My Thanksgiving dinner tips and a recipe for cinnamon snack mix – perfect for parties or snacking!
With Thanksigiving right around the corner, I bet there is more than one of you freaking out a little about hosting this year. I remember the first holiday dinner I hosted very well. It went okay because I’m a control freak and wouldn’t let anyone help me. I ran around, frantically making sure everyone was eating and enjoying themselves.
I didn’t even notice that the dog snuck off with my perfectly cooked turkey.
Now when I host I try to do as much planning as I can ahead of time. How else am I going to keep an eye on the dog? Read on below for a few more Thanksgiving Dinner Tips and a fun and delicious recipe for cinnamon snack mix.
Thanksgiving Dinner Tips
Make lots of lists. From guest lists to grocery lists, I have found list making is my friend when it comes to hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
Start with your guest list – if you aren’t sure who is coming, now is the time to start making phone calls to family members or friends. And since it is Thanksgiving, ask if anyone is bringing a guest with them. Why not open your home to that new boyfriend or that new neighbor from out of town?
Once you have a rough guest list, you can make your menu and grocery lists.
Make food ahead of time. Some recipes, like stuffing or cranberry sauce, can be made days in advance and stored in the freezer. Stock up on Hefty freezer bags when you do your grocery shopping and plan an afternoon a few days in advance to get some of your meal prep done.
If you are making any dips, cut up your veggies and store in Hefty storage bags for one less task to do on Thanksgiving Day.
Eat. You may think this is a silly tip, but come Thanksgiving day you may find yourself getting tired midday if you don’t remember to eat something in the morning.
Snack on the below recipe for cinnamon snack mix when you’re looking for an energy boost midday. It’s always a crowd pleaser, so make a double batch and serve it alongside your holiday appetizers!
Plan for leftovers. My family is full of big eaters but we are also big cooks. Because of that, there is never a shortage of leftovers.
We used to rotate plastic containers depending on who was hosting but have gravitated towards doling out leftovers in Hefty storage or freezer bags. Their flexible nature makes them the perfect container for a myriad of leftover sizes and shapes and makes fitting them in the fridge or freezer an easy task.
Cinnamon Snack Mix
This recipe for cinnamon snack mix is a delicious blend of crunch, salty and sweet with the added delcisious spice of cinnamon. It can easily be doubled or tripled and makes a great snack or Thanksgiving appetizer thanks to the addition of dried cranberries!
This is a recipe you can add to your make-ahead list and freeze it for future snacking in a Hefty® Freezer Slider Bag!
Try this cinnamon snack mix recipe - full of rice cereal, pretzels, graham crackers, cranberries and white chocolate!Cinnamon Snack Mix Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Hefty brand products not only include Slider Storage and Freezer Bags, but also trash bags and tableware.
Discover how Hefty can help you with home solutions today.
Fun Thanksgiving ideas for kids using Hefty products!
Cat says
I could totally make the Puppy Chow!!
tina reynolds says
I think the ice cream in a bag looks so so good
Barrie says
Wow…gourmet bacon in a bag…who knew! I bet this is tasty and perfect!
tammy says
batty bites popcorn mix sounds good
Tracie Cooper says
I love to try the puppy chow in a bag!
Lesley F says
I would make the icing in a bag for Christmas cookies
Ellie C. says
Gourmet bacon in a bag–looks soooo good!
Natalie says
I would love to try the gourmet bacon in a bag! You cannot go wrong with bacon.
Donna L says
Batty Bites Popcorn Mix
Betsy Rubendall Barnes says
I would like to make homemade Cranberry Sauce, then freeze and have a nice addition to upcoming week night dinners 🙂
Sara Zielinski says
I wnat to make cranberries in a bag
Pablo says
I had never seen anyone else mention cinnamon snack mix until now!
KATE SARSFIELD says
Definitely Icecream In A Bag!
Natalie says
I would love to try the gourmet bacon in a bag…yum!
