25+ Snack Mixes & Munchies For Casual Entertaining

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Are you always on the lookout for new ideas for munchie treats? For something simple, simply toss together your choice of nuts, dried fruit pieces, small chocolates, raisins…you can’t go wrong with your favorites and no need to worry about exact measurements.

For more ideas, here are over two dozen tasty recipes that are a hit for movie nights, children’s parties, tailgating and casual entertaining…some sweet, some spicy and all crunchy…lots to choose from! These are great for gift-giving…simply package in jars, boxes or bags, add a bit of decorative ribbon and label.

First, here are the instructions for making Monkey Munch that I originally had on its own page but have moved here for better organization (first published July 9th, 2008). If you watch the tv show Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC, you know what this is . If not, it’s a treat that both the kids and parents just love (I also included a lemon buddies version below). Here’s the recipe:

Bowls Of Monkey Munch - chex.com

9 cups Chex (any variety)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Stove Method:

• Measure cereal into a large bowl & set aside.
• Heat chocolate, peanut butter and the butter over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Pour the melted mixture over the cereal and stir until evenly coated.
• Pour into a 2 gallon ziploc bag and add powdered sugar, seal bag.
• Shake bag until everything’s well coated then spread on waxed paper to cool.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container.

Microwave Method:

• Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a microwaveable bowl and melt uncovered on High for 1 minute. Stir.
• Microwave for another 30 seconds or until mixture is stirred smooth.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Follow the rest of the directions as above in the Stove Method.

Source. Ready for more ideas? Here ya go…(note: ingredients listed in the descriptions are a summary only, not a complete list)

chex.com

Lemon Buddies: Made with Rice Chex, white vanilla baking chips, margarine, grated lemon peel, fresh lemon juice.

Crunchy Sweet: Crispy corn & rice cereal, light corn syrup, baking soda, peanuts and/or candy-coated chocolate pieces.

landolakes.com

bhg.com

Chili-Corn: Cereal, tiny pretzel knots, dehydrated corn kernels, dried apricots or cherries, chili powder, lime juice and canola oil.

Graham Nut Clusters: Honey grahams, honey-roasted peanuts, pecans, light corn syrup, pretzel sticks.

myrecipes.com

spoonforkbacon.com

Chocolate Covered Potato Chips: Oh my! You’ll need milk chocolate chips (or semi-sweet, dark) and a bag of ridge-cut (ripple) potato chips.

Crunch-Crunch-Crunch: Dried cherries, whole-grain Rice Chex, pistachios and Kashi Go Lean Crunch.

cookinglight.com

cookiesandcups.com

Santa Party: Ingredients include Bubles, red melting disks, mini-marshmallows, candy sprinkles, shortening, mini-pretzels, craisins, peanuts, M&Ms, white chocolate.

Nutty with Cayenne: Rice Chex, pecans, walnuts, pretzels and cayenne pepper.

kumquatblog.com

houseonhilltop.wordpress.com

Round Pretzels with Chocolate: Baked in the oven and super easy to make, you’ll just need round pretzels, kisses and M&Ms.

Rolo Pretzel Bites: Another easy snack with just three ingredients: Rolos, pretzels and pecan halves.

glorioustreats.blogspot.com

cheerios.com

Cheerios All-Star Recipe: Cheerios, raisins, tiny fish crackers, butterscotch chips.

Confetti: Golden Grahams, dry roasted peanuts, dried bananas, raisins and M&Ms.

tasteofhome.com

marthastewart.com

Nuts & Bolts: (Free clip art to download for labels) Chex, pretzels, peanuts, garlic, salt, Worcestershire, paprika, cayenne & rosemary.

Spiced Glazed Nuts & Pretzels: Assorted nuts, cinnamon, chile or red pepper powder, maple syrup, sea salt and pretzel twists.

davidlebovitz.com

tasteofhome.com

Harvest: Pretzel sticks, nuts, sunflower kernels, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, popcorn, candy corn and bridge mix.

Sweet-Tooth: Pretzel sticks, Multigrain Cheerios, mini-marshmallows, M&Ms and raisins.

cookinglight.com

chow.com

Honey-Mustard: Bagel chips, pretzel sticks, sesame sticks, honey, mustard (powder) and Kosher salt.

Oven Baked: Cheese crackers, pecan halves, roasted garlic ranch dressing, oat Os, pretzel sticks, unsalted peanuts.

wholefoodsmarket.com

tablespoon.com

Caramel Apple Popcorn: Popcorn, light corn syrup, salt, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon chips, toffee bits, pecans, dried apple bits.

Honey Roasted: Cashews, peanuts and almonds (unsalted), honey, sea salt, mini gluten free pretzels, coconut sugar (or granulated).

naturalnoshing.wordpress.com

wherelifehappens.wordpress.com

S’mores: Ingredients include Golden Grahams, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, margarine and nonstick spray.

With Mini-Candy Bar Pieces: Mini-pretzels, dry milk, powder, mini bars (Reese’s, etc.).

foodandwine.com

brachs.com

Candy Corn & Brach’s: Candy corn, nuts, Brach’s Double Dippers and Peanut Butter Poppins.

Coated With Ceasar Dressing: You’ll need oyster crackers, Chex, pretzels, dried cranberries, cashews, margarine and Caesar dressing.

bettycrocker.com

unsophisticook.com

Slow Cooker: Assorted cereals, Cheerios, pretzel sticks, Worcestershire, seasoned salt, garlic powder and more.

Roasted almonds are also a crunchy treat, here are 4 ways you can make it in the microwave:

Recipe #1:

1 cup almonds
1 tsp butter (melted)

• Toss to evenly coat, microwave for 2 minutes. Cool, then eat.

Method #2:

Almonds
Vegetable oil

• Lightly coat almonds with oil and arrange on a plate (single layer). Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, sit for a minute and heat again until they are golden brown (approximately 2 minutes).

Topping Ideas (optional):

After cooking, try sprinkling them with a topping. Ideas:

• salt
• garlic powder
• seasoning salt
• Blend of cloves, cinnamon, allspice
• white sugar, salt, cinnamon
• brown sugar, cinnamon

With Honey – #3

3 cups almonds
1/2 cup honey
2 TBS butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated orange peel

• Combine and microwave 3 minutes on high, stir, then heat for another 3 minutes.

Sweet & Spicy – #4

1 cup almonds
2 TBS hot sauce
2 tsp white sugar

• Combine items until almonds are well coated. Spread in a single layer on a microwavable dish and heat 1 minute. Stir, and heat again for 1 to 2 minutes.

(first published December 20, 2006 and moved to this page for better organization)