Cranberry-Caramel Chex Mix {Homemade Gift Idea}

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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!

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

35 Comments

  1. 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.

    1. @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!

  2. 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?

  3. 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 blog post ..Support socks

  4. 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!!!!

    1. 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! 🙂

  5. in the oven awaiting it’s first stir! can’t wait to share this tonight at a family birthday party, yum!

  6. 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 blog post ..10 months

  7. 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?

  8. I made this yesterday and it’s great. Thanks for sharing. The karo butter mixture went a little heavy in places. Any suggestions for the next batch?

  9. Dear Myra, all these years later and I’m still making your WONDERFUL Chex Mix! I recopied the recipe last year and was concerned I had the temperature too high….possibly making a mistake when recopying. I was SO delighted to find you here – and the recipe! We love it…..made it for gifts in the nursing home and just made it for guests Sunday evening. It was king of “crispy.” I baked it at 255 degrees. I see that is too high. Thanks again!!

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