Andrea B. says
Puppy Chow in a bag! How simple! No clean-up!!
Donna L says
The GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.. Sounds easy!
Judy Thomas says
I want to make GOURMET BACON IN A BAG
Sara Zielinski says
I want to make ice cream in a bag
KATE SARSFIELD says
It’s Icecream Ib A Bag for me!
BobbiJo Pentney says
Gourmet Bacon in a Bag sounds delicious.
Donna L says
The GOURMET BACON IN A BAG sounds good to me!
Sara Zielinski says
Gourmet bacon in a bag sounds great.
cylina williams says
I like gourmet bacon in a bag, looks yummy
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’ll be trying the Icecream In A Bag – it sounds foolproof!
Donna L says
We like the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
zeljana says
jummy !
Lisa says
The Puppy Chow in a Bag sounds like it would be easy to make and a fun treat. Just the name alone sounds cute and makes me want to try it this Thanksgiving.
Mindy Bel says
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I would like to try Gourmet Bacon in a Bag!
Nyx says
GOURMET BACON for the win 🙂
Molli Vandehey says
ice cream looks like FUN to have the kisd do
Jessica Justice says
I’d like to try the ice cream made with salt, ice and a freezer bag.
Rajul B says
I love to make stuffing
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’ll be making Icecream In A Bag for Christmas as we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland.
Myrna Kasick says
Definitely the gourmet bacon in a bag.
Debbie says
gourmet candied bacon in a bag. sounds absolutely amazing to me I think anyway
Sara Zielinski says
The puppy chow is the best.
Donna L says
The GOURMET BACON IN A BAG recipe
Ellie Di says
I’d love to try the Bites Popcorn mix, it looks yummy!!
Regina says
I like the Puppy Chow recipe
Natalie says
I would love to try the gourmet bacon in a bag!!!
Amys says
I’l be trying the Icecream In A Bag! It looks fun xx
Barrie says
I love the puppy chow. It’s a family favorite snack.
KATE SARSFIELD says
Icecream In A Bag – love homemade icecream!
Ellie C. says
I really want to try the Gourmet bacon!
Natalie says
I would love to try the puppy chow!!!!
Sara Zielinski says
Puppy chow
Maria Sarmento says
BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX sound perfect to me!!!
Donna L says
I like the idea of GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
Barrie says
The holiday eggnog recipe sounds great. I love eggnog!
Margaret O says
I would like to make Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix next halloween.
Mahmoud ikram says
love ppuppy chow <3
Sara Zielinski says
The puppy chow is the one i would make.
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’m going to give the Icecream In A Bag a go!
Julie Wood says
I want to make the gourmet bacon. It sounds delicious.
Donna L says
GOURMET BACON IN A BAG!!
Natalie says
I love sweets so I would love the puppy chow.
Natalie says
I would love to make the puppy chow recipe! I love sweets!
Catherine Shaw says
I’d like to make Icing in a bag. Sounds like fun!
Richard Brandt says
I’d like to make the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Barrie says
I’d make puppy chow as it’s a holiday favorite!
Deborah G. says
I’d make the gourmet bacon!
Birdiebee says
I would love to make PUPPY CHOW IN A BAG for all of my guests to snack on after dinner while playing board games.
KATE SARSFIELD says
I want to make the Icecream In A Bag! Can’t wait!
Sara Zielinski says
The puppy chow…
Julie Wood says
I would love to make cranberry sauce!
Natalie says
I would love to try the gourmet bacon in a bag!
Connie Blasing says
Holiday Eggnog looks really good for a recipe to try/
sandra says
i’d like to try the gourmet bacon recipe
Barrie says
The puppy chow in a bag would make a great snack for Thanksgiving day football game between the Packers and the Bears!
Barrie says
Puppy chow in a bag would be a great pre=snack for Thanksgiving! Great for watching the Packs vs the Bears!
