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.
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Now, I’ll show you how 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 bags of chex mix.
So pretty!!
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?
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
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.
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JessieLeigh Reply:
December 13th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@Peg, This sounds tasty!
JessieLeigh´s last [type] ..Menu Plan- 12-12- The Calm After the Storm
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Sounds delish! Thanks for sharing!!
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Lynda Reply:
December 17th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@Peg, This sounds really good too. We just had new neighbor’s move in next door. They seem really nice, and I want to make them feel welcomed….this and Lisa’s mix along with some brownies might be what I take over to them in a pretty Christmas container…..thanks!
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Chex Connoisseur?!!
LOL, that made me laugh!
Looks like it turned out so good! Love frugal homemade gifts!
Kelly´s last [type] ..My Girl Is Walking!!
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Ooh, so tasty! Love the addition of craisins rather than raisins- fun! I love to give granola or homemade candies.
JessieLeigh´s last [type] ..Menu Plan- 12-12- The Calm After the Storm
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This. looks. AMAZING!! I am so making this next week!!
Tara´s last [type] ..My Observation
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How fun it is to make your own chex mix, the packaging is very cute too.
Self Sagacity´s last [type] ..Cranberry Spinach Garden Salad with Feta Cheese
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This looks so yummy!
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This looks delicious! Do you think it would taste good if I omitted the nuts for allergy purposes?
Sometimes the nuts “make the dish”… if you know what I mean. What’s your take on them in this recipe?
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Myra Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Hey girl! You could definitely exclude the nuts.
Let me know how it turns out!
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SnoWhite Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
@Myra,Excellent! This is on my list to try
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SnoWhite Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
@Myra, We made this today — yummy!
SnoWhite´s last [type] ..Overnight Cinnamon Sugar Coffee Cake
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Hi Myra, that really looks delicious. I am going to feel a little guilty since I am gaining some weight. But the holidays are getting closer and it is time to make some gifts.
Daniel´s last [type] ..Support socks
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Yum. This new variation on the chex mix theme looks great! Thanks for sharing and linking up!
Lisa@blessedwithgrace´s last [type] ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is At The Well
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This looks totally delicous I cant even spell it right it looks so
good. I would love it if you linked up this recipe at my blog
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Haha! Thanks Cheryl!
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Oh, wow! Love snack mixes! Have you tried using something else for the corn syrup like honey or?
Sherry´s last [type] ..Beautiful Star of Bethlehem Recipe & Craft
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Hi Sherry! I have only used corn syrup. It has no HFCS, but it seems like honey should work too.
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Craisins and M & M’s?! Yum! What’s not to love!
Melinda´s last [type] ..Hunters- Holidays and Tall Tales
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I have 2 bags of individually wrapped caramels leftover from Halloween and I have been trying to figure out what to do with them, until now. Do you think I can substitute the brown sugar, butter and karo syrup mixture for the 2 bags of unwrapped, melted caramel to the chex mix? Hmmmmmmm????? If yes, then thanks to you, I have a “frugal” gift to hand out this year – yeah!!!!
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Hi Tracy! If it were me, I would try the caramels. They would need to be very, very melted and you might want to stir during baking more often than 15 minutes. They potentially could make the chex mix more “barky” so you might have to break it in pieces when it cools. Let me know how it goes!
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Visiting from Tasty Tuesday … this recipe looked so good, so I tried it yesterday. Love it … thank you for sharing!
Cherry´s last [type] ..Around the Table
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Yay! Thank you for telling me!
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in the oven awaiting it’s first stir! can’t wait to share this tonight at a family birthday party, yum!
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Myra Reply:
December 17th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Fabulous Chelsea! I know they (and you) will love it!
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I just have to tell you that I made this yesterday, and I love it. Thank goodness my husband wasn’t home while I was making it or he would have eaten it all before I was able to give it away as Christmas gifts! Thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas!
Kristy´s last [type] ..10 months
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Made some and gave some as gifts! Really yummy!! Making more this week though it is dangerous stuff – can’t stop eating it – LOL! Thanks for the great recipe Myra!
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates´s last [type] ..OK – THIS Is The Last Post
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Love this! Thanks for sharing. I think I’ll make some tomorrow.
Heather´s last [type] ..reduce, REUSE, recycle
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Sounds delish. I am going to make some for our family christmas eve dinner (as parting gifts). Question: Hosting Christmas Eve dinner so I have lots to do. How far in advance can I make this before it starts tasting stale?
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