Holiday Trail Mix Recipe - Homemade Gift Idea

This Holiday Trail Mix makes the perfect gift for teachers, neighbors, and friends. It is easy and fast and if you purchase the ingredients on sale, it is very inexpensive to make up a large batch.

Ingredients

17 oz box of Crispix cereal

1 jar salted peanuts

1 small bag holiday shaped pretzels, if you can find them; I couldn't so I just used regular small pretzels

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup margarine

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 bag of holiday colored M&Ms

Directions

In a large bowl mix together the cereal, peanuts and pretzels. In a sauce pan (larger than you think you will need) combine the corn syrup, brown sugar and margarine. Bring to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes. Stir constantly so that it won't boil over. After 2-3 minutes add the cream of tartar, baking soda and vanilla and boil for a couple of more minutes. Pour over the cereal mix and stir to coat. Bake in a shallow baking pan at 350 for five minutes. Stir and bake for another 3-5 minutes.

Remove from oven and pour out onto waxed paper to cool. As it is cooling break up any clumps that may have formed. Once cooled completely put into festive jars or containers and mix in about 1/2 cup of the M&Ms.

This can be cooked, cooled and in containers in under an hour. If you are pressed for time, need a unique idea for a gift this holiday season, or just need to bring an appetizer to share at a party, this Holiday Trail Mix is it.