December has arrived, and with it my favorite time of year: Christmas. I spent a delightful morning making Chex™ holiday party mixes—Muddy Buddies, Pecan Pie, and my new favorite, Reindeer Chow—at the MakeShop in San Francisco, founded by Brit Morin. I met Brit, the welcoming Chex™ team, and local bloggers while enjoying a beautifully decorated space complete with DIY hot cocoa and champagne bar stations and a light breakfast.
The event featured rotating stations. At the first table we assembled the Chex™ party mixes I mentioned earlier. Below you’ll find the recipe for my favorite, Reindeer Chow. It combines Chex™ cereal with melted chocolate, candy cane white chocolate, vanilla, and powdered sugar. The aroma is irresistible and the flavor is even better. I brought some home plain, but you can dress it up with crushed candy cane pieces and a drizzled chocolate finish for a festive look.
At another station we personalized tins to store our Chex™ mix and chatted with Brit Morin. There was glitter everywhere and lots of creative energy. My tin is the one with the silver tree—I’m not a master crafter, so be kind!
We also enjoyed a helpful photography session covering both iPhone and DSLR techniques. After the class, we put on holiday accessories and snapped photos by the tree—such a fun way to capture the morning.
Chex™ party mixes are simple to prepare and always a hit with guests. This season, make a batch of Reindeer Chow—it’s a festive, tasty snack that’s perfect for holiday gatherings.
- 9 cups Chex™ Corn Cereal (1 box)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Crushed candy cane pieces for topping (optional)
- In a 1-quart microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate chips, candy cane kisses, and butter together. Stir until smooth, then mix in the vanilla.
- Place the cereal in a large bowl and fold the melted chocolate mixture into the cereal with a wooden spoon until it is evenly coated.
- Transfer the coated cereal to a large plastic zip-top bag and add the powdered sugar.
- Seal the bag and shake vigorously until the cereal is fully coated with powdered sugar.
- Spread the mixture onto wax paper to cool, then store in an airtight container. Top with crushed candy cane pieces if desired.
Many thanks to Chex™ for hosting this festive event and helping kick off the holiday season.