Make this fun and festive Elf Snack Mix for a delicious treat that kids and adults alike will love! It features sweet and salty flavors and bright holiday colors for the perfect winter snack.
Elf Nibbles snack mix is perfect to hand out as an edible gift or to serve as a holiday afternoon snack. You can also switch up the colors to customize this snack mix for any holiday!
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🩵 About This Recipe
If you're searching for Christmas snack ideas, look no further than this delicious Christmas snack mix! This delicious and simple snack is super addictive and great for parties or for homemade gifts for the holidays.
And it is so easy to make! The trick is to make sure you use pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup). It really makes a difference in the taste. And you can use any color candy-coated chocolates to tailor the recipe for other holidays!
There are so many yummy things to make during the holiday season! While I am waiting for the Elf Nibbles to bake, I like to relax with a hot chocolate recipe especially for grown-ups, Spiked Butterscotch Hot Chocolate. It is really easy to make and so decadent!
Another family favorite, which is also great for edible gift-giving, is my Vanilla Wafer Holiday Bark. It's a fun and tasty twist on your typical bark recipe!
And don't forget fudge! Fudge is always a welcome holiday treat. I have a few fudge recipes, but my favorites are this Easy Chocolate Raspberry Fudge and the ever-popular Kahlua and Cream Fudge!
For a savory recipe that's perfect for parties, you'll want to put together this Christmas Charcuterie Wreath, complete with fruits, cheeses, nuts, and meats. So festive and delicious!
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- cashews - add some crunch and nutty flavor.
- crispy corn puff cereal - light and crunchy!
- honey nut toasted oat cereal o's - add a little bit of extra sweetness, and the nutty flavor goes great with the cashews.
- lightly sweetened whole grain oat cereal squares - help to switch up some of the shapes and give extra visual appeal.
- pretzel bites - for some extra saltiness.
- pure maple syrup - coats your Christmas snack mix in a layer of sweetness!
- butter - balances out the sweetness and helps the syrup stick to all of the cereal pieces.
- candy-coated chocolate pieces - provide some delicious chocolate-y flavor that pairs so well with all of the other components.
🔪 Let's Make Elf Snack Mix!
- Mix together the cashews, the corn puff, oat, and honey nut cereals, and the pretzel bites.
- Combine the maple syrup and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow to come to a boil.
- Pour the syrup mixture over the cereal, then mix to coat evenly.
- Spread the mixture over a baking sheet (you can line it with foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup). Bake for 20 minutes. Once out of the oven, stir to break up large chunks. Bake for another 10 minutes.
- Allow the mix to cool, then stir in the chocolate candies.
- Enjoy! Serve at parties or use for gifting!
For another delicious snack mix recipe that's great for parties, check out this sweet and salty white trash recipe, also known as muddy buddies, for a fun and addictive snack to be enjoyed at any occasion!
And here's a super cute and easy holiday treat that's a craft as well as a food. Check out these adorable Reindeer Snack Cakes!
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Make cleanup easier by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil.
- Be sure to stir continuously while mixing the butter and syrup to prevent boiling over.
- Both salted and unsalted nuts can be used - it depends what your preference is when it comes to saltiness!
❔ FAQs
If you're looking for good Christmas snack ideas, my Elf Nibbles recipe is definitely a good place to start. A themed Christmas trail mix is so cute and festive, and it's so easily customizable! Some other good finger foods for Christmas could be truffles or other chocolates, cake pops, or little candied fruits.
A homemade snack mix is always a hit at a Christmas party, whether it is for a big family or for your coworkers at the office!
While cookies are a classic homemade baked good that work perfectly as a gift, this Christmas trail mix brings more novelty and uniqueness!
If you enjoy this Elf Nibbles snack mix, you also may want to try this super cute and delicious Reindeer Chow. It's festive and fun and the kids will love it!
🎁 Kristin's Handpicked Gift Ideas!
Looking for the perfect gift ideas for family or friends? I've got you covered with carefully curated gift guides! From kitchen essentials to unique picks for kids or grandkids, these will help you find just the thing to make them feel special!
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- If you don't like cashews or just want extra nuttiness, you could substitute or add peanuts to the mix!
- All of the cereals are also completely customizable; if you have types of plain cereal you prefer (or even sweeter cereal) you can absolutely add them or replace the ones suggested!
- This can be adapted to almost any holiday. Blue and white for Hannukah, red for Valentine's Day, pastels for Easter...you get the idea! (Of course, I guess if you use them for other holidays, you would need to rename them. Bunny Nibbles, anyone?!?)
