• Put the 4 cups pretzels, 4 cups Cheerios, 6 cups rice Chex, 4 cups cornflakes, and 2 cups roasted peanuts in a large mixing bowl.
• In a large sauce pan, bring the 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup butter, ½ cup light corn syrup , and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over medium heat. Continue to boil while stirring occasionally for five minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon baking soda.
• Pour the hot caramel mixture over the cereal mixture. Stir to coat.

Oven Directions

• Preheat oven to 250℉ and grease a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Spread the caramel coated cereal mixture over the baking sheet.
• Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Spread cereal mixture over sheets of wax paper to cool. Sprinkle with the M&Ms.
• Once cool, break into smaller clumps and sprinkle with candies. Store in an airtight container.

Microwave Directions

• This Chex mix can also be made in a large brown paper grocery bag. Just place all of the cereals, pretzels, etc. in the bag. Make the caramel mixture as described above. Pour the caramel mixture over the cereal in the bag and roll down the top of the bag to seal it and carefully shake to coat.
• Place bag in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds. Carefully remove bag and shake, turning the bag over to make sure everything is coated. Repeat this process for a total of 5 times in the microwave, with a shake after each.
• After the last trip to the microwave, dump the contents of the bag onto sheets of wax paper. Carefully spread the mixture out a bit. You want clumps, but not one huge clump! Allow to cool completely.
• Once cool, break into smaller clumps and sprinkle with candies. Store in an airtight container.