Valentine’s Day Just Got a Little Sweeter (and Crunchier)

Hi, my name is Cheryl and I am a snack-aholic. I go for salty snacks, sweet snacks, semi-healthy snacks and not-healthy-at-all snacks. As my waistline and pantry can attest, I am a full-time devoted connoisseur of snacks. You can even say that I am a snack aficionado - because I am. As a result, I have seen and tasted every variation of Chex Mix Party Mix and, as we all know, there are countless variations! Well, today I’m adding one more.

This Valentine’s Day treat makes the perfect snack to share with the one you love. This Sweetheart Snack Mix combines a unique wintery blend of maple, cinnamon, ginger and molasses with the saltiness and nuttiness of a snack mix that we know and love. Additional key ingredients to this sweet and salty mix are peanut butter filled pretzels, white chocolate and cranberries!

Package some Sweetheart Snack Mix and share with your friends!

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED

Here is a complete list of ingredients. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry! Each step breaks down what ingredients you will be using.

3 Cups Corn Squares Cereal
3 cups Rice Squares Cereal
2 cups Wheat Squares Cereal
1 cup Cocktail (Spanish) Peanuts
1 cup Salted Pretzels (sticks, knots or selection of your choice)
4 Tablespoons Salted Butter
3 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup
2 Tablespoons Molasses
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
3 cups Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
1 cup White Chocolate Chips
1 cup plus 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
1 cup Valentine M&M’s
4 Tablespoons Valentine Sprinkles

SWEETHEART SNACK MIX RECIPE

STEP 1:

Combine the following dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

3 cups Corn Squares Cereal
3 cups Rice Squares Cereal
2 cups Wheat Squares Cereal
1 cup Cocktail Peanuts
1 cup Salted Pretzels (not peanut butter pretzels)

STEP 2:

Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven pre-heats, combine the following ingredients in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Heat until melted and stir to combine, remove from heat.

4 Tablespoons Salted Butter
3 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup
2 Tablespoons Molasses
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger

STEP 3:

Pour the warm liquid over the dry cereal mixture. Toss until well-coated and spread evenly on a parchment-lined roasting pan. Place in your pre-heated oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined sheet pan to cool.

Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, 4 ounces

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Step 4:

Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in a microwave using 30 second increments. Make sure to stir the chocolate between each 30 second increment. Continue the process until the chocolate is completely melted. Toss the peanut butter filled pretzels and the 1 cup of cranberries in the white chocolate. Spread out on a parchment lined sheet pan until the chocolate has cooled and hardened. Set aside.

Optional: When the chocolate is set you may toss the coated pretzels and cranberries with 1/3 cup powdered sugar. This just gives the pretzels a sweeter taste and a more finished look.