Chocolate Coconut Chex Mix

9 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups chocolate chips
3/4 tsp. coconut extract
1 1/2 c. shredded sweetened coconut
1/3 c. powdered sugar

Pour the chex cereal into a large bowl and set aside.  In a medium microwaveable bowl melt the chocolate chips.  Heat for 1 minute then stir.  Heat for an additional 30 seconds and stir again until completely melted and chocolate is smooth.  Stir in the extract and pour over the cereal.  Gently stir until the cereal is well coated. Stir in the coconut until evenly coated. Pour the cereal onto a large baking sheet and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Let is sit until the chocolate is dry, about 15 minutes.

Reindeer Christmas Chex Mix

Reindeer Feed

• 6 cups Rice Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal
• 1 bag (12 oz) white vanilla baking chips (2 cups)
• 1/3 cup coarsely crushed peppermint candy canes (14 miniature, unwrapped)

1. Line cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper. {I just put wax paper on the counter top.} Place cereal in large bowl.

2. In microwavable bowl, microwave white vanilla baking chips uncovered on high about 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until chips can be stirred smooth. Stir in half the crushed peppermint candy.

3. Pour over cereal; toss to evenly coat. Spread mixture in single layer on cookie sheet. Immediately sprinkle with remaining candy. Let stand until set, about 20 minutes. Gently break up coated cereal. Store in airtight container.

Picture and recipe courtesy of Butter With a Side of Bread

Better than Sex Chex Mix

8 cups Chocolate Chex cereal
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 Tbsp butter or margarine
3 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, mini size
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup caramel bits
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup milk choc. chips
1/2 cup vanilla (white) choc. chips
1 tsp coarse sea salt (I left this out)

or chop up regular caramels)
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup MILK chocolate baking chips (or more if you're a huge chocolate fan)
1/2 cup vanilla (white) chocolate baking chips
1 tsp coarse sea salt

Into large microwavable bowl, measure cereal; set aside. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper or foil.In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour caramel mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave on High 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Spread on cookie sheet. Cool 10 minutes. Break into bite-sized pieces.Make sure Chex mixture is cool to the touch (so candy doesn't melt.) Evenly sprinkle mini peanut butter cups candy and miniature marshmallows over Chex mixture.4In small microwavable bowl, microwave caramel baking bits and cream uncovered on High about 1 minute or until chips can be stirred smooth. Use a spoon or fork to drizzle over snack. Repeat with milk chocolate baking chips. Repeat again with vanilla (white) baking chips. Quickly sprinkle coarse salt over all while candy drizzles are still wet.Refrigerate until set. Break apart and store in tightly covered container. Perfect for gift giving!

recipe and photo courtesy of Quick Dish

Caramel Pecan Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 C. butter
3 C. chopped pecans
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1/2 C. honey
1 C. butter
1/4 C. whipping cream

Cut butter into cake mix and press into greased 9 x 13 glass pan. Pour 3 cups pecans over crust. Bring to a boil the brown sugar, sugar, honey and butter. Boil for 3 minutes, remove from heat and add whipping cream. Stir until well blended. Pour over crust and bake at 350 degrees for 17-22 minutes. Cut into bars when cooled.

*I tried using a gluten free cake mix... did NOT work! I don't recommend it! But I think that the cake step could probably be eliminated altogether if you want to make these gluten free. They would still taste pretty darn good! These are a nice holiday treat!

Sweet Chex Mix

My hubby ate my bag before I could get a photo, but I am sure everyone already has this recipe anyway. We always make it around the holidays. Watch out-- it is super addicting!

1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup butter or margarine
dash of salt
Boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 2 minutes.

Add:
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. soda

Stir. Pour over

12 Oz Rice Chex
2 cups coconut
1/2 c. slivered almonds
We also like to add some honey roasted sunflower seeds

White Chocolate covered pop corn

1 bag of white chocolate chips
1 bag of microwave popcorn

This is the easiest treat ever! Pop the popcorn and place in large bowl. Melt the chips in the microwave, stir at 1 minute and cook longer if needed (do NOT overcook them). Pour white chocolate over popcorn and stir until well coated. Keep stirring every few minutes until it is dry (about 20 minutes). If you don't keep stirring it will dry into one big ball of popcorn. This is seriously SO easy and delicious! Enjoy!