Cheerios Nuggets

My Senior VP gave everybody a small canning jar filled with this one Christmas. I was skeptical but really loved it. Also, I found out that HE had made it--not his wife. So, I figured how hard can it be and had to get the recipe. I make it often at the holidays and leave it in a big bowl for people to grab. You can add just about anything you want to go with the Cheerios. I have used whatever M&Ms or chips/morsels I have at home.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 10 cups

Ingredients

• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup margarine
• 1⁄4 cup light corn syrup
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 6  cups  Cheerios toasted oat cereal
• 1  cup salted peanuts
• 1  cup raisins (optional)
• 1  cup  M&M's plain chocolate candy (any variety) (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 250°F.
2. Grease 2 9x13-inch pans or jelly roll pans.
3. Heat brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup , and salt in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until bubbly around edges.
4. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes longer.
5. Remove from heat, stir in baking soda until foamy and light colored.
6. Pour over cheerios, peanuts, raisins, and M&Ms in 4 quart bowl.
7. Stir until mixture is coated and spread evenly in pans.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.
9. Stir, let stand until cool, about 10 minutes.
10. Loosen mixture with metal spatula and let stand until firm, about 30 minutes.
11. Break into bite-size pieces.