Reindeer Munchies

Posted in: Great Gatherings
Tags: christmas, snacks, cookies, reindeer

Looking for a sweet snack to leave out for Santa and his reindeer this Christmas Eve? In place of the usual cookies and carrots, try this Reindeer Munchie recipe straight from Mrs. Claus’s kitchen - we hear it’s a North Pole favorite!

This sweet snack is easy for kids to make (with a little help from Mom or Dad).  Let's just hope Rudolph shares with the others.

Ingredients
5 cups sweetened corn & oat honeycomb-shaped cereal
2 cups thin pretzel sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 (11.5 ounce) package (1 1/2 cups) milk chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup red and green candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
2 (1 gallon size each) resealable plastic food bags
Ice cream cones, if desired

Directions
1. Combine cereal and pretzels in large bowl; set aside.

2. Place butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 45 seconds; stir. Continue microwaving until butter and chocolate are melted (15 to 45 seconds). Stir until smooth.

3.Immediately pour chocolate mixture over cereal in bowl; stir until well coated. Spread mixture evenly into single layer on two waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set.

4. Break into bite-sized pieces; place half of mixture in each plastic food bag. Pour 1/2 cup powdered sugar into each bag; seal bags. Shake bags until mixture is well coated. Place 1/2 cup chocolate pieces in each bag; seal bags. Carefully shake to distribute chocolate pieces.

5. To serve, spoon mixture into ice cream cones, if desired. Store mixture in resealable plastic food bags or container with tight-fitting lid in refrigerator up to 4 weeks.

Cooks Tip: Add more powdered sugar after storage, if needed.

Cooks Tip: For longer storage, freeze in container with tight-fitting lid or resealable plastic freezer bags up to 2 months.

Merry Christmas!