- If you prefer, you could use something like miniature crackers in place of the pretzel bites.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
As far as Christmas snack ideas go, this recipe is perfect for gifting, especially for a teacher, coworker, or gift exchange!
If you're looking for more Christmas snack ideas or craving more treats for the holidays, check out some of these recipes! This delicious Chocolate Orange Cake is a sweet and citrus-y cake that tastes good all year long, but this combo is so good for remembering the warm months in the winter!
😋 More Festive Sweets You'll Love
- Spiked Butterscotch Hot Chocolate - This delicious, creamy hot chocolate with coffee liqueur and butterscotch schnapps will warm you head to toe!
- White Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies - Delicious, elegant holiday shortbread cookies made with real coffee, then dipped in white chocolate and dusted with instant coffee powder.
- Chocolate Crunch Cookies - Use cake mix and crispy rice cereal to give these decadent cookies an amazing indulgent flavor and blend of textures.
- Vanilla Wafer Christmas Bark - Easy to make and fun to eat, this holiday bark made with vanilla wafers is crunchy, sweet, and chocolatey, and makes a perfect gift for family and friends!
- Reindeer Cookies - These incredibly cute cookies from Like Mother Like Daughter are easy to make and and perfect for the holidays.
get your copy now!
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🍿 Additional Snack Recipes
Here are a few more snack ideas for you!
Elf Nibbles - Christmas Snack Ideas
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
📋 Recipe Card
Elf Nibbles
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews (can be whole or halves/pieces)
- 1 cup crispy corn puff cereal
- 1 cup honey nut toasted oat cereal o's
- 1 cup lightly sweetened whole grain oat cereal squares (like Life cereal)
- 2 ½ cups pretzel bites
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons butter (can use a buttery spread, if preferred)
- 12.6 ounces candy-coated chocolate pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, combine the cashews, corn puff cereal, honey nut cereal, oat cereal squares and pretzel bites.1 cup cashews, 1 cup crispy corn puff cereal, 1 cup honey nut toasted oat cereal o's, 1 cup lightly sweetened whole grain oat cereal squares, 2 ½ cups pretzel bites
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the maple syrup and butter and bring to a boil.⅓ cup pure maple syrup, 3 tablespoons butter
- Pour maple syrup/butter mixture over the cereal mixture, and toss to coat.
- Spread the snack mix on 1 large or 2 smaller baking sheets, so that the snack mix is in a single layer.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and stir the mixture, gently breaking up any large chunks. Then bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool completely, then add the candy-coated chocolate pieces.12.6 ounces candy-coated chocolate pieces
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Line your baking sheet with non-stick foil or parchment paper for quick and easy cleanup.
- When combining the maple syrup and butter, stir continuously and don't walk away-the mixture heats up quickly and can bubble over.
- You can use either salted or unsalted nuts, depending on whether you prefer a sweet-salty or mild flavor balance.
Variation Suggestions:
- Swap the cashews for peanuts, almonds, or a nut blend to change up the flavor.
- Replace the pretzel bites with mini crackers or crunchy bagel chips for a different texture.
- Try different cereal combinations, however it's best to stick to plain or lightly sweetened varieties to keep the flavor balanced.
- Customize for the season! Use red and green candies for Christmas, pastel ones for Easter, or team colors for game day snacks.
- For a nut-free version, skip the nuts and add extra cereal or sunflower seeds for crunch.
Serving Suggestions:
- Perfect for holiday parties, movie nights, or after-school snacks.
- Package in decorative jars or treat bags for homemade gifts.
- Serve in a large bowl with a festive scoop for easy snacking at gatherings.
- Add it to a charcuterie or dessert board for a colorful touch.
Storage Info for Leftovers:
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks-just let it come to room temperature before serving.
- Avoid storing in humid areas to prevent the mix from becoming sticky or soft.
- This snack mix also freezes well for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before serving to retain its crisp texture.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in December 2013, but was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in November 2020.
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Cindy says
This a delicious and versatile treat that is perfect to take to parties or get togethers. I've made it with black and orange M&Ms for a Halloween get together. Another time I used white, red and black M&Ms for my daughter's soccer team party because those are the team colors. It is easy to make and really yummy. Love it!
Kristin King says
Love those ideas! This is such a customizable recipe - great for baby showers, graduations, and really any party or gathering! I made them once for my coworkers and used our company's logo colors. 🙂
Monica says
Such a fun and festive treat! This will be lovely for a class party for my kids!