Sara Zielinski says
The puppy chow
Natalie says
I would love to make the gourmet bacon in a bag.
KATE SARSFIELD says
The Icecream In A Bag is the one for me!
Sharon Kaminski says
I would love to make the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG recipe. We love bacon.
Julie Wood says
I’ll be trying the Ice Cream In A Bag!
Priscilla S. says
I would like to make Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Carlos says
Gourmet Bacon in a Bag is part-delicious and part-sinful healthwise, but nothing can beat the awesomeness that is bacon hence I really would love to try it one of these days! 🙂
shelly peterson says
The Gourmet Bacon sounds really yummy!
Rust says
The Gourmet Bacon in a Bag looks great!
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’m going to make Icecream In A Bag!
Sara Zielinski says
Cramberry sauce in the hefty bag
Julie Wood says
I want to make the Turkey Recipe.
ellen beck says
I dont know if my comment took or not, I would try the bacon bitess, thy wwouldd be great while watching the game.
ellen beck says
Gourmet Bacon sounds terrific. I bet it would be a good adter dinner snack while watching th ball gamee.
shelly peterson says
I want to try and make the gourmet bacon, yum!
Cathy French says
I would like to try the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG
Sara Zielinski says
The gourmet bacon
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’ll be trying the Icecream In A Bag!
Julie Wood says
I’m going to try some of their tips for preparing the turkey.
Natalie says
I would love to make cranberry sauce!
Carrie Anne Long says
Hi
I’m from Malaysia.
The recipes are fun! I should try them out soon!
shelly peterson says
I would like to try the gourmet bacon, it looks yummy!
Ellie C. says
The gourmet bacon!
Sara Zielinski says
I would like to try the stuffing recipe.
angela smith says
i would like to try the gourmet bacon in a bag
Natalie says
I would love to make the puppy chow recipe!
Julie Wood says
Cranberry sauce stored in a hefty bag! I never thought of this before. Love Hefty products. Use them all the time.
Donna L says
Gourmet Bacon in a Bag!
KATE SARSFIELD says
Icecream In A Bag!
Chrisanthy Sotiropoulou says
The gourmet bacon in a bag. Thank u!
Keeley Farrell says
The slow cooker french toast with fruit topping looks so good!
shelly peterson says
I like the ice cream in a bag.
Cindy says
I would like to try HEFTY BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX.
Josh S says
I would like to try the BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX.
Ronald Gagnon says
I would love to try the stuffing
Stacy says
I would like to make the doughnuts in a bag, that would make a good brunch for the day after Thanksgiving.
Natalie says
I would love to try and make the cranberry sauce!
KATE SARSFIELD says
The Icecream In A Bag!
Sara Zielinski says
The cranberry sauce stored in a hefty bag
Donna L says
GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
Julie Wood says
I like GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
Cindy says
I would make GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
Amy S. says
I like the eggnog ideas.
shelly peterson says
I want to make the Easy Homemade Ice Pops recipe
Richard Brandt says
Spice Up Your Holiday EggNog with Cinnamon.
Sara Zielinski says
I want to make the puppy chow!
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’ll be making the Icecream In A Bag!
Ellie C. says
The Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix would be cute for next year!
Aurelius Hooks says
My Family would love to try the CINNAMON SNACK MIX RECIPE !!!!!
Julie Wood says
I will definitely be making cranberry sauce, we love to have a lot of it during the Holidays!
Sheila K. says
Gourmet bacon in a bag sounds good to me!
Stacey Roberson says
I’m going to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Lacey says
I would say the cranberry sauce. For the simple fact that I’ve never, in my 31 years of life, ever had good tasting cranberry sauce. I’m looking for that one special recipe.
Dan says
Cinnamon Snack Mix yo.
Richard Brandt says
I’d like to make the Hefty Batty Popcorn Bites.
Stella Martis says
the Cranberry tis is interesting
shelly peterson says
I wan to make the Gourmet Bacon in a Bag
Ty says
My family would like to try the BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX.
