In our home, Christmas Eve is all about snacks, so I am making two this year – one savoury and one sweet. Christmas Eve Sweet Snack Mix is sure to curb your sweet 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 Sara at Dinner at the Zoo. You can find the original recipe, Reindeer Chow, on her site. Thanks, Sara!
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Christmas Eve Sweet Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 6 cups Shreddies cereal, original flavour
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups M&M Peanuts, Christmas colours
- 2 cups mini peanut butter cups
- 4 cups mini pretzels
Instructions
- Add the chocolate chips and peanut butter to a sauce pan. Over very low heat, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together until smooth. Stir frequently and keep the heat low!
- Place the Shreddies cereal in a large bowl and pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter over the top. Use a rubber spatula to gently toss the cereal until well coated.
- Sift the cocoa powder and confectioner's sugar into a large resealable bag. Add the chocolate covered cereal and seal the bag. Toss until the cereal is well coated.
- Transfer the cereal to a large baking sheet to air dry. Spread the cereal out so that it's in a single layer, or as close to a single layer as possible, and let it sit for two hours.
- Lastly, transfer the cereal to a large bowl, along with the M&Ms, pretzels, and peanut butter cups. Toss to combine and serve.
- To store, keep in a resealable bag at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
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