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Santa Hat Party Mix

/06 Dec 2010
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This past weekend my husband and I got together with some friends and had a game night.
Game nights are fun, aren’t they?
Aren’t they?
Well, they are supposed to be fun.
Until…
Men vs. Women.
Apparently as a married adult it gets all kindergarten on game nights.
When you are in elementary school it’s always boys vs. girls.
The sexes seem to come together in the mid teens through your twenties when you are wearing love goggles and you play “couples”.
After you have been married for a while, you squeegee the steam off the goggles and it’s all boys vs. girls again.
It all seems like good fun when the games start.
Then, slowly but surely, the tide starts to turn.
It would be remiss of me not to mention that I was on the losing side of the tide.
Sometimes it happens like that.
It would also be remiss of me not to tell you that this was a rematch.
We have lost before.
Losing is not so much fun.
Especially when you were the ones that called for the rematch.
We just knew that the first loss was a…fluke, if you will.
An isolated incident.
Apparently not.
We lost again…at the rematch.
*hangs head in shame*
There has been fist pumping, high fiving, booyah yelling, boastful texting, congratulatory emailing, and smack talking that we, as women, have been fairly gracious about.
I am waiting for the T-shirts to get printed up.
Ok, I’m a little bitter.
I have surmised that we need to choose another game.
Next week it’s on!
So, if you’re having your own game night or going to some friends…even if you lose, you will be a winner if you bring this fun Party mix!
See, I try to look on the bright side 😉
What makes this mix fun is the addition of the Santa hats.  I mean Bugle Santa Hats?  Why has no one thought of this sooner?
So, let’s start there.

I found these yummy Bugles at the store.  They called Caramel Bugles and they boast the sweet and salty.

You could certainly use the regular Bugles, though.
What I found was so great about the caramel bugles, besides being incredible delicious and addictive was that they are coated in a sweet glaze which makes them a bit thicker and less fragile than regular Bugles…so keep that in mind.
Here’s what you’ll need…
Bugles
Red Melting disks
Mini marshmallows
White sprinkles (I used nonpareils)
Melt the candy melts, along with a tablespoon of shortening (to help thin the melted candy), in 30 second intervals on half power in your microwave until melted.
Immediately start dipping.
 
 Let them set up for 10 minutes or so on parchment or wax paper.
When they are set, remelt the red candy disk (if necessary) and dip just the bottoms (the large part of the Bugle) into the white sprinkles.
Then flip it over and dip the top in the melted candy and press a mini marshmallow on top.
And voila…Bugle Santa Hats!
If you want to use the hats as an addition to a mix here’s an idea for a sweet and salty mix that’s easy and yummy.
Feel free to play around with the additions and make it your own!
3 cups mini pretzels
1/2 cup craisins
1 cup salted dry roasted peanuts
2 cups Rice Chex
2 cups holiday colored M&M’s
8 oz. white chocolate for melting
Spread all your ingredients, EXCEPT M&M’s, out on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.
Melt your white chocolate according to package directions and drizzle over the pretzel mix.
Transfer into a large bowl and coat mix with chocolate.
Return to baking sheet to allow to dry.
When chocolate is set, sprinkle M&M’s and Bugle Santa Hats over the mix.
Transfer to big bowl to serve.
Santa Hat Party Mix!
or put in jars to give to your friends…
…or use as a peace offering when your game night doesn’t go as planned 😉
Hope your December is off to a great start!
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Santa Hat Party Mix

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
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Ingredients

Santa Hats

  • Bugles ( I used Caramel Bugles, as they were slightly sturdier)
  • Red Melting disks
  • Mini marshmallows
  • White sprinkles (I used nonpareils)

Snack Mix

  • 3 cups mini pretzels
  • 1/2 cup craisins
  • 1 cup salted dry roasted peanuts
  • 2 cups Rice Chex
  • 2 cups holiday colored M&M’s
  • 8 oz. white chocolate for melting
  • Return to baking sheet to allow to dry.
  • When chocolate is set, sprinkle M&M’s and Bugle Santa Hats over the mix.
  • Transfer to big bowl to serve.

