Christmas Crack Mix is a delightful holiday treat that combines the crunch of Chex cereal and pretzels with sweet, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. This snack is perfect for holiday gatherings, movie nights, or as a gift in a festive jar. With its bright colors and tasty flavors, it captures the spirit of the season in every bite.
Why Make This Recipe
Making Christmas Crack Mix is not only simple but also a fun activity that you can do with family and friends. It’s a crowd-pleaser with a balance of sweet and salty flavors. When you prepare this recipe, you create something that everyone can enjoy, making it a great addition to your holiday traditions. Plus, it’s easy to customize and share!
How to Make Christmas Crack Mix
Ingredients
- 9 cups Chex cereal
- 2 cups mini pretzels
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- 1 bag Andes mint baking chips (10 oz)
- 1 package Oreo cookies (14.3 oz)
- 1 cup red and green holiday M&M’s
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Pour the Chex cereal into a very large mixing bowl.
- Add the mini pretzels and gently toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Break the Oreo cookies into bite-sized pieces and set them aside.
- Place the Andes mint baking chips in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and heat over very low heat, stirring constantly until the mint chocolate melts and the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the melted chocolate mixture to cool for 2 minutes.
- Slowly drizzle the warm mint chocolate mixture over the Chex cereal and pretzels.
- Using a large spatula, gently toss everything together until the cereal and pretzels are evenly coated.
- Add the broken Oreo cookies and carefully fold them into the chocolate-coated mixture.
- Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheets.
- Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until the chocolate coating begins to firm up.
- Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and gently break apart any large clusters.
- Transfer the coated cereal mixture into a large bowl and sprinkle the powdered sugar over the top.
- Toss gently until the pieces are lightly coated with powdered sugar, creating a snowy Christmas appearance.
- Add the red and green holiday M&M’s and gently mix them throughout the snack mixture.
- For extra peppermint flavor, sprinkle a few additional chopped Andes mint candies over the mixture if desired.
- Return the mixture to the refrigerator for another 15 minutes until completely set.
- Transfer the Christmas Crack Mix into a large festive serving bowl.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and serve chilled.
How to Serve Christmas Crack Mix
You can serve Christmas Crack Mix in a large festive bowl for gatherings. It can be enjoyed by itself or served alongside other holiday treats. This mix can also be packaged in gift bags or jars for holiday gifting.
How to Store Christmas Crack Mix
Store any leftover Christmas Crack Mix in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Keeping it chilled helps maintain its texture and flavor.
Tips to Make Christmas Crack Mix
- Make sure to break the Oreo cookies into uniform pieces for even distribution.
- Use low heat when melting the mint chips to avoid burning.
- Feel free to mix in other candies or nuts if you want to customize the mix!
Variation
For a different flavor, try using peanut butter chips instead of Andes mint chips. You can also add in some chopped nuts for an extra crunch.
FAQs
1. Can I use other types of cereal?
Yes, you can use any type of cereal you like, such as Rice Krispies or Cheerios.
2. How long does it take to prepare?
It takes about 45 minutes to prepare Christmas Crack Mix, including chilling time.
3. Is it possible to make this snack ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this snack a few days in advance. Just store it properly in the refrigerator.
Christmas Crack Mix
Ingredients
Method
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Pour the Chex cereal into a very large mixing bowl.
- Add the mini pretzels and gently toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Break the Oreo cookies into bite-sized pieces and set them aside.
- Place the Andes mint baking chips in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and heat over very low heat, stirring constantly until the mint chocolate melts and the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the melted chocolate mixture to cool for 2 minutes.
- Slowly drizzle the warm mint chocolate mixture over the Chex cereal and pretzels.
- Using a large spatula, gently toss everything together until the cereal and pretzels are evenly coated.
- Add the broken Oreo cookies and carefully fold them into the chocolate-coated mixture.
- Spread the mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheets.
- Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until the chocolate coating begins to firm up.
- Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and gently break apart any large clusters.
- Transfer the coated cereal mixture into a large bowl and sprinkle the powdered sugar over the top.
- Toss gently until the pieces are lightly coated with powdered sugar.
- Add the red and green holiday M&M’s and gently mix them throughout the snack mixture.
- Return the mixture to the refrigerator for another 15 minutes until completely set.
- Transfer the Christmas Crack Mix into a large festive serving bowl.
