Christmas:Gingerbread Party Mix

Gingerbread Party Mix

The kids and I planned on watching "A Christmas Story" for our movie night tonight.  Instead of eating our traditional movie snack of popcorn I decided to try something else.  I remembered a recipe I saw in "Family Circle" magazine for a holiday Chex Mix.  I decided to check it out.  The recipe was so simple and required minimal adult supervision, I thought this would be a great treat the kids could make.  No oven, just the microwave.
You start by combing all the cereals and cinnamon graham snacks -the kids used Cinnamon Teddy Grahams in a large microwavable bowl.  In a smaller microwaveable dish, the butter is melted and the spices and vanilla extract are stirred into the melted butter.  Toss the cereal mixture with the butter and microwave for 5 minutes.  Spread the mixture on paper towels and drizzle melted white vanilla baking chips over the cereal. Let it set and you are ready to eat.   The Party mix was very tasty.  I loved the holiday flavors and the touch of white "chocolate" and candied ginger.   A great snack to enjoy while watching a movie.



Gingerbread Party Mix
From Family Circle Magazine

Ingredients:
3 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 1/2 cups cinnamon graham snacks
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons crystallized ginger, chopped
1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips

Directions:
1. In a large microwavable bowl, add cereals and graham snacks; set aside.  In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on high 40 seconds or until melted.  Stir in cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla until blended.  Pour over cereal and stir until coated.

Cereals and Teddy Grahams

Melted butter and Spices

2. Microwave uncovered on high 5 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.  Stir in ginger until blended.  Spread mixture onto paper towels.  In small microwavable cup, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on high 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted.  Drizzle over snack; let stand until set.  Store in airtight container.

15 servings

Butter and Cereal Mixture Combined

Mixture on Paper Towels

Baking Chips Drizzled Over Chex Mix

Bowl of Holiday Goodness

Sweet and Spicy Chex Mix

Chex Mix is a classic tradition.  It is easy to make and makes a great snack/treat all of the time.  This recipe takes this classic recipe to the next level. You have your traditional ingredients - Chex cereal, nuts, pretzels and adds dried peas, dried cherries and nutritional yeast.

The ingredients (except the cherries and nutritional yeast) are coated in a sauce of butter, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and brown sugar.

Once the mix has been coated well, it is baked in a 250F degree oven for 1  hour.  Remove the mix from the oven and sprinkle with the nutritional yeast.

 

I  love the extra pow the nutritional yeast gives this recipe.  When the mix is cool toss in the dried cherries.

The result is a wonderful Chex mix that has both crunch and chewiness with a hint of spice and sweetness.   Perfect for your upcoming Superbowl Party or just for everyday.   Enjoy.


Sweet and Spicy Chex Mix
From Bon Appetit

Servings: Makes about 12 cups

Ingredients: 

SERVINGS: MAKES ABOUT 12 CUPS

 2 cups corn Chex cereal

 2 cups rice Chex cereal

 2 cups mixed unsalted nuts (such as pecans and cashews)

 2 cups small checkerboard pretzels or other small pretzels

 1⁄2 cup roasted edamame or roasted green peas (not wasabi "flavor") 

1⁄2 cup smoked almonds

6 garlic cloves, "finely" grated

 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

 6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 

1⁄4 cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s Hot Sauce)

1⁄4 cup (packed) light brown sugar

4 teaspoons kosher salt 

1 teaspoon onion powder

1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pinch of cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 cups dried sour cherries or cranberries

Preparation:
1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 250°. Toss corn Chex, rice Chex, nuts, pretzels, edamame, and almonds in a large bowl.
2. Whisk garlic, butter, Worcestershire, hot sauce, brown sugar, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl. Pour over cereal mixture and gently toss with a rubber spatula until coated.
3. Divide mixture between 2 rimmed baking sheets and spread in an even layer. Bake party mix, stirring every 15 minutes and rotating trays from front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until dry and toasted, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with nutritional yeast, toss, and let cool on baking sheets (it will become crisp as it cools).
4. Transfer party mix to a large serving bowl. Add cherries and toss until combined.
Do Ahead: Party mix, without cherries, can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature. Add cherries just before serving.