Garbage Bag Snack Mix

 

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer ad week of 12/16/12 - 12/24/12)

This recipe makes such a huge batch of snack mix that you literally have to mix it up in a garbage bag!  It comes together pretty fast, because unlike traditional Chex Mix, it doesn't have to be baked.  I like to make it around Christmas time because I can give it as gifts, as well as have some left to bring to holiday gatherings.  The total cost to make this mix might give you sticker shock, but it makes such a large quantity that it ends up being a fairly economical Christmas treat...or a great summer pool-time snack.  Worried about such a large batch staying fresh?  This mix can be frozen!

 
Ingredients:
1 box (12.8 oz) Rice Chex
1 box (14 oz) Corn Chex
2 bags (8.1 oz each) Sour Cream & Onion Ritz Aircrisps (broken into thirds)
1 bag (6.6 oz) Cheddar Goldfish crackers
1 bag (15-16oz) twist pretzels
1 jar (16 oz) dry-roasted peanuts
1 bag (7.5 oz) plain Bugles
1 bag (7.5 oz) Nacho Cheese Bugles
3 jars (8.75 oz each) mixed nuts or deluxe mixed nuts
1 bottle (16 oz) butter-flavored popcorn oil

Directions:
Place all dry ingredients in a large trash bag.  Nope, not a 13 gallon white kitchen bag.  I'm talking about a huge black trashbag.  Trust me, you'll need it.  Mix the ingredients by tossing the bag gently.  You don't need to reach in there and actually touch the ingredients, just put your hands on the outside of the bag and push the ingredients around.  Lay the bag on the floor and try to spread out the ingredients in a somewhat-single layer.  Reach your hand in the bag and drizzle half the popcorn oil over the dry ingredients.  Toss/mix again.  Repeat drizzling the remaining half of the oil over a single layer of dry ingredients.  Toss/mix again.  Transfer into gallon bags or ice cream buckets.  Yield:  approximately 5.25 gallons.

Options and Tips:

• When you dump in all the dry ingredients, try to avoid dumping in the crumbs at the bottom of each box/bag. 
• Don't be alarmed if the mix appears wet/moist.  The popcorn oil takes a bit to soak into the cereals and crackers.  Let it set for a day or so before giving it away or serving it.  Dislaimer:  It will never be totally "dry", but will give you slightly greasy fingers when you eat it (similar to potato chips). 
• This mix is completely customizable.  If you're trying to cut costs, just use all peanuts instead of the mixed nuts.  If you like it cheesier, toss in a box of Cheezits or add another bag of Goldfish.  If you like it more bland, use plain Cheerios in place of the bags of Aircrisps.
• Believe it or not, you can freeze this!  That's a good thing if you're not planning to give much of it away :)

This is (kind of) an original recipe.  It was inspired by a recipe I received from Carol Holwerda.  I misplaced that recipe, but remembered some (most?) of the ingredients, and then added and changed a few things.

 

I'm linking up this recipe at the Ultimate Recipe Swap, over at Life as Mom!