Cocktail Munchie Mix

## Book Reference

Christmas Cupcake Murder

Preheat your oven to 250°F.

**Hannah’s 1st Note:** *You will need a large roaster to make this cocktail mix. BEFORE you preheat your oven, try your roaster in the oven to see which position the rack should be in. Try to center the roaster in the oven if possible. This will provide even heat for your cocktail munchie mix.*

### Ingredients

* 1 box Rice Chex cereal (12 ounces net weight)
* 1 lb (4 sticks, 16 ounces) salted butter
* 5 drops hot sauce (I used Slap Ya Mama hot sauce)
* 1 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1 box Wheat Chex (15 ounces net weight)
* 1 box Corn Chex (12 ounces net weight)
* ½ box original Cheerios (18 ozs. net weight)
* 1 bag (8 ounce net weight) Goldfish Crackers
* 1 can (15-20 ounce net weight) salted mixed nuts without peanuts (I used Planters)
* 1 bag or box (6-10 ounce net weight) thin pretzel sticks (I used Snyder’s)

### Directions

* Spray the inside of your roaster with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray
* Place the Rice Chex cereal in the bottom of the roaster.
* Melt the butter for 2 minutes on HIGH. Let it sit in the microwave for a minute then stir it with a heat resistant spatula to make sure that it’s melted.
* Stir in 5 drops of hot sauce. Stir in the teaspoon of garlic salt.
* Drizzle approximately one-quarter (about one-half cup) of the butter mixture on top of the Rice Chex.
	+ **Hannah’s 2nd Note:** *This is one of the reasons I like to use a Pyrex measuring cup with a spout to melt the butter.*
* Place the Wheat Chex cereal on top of the Rice Chex cereal. Drizzle another half cup of the butter mixture on top of the Wheat Chex cereal.
* Place the Corn Chex on top of the Wheat Chex. Drizzle another half cup of the butter mixture on top of the Corn Chex cereal.
* Place half the box of Cheerios cereal on top of the Corn Chex cereal. Drizzle the remainder of the top of the Cheerios cereal.
* Sprinkle the bag of Goldfish Crackers over the top.
* Do not add the mixed nuts or the stick pretzels yet. They will be added later. Wash your hands, you’re going to use them as a kitchen tool.
* Dry your hands and mix the contents of the roaster together with your impeccably clean fingers.
	+ **Hannah’s 3rd Note:** *If you work rapidly the cereal, butter, and Goldfish layers might be a bit too hot to mix with your fingers. If so, take a coffee break for 5 minutes or so and then try again*
* Once your cereal butter and Goldfish layers have been mixed together bake them uncovered at 250°F.
* Set your oven timer for 15 minutes. You will bake your cocktail munchie mix for a total for one and a half hours, not counting mixing time.
	+ **Hannah’s 4th Note:** *Unfortunately you can’t just walk off and leave your cocktail munchie mix for one and a half hours. You do have to stir it every 15 minutes or so, but it’s worth staying home for. I have a separate timer at home that I use when I make this. I set the regular timer on the oven for an hour and half and my separate timer for 15 minutes after each time I stir.*
* When one hour has passed, (that consists of four 15-minute segments) open the can of mixed nuts and sprinkle them over the top of your cocktail mix.
	+ **Hannah’s 5th Note:** *When my grandmother made this recipe, she always picked out the hazelnuts and Brazil nuts and set them aside. She made a note on the recipe that reads, “Do this for Uncle Harry - false teeth.”*
* The contents of the roaster will be hot, so use your large mixing spoon to mix in the nuts.
* Open the bag of stick pretzels and mix those in. Mix carefully so that they don’t break up into little pieces.
* Put the roaster back into the oven and bake at 250°F for an additional half hour.
* Take the roaster out of the oven. Give the mixture a final stir and let it cool.

### To store

Keep in a tightly sealed bag in the kitchen cupboard for no more than a week or two. Do not keep in the refrigerator or it will get soggy.

**Hannah’s 6th Note:** *If you make the mistake of refrigerating these marvelous munchies, all is not lost. Simply place the mixture in a roaster and heat it in the oven preheated to 250°F for 15 minutes. Check the cereal to see if it has crisped up again. If it hasn’t, stir it and heat it again in 15-minute intervals until the cereal is crisp.*

**Yield:** At least 20 cups

### To serve

Place the cocktail munchie mix in a large bowl with a scoop in it. Surround the large bowl with disposable plastic bowls or cups. Invite your guests to help themselves to the yummy snack you made.

## Conversion Charts

See Baking Conversion Chart for non-USA baking conversions.