In our home, Christmas Eve is all about snacks, so I am making two this year – one savoury and one sweet. Christmas Eve Savoury Snack Mix is sure to curb your salty snack cravings!
I’ve asked this question before, but I’m going to go ahead and ask it again – what are your Christmas Eve traditions? We have a few that we do every single year without fail, but I’m certainly open to including and adopting more traditions.
I think the most common response to the Christmas Eve traditions question is movies. I think the majority of families, whether you have kids or not, will hunker down and watch movies that either take them back to their childhood and make them feel nostalgic, or they try to watch a new Christmas movie every year, like we do.
Now, I ask you, Dear Reader, what is a movie without snacks? I know it’s possible to watch movies without stuffing your face full of junk food, but what’s the point? I mean, no matter how entertaining the movie might be, snacks are needed to get the full effect and to feel fully entertained.
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’ll just look for reasons and excuses to eat food. I’m okay with that. Really, I am! And, I’m sure I’m not alone. Snack-loving people are everywhere; there’s no escape!
Like most things in our home though, one flavour, one type, one variety, does not cut it. I’m the sole provider of food, meaning that I cook for all of us every day. So, it’s up to me to figure out what we are going to be snacking on while we relax in the dark, with the only light being those from our Christmas trees, while we watch our Christmas movie selection.
There’s only three of us, but I know I can cover all of the bases with snack mixes. Yes, you can buy snack mixes at the store, but since Christmas comes only once a year, I feel whipping up a batch or two of homemade snack mix is a great way to put in a little more effort and show someone you care.
Just as a side note, these recipes make quite a large amount, and if you portion the snack mix out and put it into festive cellophane bags, tied with a bright red ribbon, you’ve got yourself a great gift for giving to your workmates, your neighbours, or even your kids’ teachers.
Two snack mixes are needed. You must have a sweet snack mix to satisfy those loved ones that crave chocolate, sugar, and candy. And, you must have a savoury mix to satisfy the cravings of those who prefer salty snacks over sugary, sweet treats. That is why, Dear Reader, I make two Christmas Eve Snack Mix recipes.
On Christmas Eve, I like to remove the centerpiece from the center of the coffee table, and put out large bowls of snacks, a few trays of Christmas cookies, and maybe an open box of chocolates or two. I’ll arrange a few small, empty snack bowls and a few small candy scoops so that everyone can pick up what they want and take it back to the couch with them.
I’ll put out paper napkins, I’ll make sure the couches have well-stocked with cushions and pillows, and even a few fleecy throw blankets. There’s coasters on every table, lots of cold beverages, and a few holiday-scented candles burning on the window sills. Doesn’t this all sound rather inviting?
Oh, and one last thing, once we are all comfy, cozy in our matching Christmas pajamas, and we have taken our annual Christmas photo by the tree, and a few selfies too, we put our phones away and the movie begins. The cats are curled up beside us, ready to nap their way through the movie marathon, and finally, we are ready to relax and most certainly ready to eat!
This recipe was inspired by Jen at Carlsbad Cravings. You can find the original recipe, Italian Parmesan Party Mix, on her site. Thanks, Jen!
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Christmas Eve Savoury Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 6 cups Shreddies Cereal, original flavour
- 4 cups mini pretzels
- 2 cups salted mixed nuts
- 3 cups cheese crackers, (Cheese Nips or Cheese Its)
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teapoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the cereal, pretzels, nuts, and crackers onto the baking sheet. Toss gently to mix. Set aside.
- Whisk together the melted butter and olive oil.
- Add in both vinegars, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, dried red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the oil and butter mixture evenly over the top of the crackers and cereal mixture. Toss well to evenly coat.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven every 15 minutes and gently toss.
- Once done, remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese and toss to combine.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- To store, transfer cooled snack mix to resealable bag and keep at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
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Kirsten Rydzewski says
I made a double batch of this mix for Xmas gift giving. When I tried it warm out of the oven, I was not getting much cheese flavor. I already used all my parmesan, so I grabbed a jar of real white cheddar powder and added a cup to the mix. Turned out I should have waited until the mix cooled because everyone could really taste cheese then! But the new iteration is the one everyone likes now, from family, friends, and co-workers. Also the bits of herbs, cheese and crumbs left in the bottom of the bowl makes a terrific salad topping.
Shoyleen Hamilton says
My familiy’s longest running tradition is a game we call Dirty Santa. Everyone brings a favorite gift of a predetermined value. We draw numbers and go in order. You can open a gift or steal a gift already opened when it’s your turn. The gift is frozen on the third steal. The person with number one can steal any gift that isn’t frozen after the last person goes.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
This sounds like so much fun!