My Favorite Party Chex Mix

My senior year of college I lived in a house with seven other girls.

That's right, eight girls.
One house.
One bathroom.
Two showers. (It was a weird, two-showered bathroom). 

It could have been a year filled with petty drama, cat fights, and PMS.

Instead, it was filled with"The Bachelor" parties.
Late night heart to hearts.
Dance parties.
Thin Mints.
Bible studies.
Cookie Cakes.
Gilmore Girls.
Friendship.
High School Musical Marathons.
(Yes, I know it's for fourteen year olds, but the songs are so darn catchy!)

Oh, and this Chex Mix.

I love, love, LOVE this Chex Mix. Maybe it's because of all the fond memories I associate with it. Or maybe it's just because it's stinking delicious. Either way, I think it's the perfect accompaniment to any gathering where memories are made.

I suppose this recipe isn't that much different than your average Chex Mix. Throw together some delicious cereal/cracker type things together with a few spices, and voila! Instant party. But what really puts this version over the top is the wide range of ingredients and the addition of...wait for it...Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I know, it sounds weird, but don't judge it until you try it. (I would say the same thing about my High School Musical loving roommates and I). It turns out those little squares of sweetness are the perfect side kick to all the salty ingredients.

This recipe is very versatile. You can swap in different kinds of nuts or crackers, but some kind of sweet cereal is a must. My favorite cereal for this used to be Waffle Crisp, but -sigh- it seems that someone has deemed those sugar and cinnamon packed squares to be unfit for breakfast consumption.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch is a wonderful replacement, and Honey Nut Cheerios works as well. 

I would also like to note that Bugles are awesome, and not just for making fake fingernails (c'mon, you know you do it too). While you could swap them out for some other less awesome salty snack, I can't imagine why you ever would. 

So next time you're off to make some great memories with amazing people, bring some Party Chex Mix along! Your friends will thank you.

Party Chex Mix

Yield: 30-40 servings

Recipe by bakeeatrepeat.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

2 cups each of:

Rice Chex

Wheat Chex

Bugles 

Cheez-its

Pretzels

Wheatables

Cashews

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Honey Nut Cheerios

1 package Ranch dressing Mix

2 tsp. dill
1 tsp. garlic powder

3/4 cup canola oil

Directions:

1. In a large GIANT bowl, combine first 9 ingredients. 

2. In a small bowl mix together ranch dressing mix, dill, garlic powder, and canola oil. 

3. Pour ranch mixture over dry ingredients in three stages, mixing well after each one. 

4. Cover and let sit for 2-24 hours, stirring occasionally.