My Favorite Things, Holiday Snacks
Hello all, today I wanted to share one of my favorite things, holiday snacks and the retro recipes to go with them!
It is no secret that this time of year one of my favorite things, holiday snacks; are very popular with everyone. It is the perfect time to share a few of my super easy to make recipes that you can add to your own recipe box. These are perfect for movie night, parties, or just light cocktail with friends. Heck you could even put a few into a cute little plastic goodie bag if you wanted to for gifts, if you get good at making them. Personally, I find there is not much left for that around here.
THE ORIGINAL CHEX MIX
Of course, one of our favorites is the Traditional Chex Mix, made in the oven like mom used to do. Not that stuff you buy in the bag at the store, which would be fine in a pinch, but it is just not the same. Especially when you eat the warm and toasty version directly from the oven, it is great, especially for movie nights. I find that toasting the nuts adds a level of richness to the mix that is out of this world. I add in extra pecans, fresh from a local farm in Georgia; along with rye chips which makes a big difference too. Here is my recipe and a few of my favorite ingredient brands below to make it extra special.
Chex Mix (Oven Made Like Mom Used to Make)
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 large air tight container with lid
- 1 Measuring Spoons
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 1 Spatula
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce®
- 2 tsp Penzey's Season Salt®
- 3/4 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
- 3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
- 3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
- 1 1/2 cups Mixed Nuts
- 1/2 cups Pecans fresh
- 1 cup Dot's Pretzels® broken in half
- 1 cup Rye Chips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 250°F.
- Melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds. Stir in seasonings.
- Mix all other dry ingredients in storage bowl with lid. Gradually stir in butter until evenly coated. Then spread onto a large baking sheet.
- Bake for 1 hour, tossing & stirring every 15 minutes, with a spatula.
- Spread onto paper towels to cool for 10 minute before storing in container with tight-fitting lid.
CHEESE STRAWS
Another southern favorite is the quintessential cheese straw. Seen at weddings, church gatherings, baby and bridal showers; these are a southern staple. Honestly if you don’t know how to make these from scratch, I am not sure you can consider yourself a true southern here in Georgia. In fact, you might even get kicked out of the local church bake sale as well, or at the very least talked about behind your back, because after all it is what we do, “bless your heart”. Of course, I am kidding, but seriously these things are so good they should come with a warning label. They make great neighbor gifts or hostess gifts if you are going to a party. Just pare a bag of these with a bottle of wine; who does not like wine and cheese?
Southern Style Cheese Straws
Equipment
- 1-2 baking sheet
- 1-2 Sil Pat
- 1 Stand Mixer with Paddle
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 1 Measuring Spoons
- 1 Cooling Rack
- 1 Cookie Press with Rosette or Star Tip
Ingredients
- 6 cups Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1 1/4 cups Butter room temperature
- 1 tsp Himalayan Salt
- 1 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour Sifted
Instructions
- Preheat over to 400F Degrees
- In mixer cream butter and cheese together for 2 minute on low speed.
- Sift together flour and spices, slowly add into mixer until thick dough forms. Be sure to scrap the sides as you go. Mix for 3 minutes.
- Line 2 baking sheets with sil pat, if you only have it is okay it will just taking long to make 36 cookies.
- Load half dough into your cookie press, using a rosette or star tip to create a pretty flower shape cookie; or pipe into lines for straws.
- Bake for 12-14 minute and allow to cool for 20 minutes on your cooling rack.
- These will keep for 4 days in air tight container on the counter, or for up to a week in the refrigerator.
STAIN GLASS NOUGAT
Another great holiday snack which just makes me think of the world’s best grandma or church ladies with holiday tins. Stain glass nougat is so visually pretty. Filled with those old fashion vintage flavors of gum drops, which just says Christmas to me. This recipe can be made with gum drops or spice drops, which adds those holiday flavors like cloves, cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint and yes even licorice flavors, which I love! If you are not into those flavors, then just stick to the basic fruity tooty gum drops, they work too.
Stain Glass Nougat
Equipment
- 1 double boiler
- 1 8x8 glass baking dish
- 1 rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1 bag white chocolate chips
- 1 bag mini marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups spice drops or gumdrops you can also use only red & green for Christmas
- 1 parchment paper
Instructions
- Prepare an 8×8 square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper.
- Cut the spice drop or gumdrops in half, Set aside.
- Using a double boiler (make sure that the bowl and pan fit together snug) melt the butter, white chocolate chips and marshmallows together over medium heat. Continuously stir the mixture until it is smooth and melted together; it is like making a rice crispy treat.
- Fold in the gumdrops. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. The mixture will be very sticky, so I use a lightly greased spatula.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting. Slice into 30 bite sized pieces.
- To store the candies, use parchment paper between layers so the candies don’t stick together.
Do you love this post? You can see more of holiday baking recipes here:
The Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes
The Best Collection of Pie Recipes
My grammy used to make a few of these and I am so happy to get these recipes again. Thank you so much for sharing these traditional holiday favorites.
Cheese straws are my favorite, I can eat them by the pound. I love the cute little cookie version you made they remind of totally church socials, and bake sales. Yes I know how that little gossip mill works too, hehe, bless their hearts. You are just too funny girl, which is why I love to read your stuff, I can totally relate to all of it.
All my favorites in one location, thanks for simplifying this season. My hubs loves a homemade chex mix, it really does taste better, it is fresher not stale or so processed.
I love all of these items especially the cheese straws. Girl you got that church inner voice right too, you know they are just talk about those recipes and blessing our hearts, you are just a hoot.
This is a good selection of retro recipes, they all remind me of my nana which is the best times ever. So I will treasure them now that I have found them again.
I have been looking for the gemstone nougat recipe for a while now, I forgot how simple it is, but I love it. Perfect for the holidays
Oh there is nothing better than fresh Chex Mix and a holiday movie night. We love it even better than popcorn.
I think hot and fresh Chex Mix is my husbands secret love language but don’t tell anyone. This recipe will have any guy eating out of the palm of your hand all season long.
I have seen this nougat recipe before in my youth called church glass, I used to love it, taste like divinity. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I can not wait to make it.
Read this post and loved the entire thing! Such a great set of recipes to fill that retro holiday vibe.
Firstly, love all of the recipes. Second are these your family recipes or your husbands? I always wonder where the recipes come from as I have collected several from both sides of my collective family.
Hi my loved one I would like to say that this post is amazing, nicely written and include all the vital info. I’d like to look at more posts like this one from you, good job.
I have never seen thee gumdrop nougat before, what a cool recipe to have for the holidays and it is so pretty.
I have so many chex recipes and they all vary just a bit, love the rye disks you added in, great touch. The cheese straws are truly a southern staple from all the Baptist mama’s for sure so I must give it try, thanks for sharing you sweet family recipes with us.
Oh how I love a good cheese straw so glad to find this iconic recipe for the holidays, thank you so much!
You know I love a good cheese straw any day of the week, and chex mix is just a staple during the holidays too. It has got to be fresh from the oven around here too.
I must give all of this recipes a try for our Christmas gathering, since they all look delicious.
Hi Jamie that is a great question, while I would love to have inherited any recipes from my husband side of the family unfortunately I do not. Whether it be because they did not cook very much, which seemed to be the case still to this day, or they simply just did not have any real “family recipes” to pass along. The majority of my recipes all come from various sides of my family both mom & dad; along with numerous close family friends.