus white chocolate and marshmallows. It is a holiday explosion!
Ingredients
5 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup mini pretzels
1 cup green and red candy-coated chocolate candies
½ cup salted peanuts
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Dump the Rice Chex cereal, mini pretzels, peanuts and cranberries into a large bowl.
3. In a small sauce pan, melt butter, add the light corn syrup and brown sugar, stirring over low heat until everything is melted and mixed well. Stir in the vanilla and ground cinnamon.
4. Pour the warm butter mixture over the cereal mixture, stirring gently to coat.
5. Spread out the cereal mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
6. Bake until browned, about 15-20 minutes. Cool and sprinkle with the white chocolate chips and candy-coated chocolates. Mix to blend and serve.
3. Mistletoe Munch
I just love how festive the Mistletoe Munch treat is. The season for giving is always happier when I can share this with friends at a party or hang out at home-either way, I am always smiling when I’m stuffing handfuls of Mistletoe Munch in my mouth.
When you use peppermint candy, white chocolate and crunchy pretzels, how could you not have something festive? The addition of dried cranberries gives it a nice tartness and makes it so tasty!
Love this festive treat!
Ingredients
3 cups rice cereal squares (like Rice Chex)
3 cups corn cereal squares (like Corn Chex)
2 cups mini pretzels
1 cup holiday M&M’s
1 cup roasted peanuts
12 oz white chocolate chips or almond bark
Red and green sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
1. Coat a large mixing bowl with cooking spray and combine the rice cereal squares, corn cereal squares, mini pretzels, M M’s and roasted peanuts.
2. Place white chocolate chips or almond bark in a microwave safe bowl and melt for 30 seconds, stirring in between until smooth.
3. Pour the melted chocolate into the dry ingredients, mix gently so that everything is evenly coated.
4. Spread out on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment or wax paper, to an even thickness.
5. Sprinkle red and green sprinkles over the mixture for a festive touch.
6. Let the mixture set and harden completely, then break it up and serve.
4. Peppermint Bark Snack Mix
This is one of my favorites to make at the holidays. Mine typically has white chocolate, crushed peppermint candy pieces, crispy cereal squares and mini pretzels.
There is just something about the crunchy, sweetness factor that gets me every time I eat it.
Ingredients
2 cups rice cereal squares
2 cups pretzel twists
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup crushed peppermint candies
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine rice cereal squares and pretzel twists.
2. Melt the white chips in a small, microwave-safe bowl, microwaving in 30-second intervals and stirring in between until smooth.
3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal and pretzels, stirring gently to coat.
4. Crush the candy canes and sprinkle them on top of the mix. Also add in the mini marshmallows, and then give everything one last stir.
5. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and garnish with leftover melted semi-sweet chocolate.
6. Set aside to harden at room temperature, then break into pieces to serve.
5. White Chocolate Christmas Crunch
I love the holiday mood of making a snack mix with the white chocolate’s addictive sugary appeal. My choice ingredients for my holiday snack mix are pretzels, popcorn, cereal and some of those cute holiday candies coated in white chocolate.
I think that’s a pretty good combination for a happy holiday.
Ingredients
5 cups Rice Chex cereal
5 cups Corn Chex cereal
2 cups pretzel sticks
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
2 cups red and green M&M’s
24 ounces white chocolate chips or white almond bark
Instructions
1. Mix the Rice Chex, Corn Chex, pretzel sticks, peanuts and MMs in a large bowl.
2. Melt the white chocolate chips or almond bark in the microwave or double boiler to a smooth consistency.
3. Add the melted white chocolate over the mixture and stir the cereal gently to make sure all pieces are coated.
4. Spread this mixture in a thin layer on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper.
5. Allow the mixture to cool and the chocolate to set completely.
6. Once set, break the Christmas Crunch into pieces and put it in an airtight container.
6. Santa’s Sweet and Salty Mix
I have a trail mix I make each holiday season, it always reminds me of Christmas. I love taking chocolate-covered pretzels and caramel popcorn and mixing those with dried cranberries and roasted almonds.
Nothing could be more seasonal than this, something to nibble on while watching my holiday movies by the fire.
Ingredients
2 cups mini pretzels
2 cups Corn Chex cereal
1 cup roasted peanuts
1 cup red and green candy-coated chocolate (such as M&M’s)
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Fill a large bowl with the pretzels, Corn Chex, peanuts, candy-coated chocolates, marshmallows, and dried cranberries.
2. Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the chocolate is smooth and liquid.
3. Pour the melted white chocolate over the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl.
4. Gently toss the mixture with a spatula until the crispy rice is fully coated with white chocolate.
5. Spread the mixture out onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow to set at room temperature until the white chocolate is completely set.
6. Allow to set. Break up any large lumps and store in an airtight container. Happy snacking!
7. Holiday Pretzel Mix
With the holidays around the corner, I’m stirring up a blend of salty-sweet snacks: chocolate-dipped pretzels, candied nuts, dried cranberries and a dash of sea salt. This hot gift mix naturally brightens holiday festivities.
Ingredients
4 cups mini pretzels
2 cups bite-sized cheese crackers
2 cups rice cereal squares
1 cup peanuts or mixed nuts
1 cup holiday M&M’s
1 cup white chocolate melting wafers
1 tablespoon vegetable or coconut oil
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine pretzels, cheese crackers, rice cereal squares and nuts in large mixing bowl. Toss with salt.
3. Spread out on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake, stirring halfway through, for 15-20 minutes, until lightly toasted.
4. Microwave the white chocolate wafers and oil together in a microwave-safe bowl, in 30-second increments, stirring between, until the chocolate is smooth.
5. Drizzle melted chocolate over snack mix; toss in M&M’s.
6. Let the mix cool completely, with the chocolate hardened by the fridge, preferably. Break up any clumps, and store in an airtight container.
8. Gingerbread Trail Mix
Gingerbread cookies, roasted almonds, chewy raisins and chunks of candied ginger are the essentials for my perfect comfort trail mix.
Ingredients
2 cups Chex cereal (corn or rice)
1 cup mini pretzels
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crystallized ginger, chopped
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
1)Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the molasses, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
3. In a large bowl, mix the Chex cereal, mini pretzels, and pecan halves.
4. Drizzle the molasses mixture over the cereal mixture and mix until coated thoroughly.
5. Spread on the baking sheet and bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through.
6. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before stirring in the dried cranberries and crystallised ginger. Transfer to a sealable jar.