Elf on a Shelf

2 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/3 cups water (room temperature)
2 tablespoons butter softened, plus a lot more for buttering hands
1 teaspoon salt
1 6g package unsweetened fruit flavored drink mix (like Kool Aid)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

ingredients:

to make popcorn:

• 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/3 cup unpopped kernels (no more than 1 layer deep of kernels in stock pot or other pot)

to make snack mix:

• popped popcorn from above
• 12-15 caramel candy squares, unwrapped
• 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 3 cups pretzels, sticks or twists
• 1-2 cups pecans, to preference
• 2 cups salted nut mixture
• 1 (12 oz) bag M&M mixture of preference

directions:

Here’s what you need:

• 1 box Corn Chex cereal (you can also use Rice Chex)
• 1 bag pretzel sticks
• 1 package “white” or “chocolate” bark (most stores only have this available during the holidays, so I stock up!)
• M&M’s