Cindy says
GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
Ellie C. says
The holiday eggnog looks good!
KATE SARSFIELD says
We don’t have Thanksgiving in Ireland but for Christmas I’ll be trying to make the Icecream In A Bag!
Sara Zielinski says
I want to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Gurv says
Absolutely amazing recipe! I love cinnamon!
Julie Wood says
I like the gourmet candied bacon in a bag.
Sheila K. says
I would love to try gourmet bacon in a bag!
Veronica Balli says
I would like to make gourmet bacon
Cindy says
HEFTY BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX.
evelyn diaz says
i would love to make everything on this website for my family on Thanksgiving!! such a mouth watering wait.
Karla R. says
I like the Style Cut Resistant Foam Plates & Bowls.
Dawn Monroe says
Iwould like to try the apple crisp recipe.
Dorothy Boucher says
I will be making the cranberry sauce for this Thanksgiving dinner..
shelly peterson says
The gourmet bacon!
David H says
Thnaks for the recipes!
Michelle Spayde says
Wow, I had no idea Hefty had some much information on their site! I would like to make the PATRIOTIC FRUIT PARFAIT CUPS.
I also screwed up this entry in the form. I started to say stuffing…. and when I went to backspace to do the entry correctly, I hit enter. Ughhh!!!
Leigh Anne Borders says
I am going to try their ideas for the cranberry sauce.
Annmarie W. says
I’d actually like to make some MATZO BALLS to use in soup. What a great comfort food! Nice for an early lunch, since we usually eat out Thanksgiving dinner a bit later in the evening.
Mishelle says
Ok, so I am Canadian and have already had Thanksgiving but I would love to try GOURMET BACON IN A BAG as we’re big bacon fans here and it sounds tempting!
M
Kelly Nicholson says
ill say the stuffing thanks
Sara Zielinski says
The gourmet bacon in a bag recipe.
Rosie says
I’d love to try the recipe for spicing up holiday egg nog! Some great ideas!
cassandra says
I sould like to make the stuffing.
Dana Rodriguez says
The Gourmet Bacon in a Bag looks really good.
Gloria Walshver says
If I was making thanksgiving this year i would make the stuffing
Lauren says
I would like to make the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Stacey Roberson says
I’m going to try the Gourmet Bacon in a Bag.
Julie Wood says
I will use their turkey tips.
Irene Menge says
Gourmet Bacon in a bag. Sounds delicious.
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’l definitely be trying the Icecream In A Bag! Genius!
Sheila K. says
I’d like to try gourmet bacon!
patrick says
Wow it’s amazing!
sharon shafran says
stuffing
Cindy says
I would like to make the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.
carol clark says
Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix
shelly peterson says
I want to make the gourmet bacon.
Ty says
I will be trying the stuffing.
laurie damrose says
Gourmet bacon in a bag.
kacii says
i wanna try gourmet bacon
lisa says
I can’t stand turkey, so we never have the traditional meal. We usually grill up some beef tenderloin steaks and saute mushrooms.
Jenny B says
I like that idea – there’s no reason you shouldn’t make what you like to eat on Thanksgiving!
Tina Wahrmund says
Gourmet Bacon
Dana Rodriguez says
Spice Up Your Holiday Eggnog sounds good!
KATE SARSFIELD says
I’l be trying the Icecream In A Bag!
shannon weel says
Gourmet Bacon would make a tasty appetizer for Thanksgiving.
Tamara M says
I am a going to try making the cranberry sauce ahead of time and freezing it to make it easier for me to entertain.
ZALA ÄŒUDEN says
Cinnamon mix-jummy!
Marci says
Batty bites popcorn mix
Natalie says
I would love to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix!!
Kelly Nicholson says
Spice Up Your Holiday Eggnog sounds fun thanks
Kay says
My grandkids will love Puppy Chow!
Freya says
I’m going to try the stuffing.
