Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix {Homemade Gift Idea}

by Myra Hope

Every year about this time my sister and get together and bake goodies for giving away to family and friends. This year, however, is just way too crazy. We’re running 5ks {another one this coming weekend!} and I just don’t need a lot of sweets in my house.

So, I came up with the ingredients in this recipe and my sweet sister helped me figure out proportions because she’s much more of a “chex connoisseur” than I am.

{drool}

Needless to say, my invented recipe Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix will tickle your tastebuds. And your family and friends will love you for-evah!

Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix

3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex
1 1/2 cup honey roasted nuts
1 1/2 cups twisted pretzels
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/4 cup light Karo syrup
1/4 t. baking soda
1 1/2 cups craisins
1 1/2 cups M&Ms or chocolate chips

Gently mix cereals, nuts and pretzels in a large bowl. In a 2 cup glass measuring cup add brown sugar, butter and Karo syrup. Microwave for 2 minutes until melted, stirring well after 1 minute. Add baking soda to the caramel sauce and mix well. Pour sauce over cereal mixture and mix gently until cereal is completely coated.

Pour coated cereal mixture onto a jelly roll pan and bake at 250 degrees for 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Be SURE to stir so that the chex mix won’t get stuck together.

Cool completely and add craisins and M&Ms.

Makes about 14 cups of Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix.

I used this fabulous chex mix as homemade gifts. I bought 50 treat bags for 1.99 at Hobby Lobby. These bags are in the cake decorating section, not the party section. I scooped 2 cups of the chex mix into each bag and tied them closed with pretty ribbon. The above recipe makes 7 generous bags of chex mix.

On Black Friday I bought a bunch of little gift bags at Hobby Lobby for about 0.40 each. They are perfect gift bags for little bags of chex mix or other baked goodies.

I have a few more batches of Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix to make, but I’m very happy with how my homemade gifts are turning out. They are pretty and delish…oh, and frugal!

What is your favorite homemade gift?

xoxo

Myra

Tagged as: caramel, chex mix, cranberry, recipe

You can also

subscribe by RSS.

{ 5 trackbacks }

Tweets that mention Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix {Homemade Gift Idea} — my blessed life™ -- Topsy.com: December 13, 2010 at 8:01 pm
12 Ways of Christmas:: Ways of Frugal Gifting: October 25, 2011 at 6:03 am
10 Easy Homemade Food Gifts | KingdomFirstMom.com: December 13, 2011 at 5:23 am
believing is seeing « breathing: December 23, 2011 at 11:05 am
Win a Chex Mix Prize Pack & $25 Kroger Card: November 8, 2012 at 10:31 pm

{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Peg December 13, 2010 at 3:22 pm

mmmmm, this sounds delish! I make a snack mix also. It’s basically cinnamon sugar coated craisins, pretzels and almonds. I’ve been making it for years and certain people would be very sad if it didn’t show up this time of year!

Very easy:
1 c. toasted almonds (toast for 5-7 min @ 350)
1 c. craisins
2 c. small twist pretzels
Gently mix together.
Whisk one egg white until foamy and add to pretzel mix and toss to coat.
Combine 1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. Add to pretzel mixture and toss until evenly coated.

Bake at 275 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.

Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix {Homemade Gift Idea}

Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix

My Archives

Recent Posts