Better Than Chex!

Well, I have been checked out for a while and Sarah has been carrying us.  So as I start to catch up, some of these blogs will be terribly out of season.  So forgive me if you are craving Spring and Summer and I give you Winter and Fall.

Last Fall I tried a couple of Chex mixes that were wonderful!  Each of them had a very distinct flavor.  Then today I tried one that will be a favorite for all of you cake batter lovers out there.

Chex Mix is one of the most versatile snacks there is.  Who knew that the original Chex Mix could possibly morph into such a myriad of flavors?  If chicken is the canvas of cooks, Chex Cereal may just be the canvas of snack makers!

Here we have one that is strictly seasonal, for sure.  But if you bring it to one party, you are sure to be invited to more!

CHEX PUMPKIN PIE CRUNCH

1/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 c. butter
2 t. vanilla
2 c. Cinnamon Chex cereal
2 c. Wheat Chex cereal
2 C. Honey Nut Chex cereal
8 oz. Pecans

In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.  In a small microwave-safe dish, microwave butter on High about 30 seconds or until melted.  Stir in vanilla.  In large microwavable bowl, mix all cereals and pecans.  Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed.  Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated.

Microwave uncovered on High 5 minutes or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute.  Spread on wax paper or a cookie sheet to cool.  Store in airtight container.

Cooks note:  This recipe came from Chex.com (General Mills).  We made it before Pecans got added to my grandson's no-no allergy list.  I think peanuts might work, but the pecans were really nice.

Cooks note:  This was very sweet and very addicting.  It, too, has a very seasonal flavor.  Wonderful.  This recipe came from Chex.com (General Mills) also.


HOT BUTTERED YUM CHEX MIX

4 c. Honey Nut Chex Cereal
2 c. Cinnamon Chex Cereal
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 T. honey
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1 t. rum flavoring
2 c. miniature marshmallows

In large microwavable bowl, place cereals.  In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter, brown sugar and honey uncovered on High 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until mixture is bubbly.  Stir in spices and rum flavoring.  Pour over cereal mixture stirring until coated.

Microwave uncovered on High 3 minutes, stirring and scraping bowl after every minute.

Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.  Stir in marshmallows.  Spread on waxed paper.  Store in airtight container.


CAKE BATTER MUDDY BUDDIES

Chex Funfetti Cake Batter Buddies

Adapted from: So Very Blessed

Ingredients:

5 cups Chex cereal (I used Rice Chex, but Corn Chex would work great!)

10 oz (5 squares) vanilla flavored Almond Bark

1 1/2 cups Funfetti cake mix (any kind of cake mix would work)

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vegetable shortening

Directions:

1. Melt Almond Bark according to the package directions, adding vegetable shortening to thin (I heard that you can make it without the shortening, but it worked great for me to use it).

2. Pour the cereal into a large bowl and drizzle the melted Almond Bark over the cereal. Mix gently with a large spoon or spatula.

3. Dump the cake mix and powdered sugar onto the cereal and mix gently with large spoon until all the cereal is evenly coated.

4. Enjoy!! It's so good! :)

Cooks notes:  This didn't work up quite the way it showed.  I added sprinkles because the funfetti really got lost in the first batch.  Also, I added 6 cups of chex and it worked well because I had so much of the cake mix/powdered sugar left over.  

Yummy, but really sweet!