Holiday Chex Mix {Gustatory Sensory Activity}

Holiday Chex Mix is a delicious, festive, and kid-friendly treat that can also be a gustatory sensory activity.  Children can taste and experience many seasonal flavors including peppermint candy canes and mint chocolate M&M’s.

How to Make Holiday Chex Mix:

Ingredients and Supplies:

• 4 Cups of Corn Chex cereal
• 1 Cup of Chocolate Chips
• 1 Cup of Vanilla Chips
• 1 Cup of Pretzels pieces
• 1 Cup of Mint M&M’s
• 1 Cup of Marshmallows
• 2 Candy Canes
• Bowls
• Spoon
• Plastic Sealed Bag (such as a Zip-loc bag)

Directions:

1.  Pour 2 cups of corn Chex cereal onto a piece of wax paper.

2.  Put 1 cup of chocolate chips into a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue microwaving the chocolate in 30 second intervals until it is completely melted.

3.  Pour the chocolate over the Chex cereal

4.  Repeat steps 1-3 using the vanilla chips

5.  Let the chocolate and vanilla cool.

6.  Put the Chex into a bowl and add the pretzels, M&M’s, and marshmallows.

7.  Put the candy canes into a sealed bag and break them into tiny pieces.

8.  Add the candy canes to the bowl and mix together.

Cost to Make Holiday Chex Mix:

•  4 Cups of Corn Chex cereal: $2.50
• 1 Cup of Chocolate Chips: $1.00
• 1 Cup of Vanilla Chips: $1.00
• 1 Cup of Pretzels pieces: 25¢
• 1 Cup of Mint M&M’s: $1.50
• 1 Cup of Marshmallows: 50¢
• 2 Candy Canes: 20¢
• Plastic Sealed Bag: 1¢

Total: $6.96 for a scrumptious, holiday treat!

Teachable Moment:

Every activity has a Teachable Moment!  What is a Teachable Moment?  It is a time during every craft or project when you can teach your child something about the activity.

1.  Have your child taste each ingredient separately and then combined together in the Holiday Chex Mix. Discuss how the taste changes when the different flavors are added together.

2.  Have your child predict what will happen to the chocolate and vanilla chips when they are put in the microwave. Discuss how heat can change an ingredient.

What is something that you eat or flavors that you taste that remind you of Christmas?

Want more holiday sensory activities?  Check out Christmas Tree Ball Painting – A Visual Sensory Activitiy