Last Christmas, I developed this recipe as an alternative to giving out cookies or candy as gifts. Everyone loved it! I enjoyed it so much, I not only made myself several batches over the past year, I also decided to bust it out again this year for Christmas. The ingredients aren't as inexpensive as cookies, but if you want to bypass baking this year, or give people a yummy, healthy* treat, then my Snack Mix recipe is for you.

Packaged nicely, Keri's Snack Mix is a great gift for a neighbor, coworker, or hostess gift. It is also great for munching all year.

*I do not consider Chocolate health food and the cranberries I use are loaded with sugar, but the recipe is rich in nutrients.

Step 1: Ingredients and Supplies

Supplies:
large mixing bowl
large spoon or spatula
clean and dry glass jars with lids ( I got mine at the 100 Yen Store, which is the Japanese equivalent of the American Dollar Tree or dime store)
optional: scissors, paper, double-sided tape, ribbon, etc. for embellishment

Ingredients:
3oz. package of Dried Bing Cherries
6oz package of Dried Cranberries
16oz bag of Raw Almonds (without shells)
6oz. quality chocolate* chips such as Ghirardelli or Godiva ( You could also chop up a solid bar into 1/2 inch squares.)

One batch equals about 4 cups.

*If you choose white chocolate, it is delicious with this mix, however, the dried fruit will turn it an undesirable brown color. You have been warned.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Open each package with scissors, then pour the entire contents of the Almonds, Cranberries and Cherries into the large mixing bowl. Add about 6oz chocolate. Mix the ingredients with a large spoon or spatula until evenly blended.

Step 3: Fill Containers

Pour the mixture into your containers. Be careful to pour this stuff slowly or maybe use a spoon and scoop it instead, otherwise you'll have dried fruit and almonds all over your counters and floor. Once each jar is full, screw on the lid. You're done! Did you work up a sweat with all that package opening and stirring? If not, you can go to the next step and flex your muscles by embellishing your containers with paper and ribbon.

Step 4: Optional: Embellish Your Containers

You could leave the jars plain and gift them that way, or you can embellish them and make them a little more special. Here is some inspiration: I like to customize each of mine to match a handmade card. I tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar, then add rubber stamped, card stock labels, which I adhere to the lids with double sided tape. Sometimes I print the ingredients onto some regular printer paper and layer it on top of a little card stock tag and hang it from the ribbon. If you're not in the mood for paper crafts, you could just slap a sticky gift label on there and call it done. The options are truly endless.