Reindeer Muddy Buddies Christmas Snack Mix

An easy and delicious Reindeer Muddy Buddies Christmas snack mix that is perfect for the holidays! This snack mix is filled with muddy buddies, pretzels, M&Ms, and peanut butter cups!

 

I know, we already have a muddy buddies recipe and we already have a 5 minute Christmas snack mix but whenever I go to parties and like a certain combination in a snack mix I want to make it at home.

There’s nothing I love more than a quick and easy snack mix that the kids can make with me. 

Any chance we’ve got to get together over something delicious is kind of a big deal these days. With three kids it’s busy, but since our three are totally different ages and not at all on the same playing level little traditions like making snack mixes is the perfect way for them to connect. 

How to Make This Christmas Snack Mix

1. Make the Muddy Buddies

Prepare our best muddy buddies recipe and allow them to cool completely. 

   2. Combine the Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the muddy buddies, pretzels, m&ms and peanut butter cups. 

   3. Toss everything together and store in a sealed container. 

 

Christmas Snack Mix Storage Tips

Storage is key in any snack mix. It allows you to make it early enough that you can spread out the holiday busyness! 

• Store this Muddy Buddies Snack Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. 

 

Oh Sweet Basil Pro Tip!

• You can freeze any leftover snack mix in an airtight container/bag for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature and munch away!

Variation ideas for Snack Mixes

• Replace some of the pretzels with popped plain popcorn
• A white chocolate or milk chocolate drizzle with sprinkles is always fun!
• Use chocolate covered pretzels instead of plain pretzels
• Add in mini marshmallows (marshmallows will not keep)
• Throw in peanuts or cashews

 

Gather your kiddos of all ages in the kitchen and make this Christmas snack mix! We love to put some in cellophane bags and deliver them to friends in the neighborhood.

More Holiday Snack Mixes:

• Candied Nuts Snack Mix
• 5 Minute Christmas Snack Mix
• 5 Minute Reese’s Snack Mix
• Ranch Slow Cooker Chex Mix
• Sweet Chex Mix
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Addicting Christmas M&M Pretzel Hugs

Mmmm, salty, crisp mini pretzels topped off with soft and silky chocolates with an M&M on top! These Christmas M&M pretzel hugs are the most addicting Christmas snack!

It’s one of those non-recipes so I know you don’t technically need a recipe card for our Christmas M&M Pretzel Hugs but it might come in handy.

You see, every year our teenager sets out to make little chocolate pretzels and every year I cannot remember what I set the oven to. So, yes, they are easy and take no instruction at all, but then again, if you’re losing your marbles like I am….

The best part about this Christmas Party Snack is that you can use whatever you’d like:

• Regular Kisses
• Hugs
• Candy Cane Kisses 
• Cookies and Creme Kisses

How to Make M&M Pretzel Hugs

1. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper in case any chocolate melts through the pretzels. (PS I cannot live without my silpats. I have more than I can count and they are life changing in cookie making especially.)
2. Place pretzels in lines and top each with a Hershey’s Hug. 
3. Heat the oven and place the pan in the oven for a few minutes. 
4. Once the chocolate is shiny but still has a little consistency pull them out and quickly top with an m&m
5. Allow to set up completely before eating. 

How to Store Pretzel Hugs

Store cooled and hard pretzel hug snacks in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Refrigeration can soften the pretzels so it’s not recommended.

Oh Sweet Basil Pro Tip!

Make sure you test the chocolate before you pull them from the oven as sometimes only the tip of the chocolate has melted and the m&m is standing too high. 

Gently press the m&m onto a chocolate with the oven open and if it presses the chocolate down into a soft mound without totally making a puddle you’re ready to go!

To Correct a Problem

If the chocolate is too melted let them stand in a cool place to start to solidify again before pressing in the chocolate. 

Are Pretzels Gluten Free?

Pretzels are not gluten free unless you buy the gluten free pretzels. 

Are Pretzels Dairy Free?

Pretzels are almost always dairy free but it’s best to double check the packaging just in case. 

Are Pretzels Healthy?

Pretzels are a salty-carb. Not really a healthy snack as they are not full of many vitamins and minerals.

That being said, if you’re trying to decide between pretzels or chips, yes, go pretzels. 

Are Hershey Hugs Chocolate?

Hershey’s hugs are made with chocolate and white chocolate so it’s not a pure, good quality chocolate like some others, but it’s still a chocolate candy.

Coconut Sweet Chex Mix Recipe

Sweet gooey Chex mix recipe – One of those classic party or holiday snacks that seems so lame when you look at it, but you can’t stay out of it once you try it.

We had a friend bring over a bag for Christmas this last year. I grabbed a handful and then the next thing I knew, the whole bag was gone. My husband and kids didn’t even get a bite. Oopsies…a classic snaccident!

It’s really that good and that addicting. You have to try it!

This is such a yummy treat to eat while watching a movie or hanging at a party etc! The ultimate party mix! It’s so simple and it’s a nice change from popcorn. You could totally mix things up and add nuts too.

Ingredients for Sweet Chex Mix

It’s the simple things that are the best, right?! There is nothing crazy in this recipe, just simple ingredients blended together in the perfect way. Here is your grocery list:

• Unsalted Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Light Corn Syrup
• Sugar
• Corn Chex
• Rice Chex
• Golden Graham Cereal
• Slivered Almonds
• Shredded Coconut Flakes

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Variations and Substitutions

Feel free to add or swap any of the ingredients you want. Peanuts or cashews would be a great addition or mini pretzels. You can also swap the cereals for other ones you love…Wheat Chex, Crispix, Cheerios or Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I’ve seen people use those crunchy chow mein noodles in this mix too or Bugles for a little more salty taste.

