The Lovely Side: M&M’S® Crispy are back! Here are 3 tasty snack mixes to make with them

A few months back, the boyfriend and I were waiting in line at the grocery store. Surrounded by the usual candies, a bright green package caught our eyes. The conversation went something like: "Wait?! Is that..." "Crispy?!" "Yes, it is!" "They're back!" "Omigosh, let's get some!" And that evening, we snacked on a nostalgic favorite.

M&M’S® Crispy are back! Apparently, we weren't the only ones who couldn't get our minds off of the rich milk chocolate, sweet rice puff center, crispy, crunchy, candy-coated goodness that had delighted us years ago. From Facebook to Twitter to calls to their customer service line, M&M’S® Crispy were the #1 most requested variety to bring back between 2005 and 2014. And in January 2015, they hit shelves once again... this time, in a bright green back. (I can't believe it took us until spring to notice!)

Reunited. And it tastes so good.

So to celebrate the return of my favorite M&M’S®, we put our heads together and whipped up three tasty snack mixes to enjoy at home or take to the office.

First up, the sweet and fluffy mix. Combine one single-serve pack of M&M’S® Crispy with a couple handfuls of marshmallows and peanut butter chips. This was my boyfriend's favorite. The combinations of fluffy + crispy and peanut butter + chocolate are just right.

Second, we have the sweet and salty mix. Combine one single-serve pack of M&M’S® Crispy with several handfuls of mixed nuts and dried cranberries. This was my favorite. I like to pick out a perfect mouthful of M&M’S + cashews + a couple dried cranberries. So yummy.

Lastly, we threw together a classic to enjoy while watching a movie on Saturday afternoon. Just buy or pop a big back of popcorn, and mix in a single-serve pack of M&M’S® Crispy. I prefer the white, lightly salted stuff, but feel free to go all-out buttery.

Perfect for movie night! ...Or a movie afternoon!

We packed all the mixes up into basic, plastic, airtight containers to keep the goodies fresh. They're easy to store in the cupboard for easy-access at home, or to tote to the office or campus for a sweet and salty or fluffy pick-me-up. (We totally ate all of the popcorn mix.)

I brought the sweet and salty mix home with me. (One box might make it to the office to share.) Since G enjoyed the sweet and fluffy so much, I decided to be sweet, too, and left the two boxes of that mix on his kitchen table with a large bag of M&M’S® Crispy... because it's a tasty treat to have around.

M&M’S® Crispy were a delicious addition to our snack mixes. And with fewer calories per serving, we'll be digging in all week. (Did I mention these ring at at 180 calories a serving?) Some other ideas we considered: crunching them up with peanuts and adding them to an ice cream sundae, baking them into cookies, and mixing them up with rice cereal, rye chips, and pretzels.

So now that you know they're back, what will you be adding M&M’S® Crispy to? :)

For more information on M&M’S® Crispy, including nutritional information, please visit http://www.mms.com or learn more on Facebook.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.