Instructions

Santa Hats

  1. Melt the candy melts, along with a tablespoon of shortening (to help thin the melted candy), in 30 second intervals on half power in your microwave until melted.
  2. Immediately start dipping.
  3. Let them set up for 10 minutes or so on parchment or wax paper.
  4. When they are set, remelt the red candy disk (if necessary) and dip just the bottoms (the large part of the Bugle) into the white sprinkles.
  5. Then flip it over and dip the top in the melted candy and press a mini marshmallow on top.
  6. Let dry on wax paper.
  7. Spread all your ingredients, EXCEPT M&M’s, out on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.
  8. Melt your white chocolate according to package directions and drizzle over the pretzel mix.
  9. Transfer into a large bowl and coat mix with chocolate.

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173 Responses

  16. Joanne
    Reply

    It's amazing how the girl/boy interaction dynamics change. I'm in medical school and whenever we go to med school parties, the girls are standing on one side of the room and the boys on the other. And no one is dancing. We're all just kind of bobbing around awkwardly (until the alcohol kicks in, that is. Then all hell breaks loose.) I'm so happy because I have a party to go to on Friday and I can so totally bring this!

  18. Kewl Granny of Six
    Reply

    I love reading your Blog……it brings a smile to my face on an otherwise dreary Monday. Good luck next week I know you are destined to be a winner. Your Party Mix already is.

  20. Chey can cook! (and more)
    Reply

    The Santa hats were the first thing I noticed – what an idea! Love it! And love game nights – what are your faves to play? We like 9/5 (like pitch), cribbage, Apples to Apples, etc!

    I'll definitely be doing this recipe soon…like this weekend!

  26. Chic Cookies
    Reply

    Cute. Genius. I had to post on ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com immediately.

    And a tale of commiseration: Our former neighbors still speak of the infamous Monopoly Game Night of '05. My husband and I, um, did not present ourselves well.

  32. Kristie Maynard
    Reply

    oh yeah, good ole game night! We have a rematch ever year around Christmas and I'll tell ya, we win as many as we lose.
    That snack mix looks really yummy and those hats are just adorable. I may just have to try making some of those.

  38. Sandra :)
    Reply

    This is so fun and so cute! I have hubby's family coming over for pizza on Sunday so I'll be making this for the snack table – thanks for the idea and the fun tutorial! (And better luck at your next game night – the women can't let the men win again, tho – they'll never let you forget it!)

  39. Shannon
    Reply

    Ok, this could be the cutest thing I've ever seen! I usually make "party mix" by just melting p.nut butter chips and then coating the cereal in powdered sugar, but this looks just too cute to pass up. A definite on my Christmas Sweet Treats table this year! Thanks for sharing!

  42. vanillabeanbaker
    Reply

    What a delightful festive mix you have created. Who cares about playing games, I just want to curl up with a bowl of Santa Party mix!

  44. Jenn
    Reply

    My younger son saw these as I was looking at them and said "Mom, you HAVE to make these for our family Christmas dinner"…. too cute!

  47. Monet
    Reply

    You are so creative! When I saw the first photograph, I thought to myself "Now where does one get those adorable santa hats?" I am loving how you put those together! And I have been involved in quite a few men vs. women game nights. I know you will reclaim victory soon! Thank you so much for sharing. I hope the rest of your week is full of joy!

  48. grace
    Reply

    i'm competitive. i'm so competitive that my friends hesitate to invite me to game nights–i get ferocious. 🙂
    meanwhile, those santa hats are extremely clever and altogether adorable. bravo.

  49. Caroline
    Reply

    The Santa hats are just to die for. I love the idea! I haven't seen a santa mix before that incorporated bugles as the salty snack, so it's really nice to see a different mix than I'm used to!

  51. kathryn
    Reply

    Oh my gosh.. I love this! I make holiday white trash… that takes just about all the same stuff but I love the santa hats! I think I will be making this for the girls at work!

  55. Ingrid
    Reply

    lol, HA! It's cut throat for us, too. We played games on Thanksgiving and the GIRLS won! Rock on. There was 16 of us. Best Thanksgiving ever. I got to whip up on my twin boys, two of my brothers, my honey, my nephew, AND my Dad all in one night. JOY!
    ~ingrid

    The Santa hats are super cute.

