Santa Hot Cocoa Chex Mix {CCC}

Hi there I {Heart} Naptime fans! I’m so excited to be hanging out with you today for Crazy Christmas Crafters! I’m excited to be back once again this year, thanks for inviting me Jamielyn!

I’m Liz and most of the time you can find me baking, decorating,and crafting on Hoosier Homemade. If you are a cupcake lover…Cupcake Heaven is the place for you! And a few months ago, my husband and I launched Pocket Change Gourmet, where we share budget friendly food with a little flair.

With everything that has to be done during the Holidays, I am always looking for a quick and easy gift idea, especially one that I can create in the kitchen. This Santa Hot Cocoa Chex Mix is perfect for teachers, friends, neighbors…pretty much anyone on your list.

While I was whipping up a batch of the Original Chex Mix and decorating these cute little red take-out boxes, I thought it would be fun to create a Chex Mix that would go along with Santa’s belt and buckle. By adding mini marshmallows and crushed peppermint, along with the white and dark chocolate pieces, it really reminds me of a delicious cup of Hot Cocoa.

Santa’s Hot Cocoa Chex Mix Recipe:

• 6 cups of Corn or Rice Chex cereal, divided in half
• 1 cup white vanilla baking chips
• 1 cup milk chocolate or semi-sweet baking chips
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint {I used candy canes}

Instructions:

1. Add 3 cups of Chex cereal to a medium bowl
2. Melt vanilla chips in microwave safe bowl about 1 minute or until chips are almost melted, stir until smooth
3. Pour melted chips over cereal and toss to coat
4. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper
5. Spread cereal mixture on wax paper, try to spread out as much as possible, but don’t worry because you can break it up later
6. Place in fridge for 5-10 minutes or until chocolate is set
7. Repeat with milk chocolate chips
8. Place in fridge for 5-10 minutes or until chocolate is set {these took a little longer to set up}
9. Break apart cereal mixtures and place in large bowl
10. Add mini marshmallows
11. Place peppermint in a resealable bag and crush with a rolling pin, add to bowl
12. Toss all ingredients
13. Add to gift boxes right away, or store in a resealable bag

To decorate the boxes with Santa’s belt and buckle, you will need…

• Boxes – available at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s etc.
• Black construction or cardstock paper
• Yellow scrapbook paper
• Adhesive – I like the Elmer’s tape runner or glue dots {super easy}

Instructions:

1. Cut black paper 1 1/2 inches wide
2. Cut yellow paper 2 1/2 inches square
3. Cut black paper 1 1/2 inches square
4. Glue black strip on for belt
5. Add yellow square for buckle
6. Add black square in the middle, trying to match the belt so it looks like the belt is weaving through the buckle

For more fun ideas on how to decorate the take-out boxes, come visit me on Pocket Change Gourmet.

Thanks so much for having me by today Jamielyn and Happy Holidays to everyone!