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Candy Cane Chex Mix

November 29th, 2012

My friend Katherine emailed me a few weeks ago to see if I had any chex mix recipes. Turns out no.

I had a savory Homemade Party Snack Mix I gave her, but turns out I have never even made any kind of snack including chex unless you count a bowl of cereal. But Corn chex does happen to be Pete’s favorite cereal, so we always have some in the house, and because I am really into sugar right now- I decided to concoct something sweet and Holiday happy.

But I have a confession to make. I did not think I was going to like this. I thought I was just sort of creating some over the top crazy Christmas, pink popcorny, pepperminty nonsense that my girls would get really excited about for 5 minutes and then it would most likely sit around on the countertop in a Ziploc until it looked limp and gross and my husband chucked in the trash. Sometimes that’s how greatness begins. By accident.

And this Candy Cane Chex Mix is “greatness”! (Yes, I just snorted as I wrote that because I am aware of how silly that sounds!) But truly, I sort of tasted it apprehensively, just to see how it turned out, and oooooohhhhh noooooo! It was SO SO good! The phrase “Christmas Crack” comes to mind… So now I have to share it with you.

The white chocolate mellows out the pepperminty candy cane flavor so it is not at all overwhelming, and the candy adds a wonderful little crystal crunch. The real magic is when that sweetness blankets two types of savory. The fluffy popcorn and the saltier, chrunchier corn chex.

I imagine that this would be so fun to put out at a party, or while decorating the Christmas tree, or to bring to the office. Also- so easy to gift instead of caramel corn. And since it is nut free I have been packing little baggies for the girls to take to school with them for an after lunch treat.

Frankly it has been a real problem around here and since I don’t want to think about eating it anymore, I will just go ahead and finish it all off.

This is how you make it:

In a large pot, combine the vegetable oil and the popcorn and put a lid on it. Heat over medium heat and let it cook until the kernels are popping with a few seconds in between. Empty the cooked popcorn to a sheet pan.

Add the corn Chex cereal and toss with the popcorn. Set aside. (the picture will show that I added the Chex later- but do as I say, not as I do!)

In a large bowl, combine the peppermint baking bits and the white chocolate and microwave about 90 seconds and whisk until smooth.

Pour the peppermint-white chocolate over the popcorn and chex.

With clean hands, gently toss everything together to coat.

Immediately sprinkle with the candy cane crumbs and dust and the sprinkles.

Set the Candy Cane Chex Mix out to set up- this should take an hour or so. Store in an airtight container.