Bridgett Wilbur says
I would love the batty bites popcorn mix.
Julie Wood says
I want to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix for next Halloween.
Sheila K. says
Gourmet bacon sounds great!
Cristy Ridey says
The HEFTY BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX looks fun!
Kristen says
I’d like to make stuffing muffins.
Leigh Anne Borders says
I will use some of their tips for the turkey since this will be the first one that I cook at.
shelly peterson says
Puppy Chow!
Sarah Hayes says
Id like to make the gourmet bacon in a bag
Robyn Bellefleur says
I would love to make the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG recipe.
Molli Vandehey says
im gonna use their turkey tips
Angelica Dimeo says
I like the puppy chow
Sara Zielinski says
I want to make gourmet bacon
alihaider says
I would like to try the stuffing
KATE SARSFIELD says
The gourmet bacon looks scrummy!
Natalie says
I would love to try the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG r.
Julie Wood says
I would make the Puppy Chow in a Bag.
Jeanne Coulombe says
I like the gourmet bacon in a bag Yum 🙂
Cristina Lazar says
Gourmet bacon
Sheila K. says
I’d like to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix!
Tricia Hope says
The gourmet bacon sounds yummy!
Don R says
I will try making the gravy ahead of time and freezing it for convenience
Tamara M says
I couldn’t find Thanksgiving recipes but I thought the gourmet bacon looked amazing and I am a huge bacon fan!
Jayne says
Batty Bites Popcorn Mix is so cute and smart! Best way to use up leftover candies. If there’s even any left!
R says
this will be fun
shelly peterson says
I would make the puppy chow.
Tonya H says
Gourmet Bacon. Good luck to everyone!
Breanna Pollard says
The Gourmet Bacon in a Bag!
DeAnna Keller says
The puppy chow in a bag sounds like something i’d like to make.
Jen Haile says
I would try the HEFTY BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX recipe.
Edmond says
Great Scout, luv to try gourmet bacon . To die for. . Wow, prize amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂 Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest. Starving artist here desperately needs the gc to shop and eat. A life changing exp.
Kristin S says
I would try to make the batty bites popcorn mix! Looks delish
Candice M says
I have to go with the gourmet bacon.
Vicky Watkins says
I would like to try the gourmet bacon
Sara Zielinski says
I want to make the cranberry sauce
Melanie M. says
Stuffing is a must
Joy says
The gourmet bacon– i know my family would love it.
Debra Guillen says
I want to try the Gourmet Bacon in a Bag
nevia says
gourmet bacon would be my choice
Judy Thomas says
It has to be Gourmet Bacon in a Bag, Yummy!
Rachel Mauffray says
I would love to make the Gourmet Bacon in a Bag as a Thanksgiving Day treat.
Rachel Mauffray says
I would like to make the bacon in a bag for a Thanksgiving Day treat.
KATE SARSFIELD says
I love the idea of making my own Icecream In A Bag! Very clever idea!
Cathy Philipps says
The puppy chow in a bag sounds like something everyone n my family would love
sandra says
I’d like to try the recipe/ideas for Spice Up Your Holiday Eggnog
Ellie C. says
The gourmet bacon in a bag looks awesome!
tammy says
I will try the gravy
Alison Gibb says
I know my son would love if I made that Candied Bacon!! It looks amazing!
Bailey Dexter says
What else! GOURMET BACON In a bag! Going to be trying this one!
Ana says
I like GOURMET BACON <3
DJ says
I like the ice cream in a bag.
Ashleigh Swope says
Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix looks frightfully good
Julie Matek says
I would love to make the overnight oatmeal; )
Molli Vandehey says
cranberry sauce is my favorite
Lindsey says
Cranberry Sauce
Pamela Gurganus says
I want to make cranberry sauce this year for Thanksgiving!
Cassie Korando says
I’d love to make the Puppy Chow!
Dorothy Boucher says
not sure what happened to my comment but here I go again..