  56. Alisha
    Reply

    Well, my Santa hats are setting up, and I wanted to tell you how I dipped them. The fork method was becoming too messy for me, so I decided to just use my fingers. I held the bottom (wide end) by the very corners and dipped as far as I could. I figured I had to re-dip the bottoms anyway for the white sprinkles to stick. So far, they're turning out SO cute! Thanks for this recipe! I've passed it along to a bunch of people so far!
    Alisha

    1. Lori
      Reply

      Can you tell me what you bought to dip them in? I bought red candy melts and I could not get it to melt all the way for anything. So disappointed. Please help me.

      1. shelly
        Reply

        I used red candy disk melts. I used the Wilton brand…I melted them with a little bit of shortening to thin them ever so lightly for a smooth finish.

  59. Megan
    Reply

    I saw those bugles and they also had a chocolate peanut butter version. That was the flavor I bought. I ate the whole bag. 🙁
    This is so cute and what a fun snack. Wonder if I could find the time…

  66. Angie
    Reply

    I made this minus the Santa hats. Did not have time to make them and this dessert was the biggest hit at the party I went to over New Years. This will be a definite next year for Christmas gifts.

  67. BigBearswife
    Reply

    I thought I hvae commented on this before, but I don't see my post. 🙁 we made these last year for christmas and they were a huge hit! EVERYONE loved them!

  68. Linda W.
    Reply

    Love this idea…it would also be cute dipped in green melts for Santa’s elves hats! Looking forward to Christmas so I can make these for my grandchildren. Thanks for sharing!
    By the way, those caramel bugles are so good and, one day, as a joke, I asked the kiddies, “who wants a little ice cream cone”. Of course, they all anxiously raised their hands. We all got a big laugh when I handed them a tiny little ice cream cone — using the bugles and a mini-marshmallow pushed into the opening. The next day in the bugle. Although it was a joke, it was really yummy! The kids loved ’em! Needless to say, we all had another big chuckle! Fun!.

  69. Lauren
    Reply

    I love this idea and found the link to your page on pinterest, but none of the pictures seem to be working 🙁 However, I am still looking forward to making this in a few months!!

    1. shelly
      Reply

      It will keep for a while in a airtight container, I would guess a few weeks…it didn’t last long enough at my house to test that 🙂

  77. Mrs. Sam
    Reply

    The recipe for the sweet and salty mix sounds great! I’m just wondering if you can tell me how much it makes (with out the santa hats)?

  81. Stephanie
    Reply

    I am in the middle of making these adorable and creative hats and I have a huge mess! Mine don’t look anything like the picture. I can’t get the red smooth on the bugles and it is so thick on I don’t dare re-dip. I held them for a second over boiling water to get the bottoms warm again to get the white to stick. This is the only thing working. I have red all over the place including almost all the marshmallows. I wish I could do this……love the idea.

  89. Jessica
    Reply

    Ahhh! Those are soooo adorable, Shelly. Why can’t I think of things like this?!

    It’s my opinion that they would, of course, make a great peace offering. Just sayin’! 😉

  90. Amira
    Reply

    I have been dipping the carmel bugles in chocolate almond bark for several years but it never crossed my mind to make santa hats I love it! Pretty sure thats what mine will look like this year on my trays!!!! Thanks for the great idea.

  98. Heidi Newton
    Reply

    I’m in Australia and I love this mix, but can’t seem to find bugles. I’ve never heard of them. Anysuggestions of what else I may be able to use.

  100. Winnie
    Reply

    This is such a fun idea. I love the hats and it makes the bowl look so festive. Can’t wait to try it come the hoidays…Thanks for sharing your creativity.

  104. Cinnaberry
    Reply

    Love Love Love this idea. can’t wait until Christmas to make. Was thinking you could use the same concept for Halloween using orange, purple and green, black hats. and using the halloween M&M’s.
    Thanks for the snack idea!

