Holiday Snack Mix (and Santa Hats out of Bugle Corn Chips?!?)

Oh dear, you have a load of company coming over and you need a few snacks to lay out to keep your guest occupied while they sip their cocktails or await the holiday dinner!  Well, no worries!

These adorable Santa Hats from Oven Love (made out of the cone-shaped corn chip Bugles, no less!) can be thrown into a regular bowl of store bought Chex Mix or whipped up alongside a bowl of your homemade variety, if time permits!  Take a look . . .

Ingredients for Bugles:

~ 1 bag of regular or caramel Bugles (typically near the ChexMix at the store)
~ Red candy melts (the kind you usually use for cake pops)
~ 1 tablespoon shortening
~ Mini marshmallows (just a handful is enough)
~ White nonpareil sprinkles

Directions:

1.) Melt the candy melts and shortening together in 30 second intervals in your microwave until melted. As soon as everything is melted, start dipping the Bugles into the chocolate, letting the excess chocolate drip off. Let them set up until firm on parchment or wax paper.

2.) When the Bugles are set, remelt the red chocolate if necessary and dip just the bottom of the Bugles into the white sprinkles. Then flip the Bugle over and dip the top in red chocolate and firmly press a mini marshmallow on top. Let set again on the parchment or wax paper.

For the snack mix (if you are making it yourself):


~ Your Bugle Santa hats (see above for procedure)
~ 3 cups mini pretzels
~ 1/2 cup dried cranberries
~ 1 cup salted dry roasted peanuts
~ 2 cups Rice Chex
~ 2 cups holiday M&Ms
~ 8 oz white chocolate

Directions:


1.) Spread all of your ingredients, except M&Ms, out on a large baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Melt the white chocolate according to package directions and drizzle over the ingredients.
2.) Use a spatula to mix and cover the ingredients evenly with white chocolate. Allow the mix to dry on the baking sheet.
3.) When the chocolate is set, break the pieces up and sprinkle the M&Ms and Bugle Santa hats over the mix. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy!

In the mood for something sweeter?  Just throw them on a cupcake then . . .

(image via http://loveyourmotherearth.blogspot.com)

Aren't they perfect?!  And so easy to throw together too!  That is pure festive fun right there, I tell you!!