If you want to play with the flavor a little, swap the corn syrup for honey and/or the granulated sugar for brown sugar.

Not a coconut fan? Just omit it!

How to Make Sweet Chex Mix Recipe

Snack foods should be simple and quick in my book. Otherwise, you’ve missed the point of a snack. Am I right? Yes, yes I am! Here are the basics:

1. Combine the cereals, nuts and coconut in a bowl and line two cookie sheets with parchment.
2. Add the butter, corn syrup, vanilla and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Boil for 1 minute.
4. Remove from the stove and pour over the cereal mixture.
5. Stir together and then spread out on the parchment paper to cool.

These steps can be found in the recipe card below as well.

Reasons I Love This Recipe

Scalable: It’s so easy to scale up or down in the recipe. If you’re making neighbor gifts for the oven

No Bake: There is no baking, no oven, no long hours in the kitchen. I don’t have time for that when the holidays come around, so this is a great option for a quick and simple snack.

Fast: This recipe comes together in a total time of about 10 minutes with a little prep time and a couple minutes at the stove. Then it’s just a matter of letting it cool.

Addicting: I dare you try just one handful of this sweet snack mix! The combination of sweet and salty with crunchy tex

The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had

I had no idea that an easy cheese ball recipe could be this good. Last year I had the best cheese ball I ever had and now I get to share how crazy easy this appetizer is!

Our neighbor, Michelle thought up the most genius idea, she cancelled neighbor gifts at Christmas. Can we all have a moment of cheering for Michelle? Now, I’m not against neighbor gifts, but I don’t know that I’m for pouring out all of that extra stress for a bunch of cookies the neighbors throw away. Don’t worry, I’m going to tie it all together so you know what it has to do with The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had. 

We were so impressed with not just Michelle, but how the neighbors responded. Michelle sent out a big letter announcing that instead of doing neighbor gifts, what if we donated to a cause. Everyone could come visit at a little Christmas gathering at her house, bring a donation for a family in need or a reputable charity and visit with each other, which is more of what Christmas is about.

Oh it was such a success!! So much money earned, and we stuffed our faces, I mean, we all got into the Christmas spirit so much more!

What is a Good Cheese Ball Recipe?

Another dear friend, Angie was there. I casually walked over to her and seeing the food said, “oh what is a good cheese ball recipe? I’m never as in love as I want to be.” And there we were, standing at the food table, shoveling crackers with the best cheese ball I ever had into our mouths. I finally said, “my gosh, who made this?!!!” And Angie says, “Oh, I did.”

What?! How have I never tasted of this goodness before and how could she stand there so nonchalant?! I mean, it looked like a classic cheese ball recipe, but something about it was different.

Look, I’ve had some pretty good cheese balls in my day. Our BBQ Bacon Cheese Ball and German Chocolate Cheese Ball are pretty dang amazing, but now I am sitting here making a humble pie because Angie’s is the best cheese ball I ever had!

Secret Ingredients in the the Best Cheese Ball

I think it’s the secret, artery clogging ingredient that you all are going to use and not complain a lick about because it’s just that worth it.

Kraft Old English Jarred Cheese.

Yes, it’s cheese in a jar. I’ve linked to it so you can see what to look for.

No, it probably isn’t real cheese. I can’t fight you on that one. Can you pretend it is? Just this once?

The rest of the ingredients are the norm, but I’ll do you a favor and give a quick overview because I love seeing a quick list of ingredients.

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Sharing some festive ways to enjoy rice crispies this Halloween season!

With the spookiest day of the year just around the corner, I can feel the excitement in the air. Halloween isn’t just about costumes and pumpkins; it’s a fun time to bake up some tasty treats!

Today, I’m sharing a delightful Halloween Rice Krispie Treats recipe—a perfect blend of gooey, crispy goodness that will surely add a touch of magic to your Halloween festivities. Rice crispies are one of my all-time favorite treats; they’re gluten-free, SO delicious, easy to customize, and the kids love them.

Halloween Rice Krispie Treats Ideas

Spooky Shapes and Silhouettes

Transform your ordinary Rice Krispie Treats into Halloween-themed shapes. Use cookie cutters to mold them into ghosts, bats, or pumpkins. The kids will love getting involved in this creative process. For an extra eerie touch, add black food coloring to the mix.

How-to: Shape the freshly made Rice Krispie mixture with cookie cutters. Enhance the details with a piping bag filled with different colored icing.

Monster Mashup Madness

Unleash your imagination by turning your Rice Krispie Treats into a parade of friendly monsters. Use candy eyes, colorful icing, and various candies to create a variety of goofy, spooky, or silly monsters. It’s a fun way to get creative and like a little art project for the kiddos.

How-to: Decorate each treat with candy eyes, colored icing for features, and candies for added texture. Make each monster unique for a vibrant and playful Halloween treat.

Haunted Graveyard Delight

Take your Halloween Rice Krispie Treats to the next level by turning them into a haunted graveyard scene. Use crushed chocolate cookies for “dirt,” gummy worms for added spookiness, and small tombstone-shaped cookies for decoration.

How-to: Assemble the graveyard by placing tombstone cookies and gummy worms on top of the Rice Krispie surface. Dust with crushed cookies for a graveyard-inspired look.

Halloween Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 package