Recipe: Creepy Crunch Mix! (gluten free)

I love to make this simple, but very tasty chex mix treat. I've made it at Valentine's Day and used m and m's in red, white and pink, calling it "Sweetheart crunch mix". At Christmas, using the green, red and white m&m's I call it "Christmas crunch mix" For Halloween however, I use the Halloween inspired m&m's (pictured above) that are in a neon orange, black, purple and green, calling it "Creepy crunch mix". Here's what you need:

1regular size box of RICE Chex Cereal

3 cups pretzels (rough chopped)

2 cups salty peanuts, cashews or macadamia nuts (peanuts are most economical)

2 bags of white chocolate chips

1 large bag of plain m&m's (look for holiday editions)

Saran Wrap press and seal or wax paper

2 t. vegetable oil

Using the largest bowl you have or splitting between two bowls, pour the entire box of cereal and the m&m's into the bowl. Then, using a food chopper or knife; rough chop the nuts and pretzels and add to the bowl.
Pour both bags of white chocolate chips and 2 t. vegy oil into a microwavable bowl (I love using my Pampered chef micro cooker for this) Place in microwave oven without lid and cook for 30 seconds, remove from oven and stir. Return to microwave for another 30 sec. stir. Repeat this process until chips are melted and silky when stirred. (DO NOT OVERCOOK, stop when the chips are just melted. Stir until silky. (this process only takes 90 seconds in my microwave)

Pour the white chocolate over your mix and with two wooden spoons, slowly and carefully mix until the white chocolate covers all the mix. (you may want to split the mix into two bowls for this if you don't have a big enough bowl)

Using press and seal wrap OR wax paper, line two cookie sheets. Spread the chocolate covered mix into the pans and gently press flat with your hands. Let the crunch mix set for approx. one hour.

Once your mix is set up in the pans, break it apart and distribute it to cellophane gifts bags, holiday tins or wherever you want to store it! (I dare you to try and do this without nibbling the yummy mix as you go!) I sent some of this to Kate in her dorm last year at Valentines Day and her and her friends went wild for it. So...I'm sending some out again tomorrow to her and her cousin Brandy who lives down the street from Kate and attends the same University.

Enjoy making, gifting and eating this yummy crunch mix!