I will be making the cranberry sauce as I do every Thanksgiving dinner and Hefty products has always been
there to help me out doing so..
@tisonlyme143
Dorothy Boucher says
I will definitely be making cranberry sauce as I do every year and Hefty products has always been there to help me out
thomas joseph rusinak says
making puppy chow in a bag sounds like fun
Jen S. says
I would like to make the gourmet bacon and crumble it over the stuffing and mashed potatoes and beans…and everything else 🙂
Donna L says
Gourmet Bacon in a Bag
Julie Wood says
I want to try the stuffing.
Natalie says
I would love to make the HEFTY BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX.
Karen says
The Gourmet Bacon sounds DIVINE!
Sheila K. says
The Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix sounds good to me!
Mai T. says
Turkey is definitely a must have for my family.
Tenley Erickson says
I am going to make the Gourmet Bacon! Sounds delicious. I am sure it will be a hit 🙂
Tenley Erickson says
I am going to make the Gourmet Bacon! Sounds delicious.
Ciprian Hriscu says
cranberry sauce
Judy Thomas says
It has to be the Gourmet Bacon in a Bag! OMG YUM!
Janet W. says
I’d like to make that delicious Gravy!
Lisa Brown says
I want to try Gourmet Bacon in a Bag
shelly peterson says
I would make the Puppy Chow in a Bag.
Elaine Buonsante says
I would like to make home-made cranberry sauce.
Elaine Buonsante says
I would like to make some home-made stuffing.
Tami B. says
Thanks for the contest!
Steve Weber says
I’d like to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix
Diana says
I want to try that stuffing recipe! I LOVE STUFFING!
Edmond says
Holy batman, luv to try the stuffing. Wow, prize amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂 Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest. Starving artist here desperately needs the gc to shop and eat. A life changing exp.
Stephanie Phelps says
I want to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix.
Kristin McCall says
Cranberry sauce stored in a hefty bag!
Wehaf says
I like the recipe for Puppy Chow in a Bag.
David Fultner says
GOURMET BACON
Deb Cohen says
did not see many recipes but the gourmet bacon looked good and the eggnog ideas were great
Liberty says
I like the batty bites popcorn but would love to make some cranberry sauce and store in my hefty baggies~
Allison Swain says
I want to make the Bites Popcorn mix recipe.
Thanks for the chance to win this 🙂
tammy says
I will try the stuffing
Donna L says
The Gourmet Bacon in a Bag sounds good.
Betsy Rubendall Barnes says
I would like to use Hefty Storage Bags and freeze leftover stuffing It is safe to freeze for a month and would make a nice addition to some week night dinners 🙂
Julie Wood says
I am going to make the GOURMET BACON IN A BAG recipe. It looks so delicious!
Kristin K says
My favourite Thanksgiving morning recipe would have to be the “Gourmet Bacon in a Bag”!!! I love bacon, and try to eat it as much as possible over the holidays!!!
Jennie Yuen says
I would love to make Turkey
Val says
I’ve never done it myself, but I’ve always wanted to make puppy chow – and thanks to Hefty, I know how! Thanks!
Richard Brandt says
I like the gourmet candied bacon in a bag.
Meghan B says
Probably the gourmet bacon, yum!
chris z says
ii would like to try the BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX
Natalie says
I would love to make the puppy chow in a bag!
Lisa says
I want to make Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix (even if Halloween is over).
Barrie says
Although it’s past Halloween, I like the BATTY BITES POPCORN MIX. It makes for a good snack!
Jenny Gunnoe says
I want to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix for next Halloween.
greentopiaries says
I’d like to try the Hefty Batty Bites Popcorn Mix even if it is past Halloween, lol.
Emily Smith says
I’m going to try some of their tips for preparing the turkey.
pu ye says
GOURMET BACON is nice
Colleen Boudreau says
I like GOURMET BACON IN A BAG.