Caramel Apple Chex Mix

Chewy caramel pairs nicely with crunchy apples for this sweet treat. It is the easiest way to eat these beloved flavors.

Caramel Apple Chex Mix
Ingredients:

8 cups of rice chex cereal
11 oz package salted caramel chips (or butterscotch)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
8 oz caramel bits
1 teaspoon apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
1 cup salted & roasted peanuts
1 cup freeze dried apples

Directions:
Melt chips over a double boiler, or in the microwave in 20 second intervals.
Pour over half of the chex and stir well. Pour into a zip-top bag and add half the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Shake to coat well.
Melt caramel over a double boiler, or in the microwave in 20 second intervals.
Pour over half of the chex and stir well. Pour into a zip-top bag and add half the powdered sugar and pie spice. Shake to coat well.
Add in the apples and peanuts.

Stir well. Enjoy!

The caramel makes it it chewy and the salted caramel “chocolate” mix was so sweet. The nuts provide needed balance. Pretzels would be nice in here for some salt. I wondered what the fam would think and we stood around eating about 1/2 of it.

Loaded Snack Mix

I loved this not-your-average-chex-mix. I’m a fan of the traditional but this one was such a great combination. There are lots of ways to customize this and the chips are great at the end – or popcorn would be too!

Loaded Snack Mix
Ingredients: (for ~10 servings)

3 cups chex cereal
1 cup white cheddar Cheez It
1 cup Goldfish
1 cup peanuts
1 cup corn nuts
1 cup corn chips
1/2 cup butter
1 packet ranch seasoning (~3 tablespoons powder mix)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
Mix together the cereal, cheez its, goldfish, peanuts and corn nuts – do not add the corn chips yet.

Melt the butter and mix in the ranch powder, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
Mix into the snack mix and stir well to coat.
Spread onto a baking sheet (line with parchment for easy clean up!).

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add in the chips and stir.
Let cool and enjoy!

This is very addicting and was just the right quantity. Ranch gives this a flavorful punch but not so specifically ranch flavored. We snacked on it at our family party and had some the following days but it wasn’t the hugest amount that we got too tired of it. Swap the crunchy items with any you love (and are OK with having leftover) – lots of mixes have pretzels but my fam seems to pick around those. Any ratios work totaling 8 cups, or double it.

Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries

Yes. The answer is yes. These are exactly what you need. Chicken, bacon and ranch fries are delectable and so good for a quick lunch, for a crowd, as a meal, or the hefty snack.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries

These fries have rotisserie chicken, bacon crumbles, white cheddar, white queso and are finished with a drizzle of ranch.

Chicken, Bacon & Ranch Loaded Fries
Ingredients: (for 1 as a meal, or 2 as snacks)

2 cups fries
1 teaspoon ranch dressing powder mix
1 cup roasted chicken
2 strips of bacon
2 tablespoons queso blanco
2 tablespoons ranch dressing
1 green onion sprig, chopped up

Directions:
Cook the fries until crispy – I airfried mine for ~10 min from frozen.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries

Shake the hot fries in the ranch powder mix and add half of the fries to a pan and top with half the cheese, half the bacon, half the chicken, and half the queso. Repeat.

Bake for 5-10 minutes until all melted and warmed through.
Drizzle with ranch.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries

Sprinkle with green onions.
Enjoy!

They’re kind of a fork (or close-friends) loaded fries as you will be licking your fingers. I think the layers are key – otherwise only a few fries will have anything fun! These are a great way to use a small amount of these ingredients. Try it with waffle fries, or as nachos.

Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy

This has one special ingredient that makes it so so special. Butter extract gives cookie vibes or you could skip it and just call this churro muddy buddies! These go nicely with some dessert wine, or an afternoon pick-me-up, as anytime treats.

The Three Bite Rule - Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy

I didn’t do my greatest job mixing, so don’t be like me. The kids happily pick out the melted chocolate chunks so they’re OK with it, but I like it more even. Next time!

Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy
Ingredients:

6 cups rice chex
12 oz bag white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon butter extract
2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

The Three Bite Rule - Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy

Directions:
Melt the chocolate (microwaved at 20 second intervals and stirred, and returned to the micro, or, over a double boiler). Add in the butter extract and stir well.
Add the chex to a zip-top bag, pour the chocolate into it and shake/stir and quickly add in the sugars and cinnamon.

The Three Bite Rule - Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy

Spread it out onto a tray to cool/dry.

The Three Bite Rule - Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddy

Enjoy!

I plan to use some butter extract for a coffee syrup. It is a warm flavor that feels like it could easily sub for vanilla in many dishes too.

Caramel Apple Cheeseball

We went apple picking and now are eating 10,000 apples. I mixed up a caramel apple inspired cheeseball and it was a hit! I initially wanted it to be cutesy and look like an apple but was stuck on what I could roll it in that’d be green or red. It is tasty – but it doesn’t look like an apple.

The Three Bite Rule - Caramel Apple Cheeseball

I already had a request to make it again. We had it as an apps for dinner night then snacked on leftovers a few times.

Caramel Apple Cheeseball
Ingredients:

1 brick of cream cheese
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions:
Let cream cheese come to room temperature.
Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and cinnamon.

The Three Bite Rule - Caramel Apple Cheeseball

Beat with a hand mixer (or in a food processor) until completely mixed.

The Three Bite Rule - Caramel Apple Cheeseball

Chop the chips and spread them in the center of a piece of plastic wrap. Then spoon the cheeseball mixture onto the chips. Roll it around to cover it, then gather up the plastic by the corners and twist together.
Refrigerate for at least an hour (or for a few days).
Serve with apples, pretzels, graham crackers or anything you like! Add some whole chips before serving.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Caramel Apple Cheeseball

This keeps well so make it and snack all week or spread it onto a bagel. Nuts would be good to roll on the outside but they don’t keep as well if eating it again later.

Pssst! Extra butterscotch chips? They’re great in pancakes & waffles so I use them to make McGriddles and Apple Cider Cookies! They’re fun on yogurt or in your trail mix or granola too.