  112. lindsay
    Reply

    Hi! I just wanted to let you know I am including this in a 35 Christmas party appetizers and drinks collection over at Mommy’s Sweet Confessions. Thank you!

  116. Dakotah
    Reply

    I just tried this making this and it is delicious! I found it on Pinterest and now I am going to start reading your blog! Also, I think that you could use green melting candy and multicolored sprinkles to make Christmas trees, too.

  117. Kendra
    Reply

    Your Santa Hat snack mix looks amazing. The hats are so cute.. Every ear I try to make some sort of Chex Party Mix. I’m thiking this is it for 2012. Thanks for the idea, love it.

  124. Theresa Smith
    Reply

    This is such a great idea. Making this for my kid’s teachers and bus drivers. Any idea on how long this will stay fresh? Thanks.

  125. Tami
    Reply

    I just made the santa hats, and they turned out so cute! A couple of things I did a little differently: **I selected Bugles that could stand on their own (not difficult).
    **After the red set up, I dipped the bottom in melted white chocolate and then “Glitter Crystal” decorator sugar.
    **After that set up, I did the same for the tip (instead of marshmallows).

  126. Amy
    Reply

    I found these on Pinterest a while back and finally had a reason to make them last night. They turned out awesome!!! Everyone was super-impressed and the kids loved them. Thank you!!!

  127. Theresa Smith
    Reply

    If anyone has made this, could you let me know how long this will stay fresh? I am making it as a gift for teachers and bus drivers and wanted to see if I could make it over the weekend to give out this week coming up.

  128. Angela
    Reply

    Super cute! I need a cute tree nut free snack for my kids school Christmas party…obviously I would leave out the nuts…are the rest of the ingredients ok???

    2. P Antonini
      Reply

      Better check your labels! I have a niece with peanut allergies and the label on the melting disks says they are made in a factory where nuts are also used and therefore not safe! Nearly all Wilton products say that.
      It’s a very serious allergy…life threatening!

  129. Ashley
    Reply

    I adore snack/trail mix!!!! And just finished making this!!!! So yummy and so cute!!!! My hats didn’t turn out as coated and perfect as yours :-/ maybe next time!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

  130. Karen
    Reply

    Just made these, they are so cute! I had a really hard time getting the marshmallows to stick properly, and wondering what your secret was? I ended up having to dab a bit of melted candy on each tip and then sticking the marshmallow on. If I just stuck it on, it fell off.

    Also, I could have never made these with the microwave melt method. The candy sets up quickly. I had to use a double boiler, and heartily recommend it for those who were experiencing problems with the candy not melting or being too thick. Even in the double boiler, I had to keep stirring every few minutes. And by the way, when I say double boiler, I mean a stainless steel mixing bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water. 🙂 Nothing fancy here!

  132. JR
    Reply

    THESE ARE THE CUTEST AND TASTIEST CHRISTMAS TREATS EVER!!!
    I made these to give away to family as gifts and I couldn’t stop tasting them! OMG!!! I used the regular Bugles and they worked just fine. Thanks so much for sharing!

    I also made the crock pot candy (http://cookiesandcups.com/crock-pot-candy/) ….also very yummy and super duper easy to make! Keep up the great ideas!!! =)

  133. Brea
    Reply

    If you weren’t already taken i think this comment might very well be a marriage proposal! But seriously this is such a creative idea! I think this would be so easy do variations of. ie white chocolate dyed with black food coloring for an all Hallow’s eve one or blue or green for a gnome hat one. I am def going to try this out. Thanks so much!

  135. Syl
    Reply

    My daughter and I made these. I used Merckens red disks and added shortening as directed. It turned the hats an almost pink color. It also meant that I had to put in the fridge to set up. I like the way that it tastes, but next time I will add more cranberries. If I make this again, I will put the hats on some kind of rack so the chocolate drains off instead of pooling under the hat. Giving them tomorrow…expecting lots of oohs and ahhs!

  140. Mavis
    Reply

    Made this for holiday gifts for the coworkers. Turned out fabulous. Couldn’t find caramel bugles, so I just used the original ones. Had no problem with them breaking.

    ★★★★★

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