Easy Christmas Snack Mix Guaranteed to be Devoured

It’s that awkward part-thanksgiving and part-Christmas time right now – right?! Everyone seems to be pulling double-duty and multi-tasking at their finest. Thanksgiving menu planning, debating when to decorate for Christmas and simultaneously gathering wish lists from everyone and starting to shop! Today, I’m sharing a gift idea perfect for neighbors, teachers, friends and hostesses this season and you don’t need their list to know they’ll love it! It’s an Easy Christmas Snack Mix Guaranteed to be Devoured!

I’m joining 20+ other bloggers today as we share simple DIY gift ideas as part of the Seasonal Simplicity Series – Holiday Edition hosted by Krista of the Happy Housie!

I’ve got a yummy treat recipe to share that kids and adults equally love so it’s hard to keep around the house during the holidays! Gifting it is such a better idea…for many reasons! ha 😉

EASY CHRISTMAS SNACK MIX GUARANTEED TO BE DEVOURED

I love making big batches of this vanilla coated easy Christmas snack mix and keeping it on-hand for holiday hosting [even if it’s last minute entertaining] as well as gifting to so many of your favorite people!

You might remember my Valentine’s Day version of this Snack Mix that I put on the Ultimate Sweets & Strawberries Board for a Galentine’s Day party. It’s basically the same recipe, except with bright red and green colored M&M’s!

Read on to see how I make it!

EASY CHRISTMAS SNACK MIX INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 box Rice Chex cereal
• 1/2 bag of pretzel sticks
• 1/2 container of dry roasted peanuts
• 1 pkg vanilla candy coating [or pkg of almond bark]
• 1/2 bag of M&M’s [Holiday edition]
• 1/2 bag of Peanut M&M’s [Holiday edition]

*optional: 1/2 tsp almond extract

**Makes 1 batch, but I always double or triple the recipe. A double batch fills 3 gallon size freezer bags! If you do decide to make a double batch, this mix freezes really well. Even just for a week or so to keep it fresh before serving or delivering!

EASY CHRISTMAS SNACK MIX DIRECTIONS:

Combine rice Chex, pretzels and peanuts in large mixing bowl and lightly mix together.

In the microwave, heat package of vanilla candy coating or almond bark squares in microwave safe bowl until melted. You can use the microwave safe tray in the package and then follow the melting instructions on the package.

I set microwave for 1.5 minutes, stirred and then put back in for another 1.5 minutes. After I took it out of the microwave, I stirred in the almond extract into the melted vanilla coating.

Next, pour the melted vanilla coating over your Chex, pretzel and peanut mixture and begin to mix thoroughly with spatula. The longer the melted vanilla coating sits and cools, the harder it is to get good coverage on your mixture.

Once the mixture is fully coated, then let sit for 3-5 minutes to slightly cool, but not completely dry. 

Then, pour in your various M&M’s and mix thoroughly again. I always wait a few minutes before adding the chocolate coated candies because if the mixture is too hot, they will melt!

It’s a much more festive Christmas Snack Mix when the red and green candies are still intact and not melted all throughout the entire mix!

Lastly, spread the mixture out onto sheets of wax paper to cool and dry completely. After the Christmas treat mix is drying on the wax paper, I add additional M&M’s. These ones will stick to the top of the mix and won’t be covered in coating.

The colors will really pop against the white mix!

If you want to set the mixture more quickly, you can place in refrigerator or freezer, but 30-60 minutes on the counter is plenty of time!

HOW TO STORE, SERVE &/OR GIFT YOUR CHRISTMAS SNACK MIX:

You’ll want to break the treat mix into smaller clumps and place in freezer bags to store. I keep the bags in the pantry, fridge or freezer until I’m ready to serve or deliver to family and friends!

When you’re ready to serve your Christmas Treat Mix, pour a bag out into a large bowl with a scoop or serving spoon. You could also put into individual bowls and put out on a grazing board! 

But my go-to simple holiday gift is adding the mix to a jar embellished with ribbon and tulle and delivering to neighbors, friends, teachers and your holiday hostesses! You could put together as many of these “Christmas Snack Mix in a Jar” as you’ll need this season. Then just grab them as you need them!

Another simple Holiday Hostess gift is this gift in a Mit you can put together for under $5 and 5 minutes!

You can get all the details on the jar, ribbon and tulle as well as FREE Printable Christmas Gift Tags Perfect for Everyone on Your List here!

These gift tags are available through my Free Resource Library and you can get the details at the bottom of this post.

Thank you again to Krista for hosting the Seasonal Simplicity Series and allowing me to be a part of it! Be sure to check out the rest of the fabulous DIY gift ideas being shared in today’s hop.

I can’t wait to grab some ideas to use myself!

Welcome to today’s post in the Seasonal Simplicity Christmas Series! Today a group of my blogging friends and I are sharing our DIY Gift Ideas to help inspire you for the upcoming holiday season.

Click on the links below each image to be taken directly to the different posts.

Free Printable Coffee Gift Card Holder at The Happy Housie
White Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods at She Gave it a Go
Chunky Hand Knit Hat and Mittens at The DIY Mommy
How to Wrap Baked Goods for Gifts 2 Ways at Modern Glam
Cinnamon Sugar Scrub at A Pretty Life

2020 Free Printable Calendar at Clean & Scentsible
Homemade Vanilla Hostess Gift at My 100 Year Old Home
Coal Rice Krispie Cookies at Life is a Party
Homemade Christmas Potpourri at Cherished Bliss
DIY Wood Burned Spoons at Cassie Bustamante

Mini Bread Loaves for Gifting at My Sweet Savannah
Peppermint Sugar Scrub at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
DIY Wood Slice Holiday Wrath at Jenna Kate at Home
Easy Christmas Snack Mix at This is Our Bliss
DIY Deconstructed Stamped Books at Lolly Jane

Petite Christmas Bouquet at Craftberry Bush
DIY Bath Bomb Ornaments at The Turquoise Home
Gold Detailed Candle Votive at Zevy Joy
DIY Glam Rhinestone Bow Ornaments at Summer Adams
DIY Christmas Centrepiece at Place of My Taste

For more inspiration, you can check out my full Christmas Gallery full of Christmas decor, gift guides, DIY projects and holiday style!

Don’t forget to pin for later!