Our Christmas Popcorn Snack Mix is sweet, salty, crunchy, and super fun to eat. This easy chocolate covered party mix is ready to fuel you through your next Netflix binge or holiday playlist, on repeat, natch.
Christmas popcorn is a holiday tradition that makes all the other holiday traditions extra merry and bright
So many of our most-loved, cozy holiday traditions could benefit from a little something sweet to munch on! Think about it– watching holiday movies, cookie baking marathons, sitting by the fire, trimming the tree or hopping in the car to see holiday lights in the neighborhood–a mug of festive chocolate coated popcorn will fit right in!
this recipe is all about that sweet/salty flavor profile
It’s not just you, lots of people find the combination of sweet and salty irresistible. You might not realize it, but salt enhances our perception of sweet, and vice versa! We’re hard wired to crave sweet and salty foods, but put them together in one bite and most of us can’t say no. That was the guiding principle for this fun and festive mix. Here’s what I included:
- popcorn
- chocolate for melting
- pretzel sticks
- white chocolate covered pretzels
- M&Ms
- holiday sprinkles
- flaky sea salt, for that extra hit of saltiness
get creative with your add-ins!
This is the kind of recipe where you don’t have to color inside the lines – use what you like! Here are some suggestions to get you thinking:
- toasted nuts like pecans, walnuts, peanuts or almonds
- different types of chocolate like milk or white, or other meltable morsels like butterscotch or peanut butter
- caramel corn
- Fritos
- cereal like Chex, Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, etc. – channel your inner 6 year old here.
- dark chocolate covered pretzels
- peppermint candies, crushed
- your favorite mini candies like mini peanut butter cups or Andes Mints.
how to store and gift popcorn mix for the holidays
This Christmas popcorn will last a few days. I would store it in an airtight jar or storage container, at room temperature.
If you want to give it as a gift, I’d make it shortly before giving. It looks pretty in large mason jars, or you can bag it up in cellophane bags.
You could even bag up a pretty mug filled with the mix and give a double gift!
I’m serving my popcorn snack mix in Caskata holiday themed mugs
I’m paying more attention to the details this year – little things like serving snacks in pretty dishes makes a difference in our mood, whether you have kids at home, or not. This mix is the perfect excuse to break out your collection of holiday mugs, if you have them.
more super easy holiday treats ~
Holiday Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, popped (aprox. 15 cups popped)
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, or chopped baking chocolate
- flaky sea salt
- 1/2 cup red and green M&M's
- 2 Tbsp red, green, and white sprinkles
- 1 1/2 cups pretzel sticks
- 1 1/2 cups white yogurt covered pretzels
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and spread the popped popcorn over it.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave using short bursts. Stir until completely smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the popcorn, and immediately sprinkle with the M&M's, sprinkles, and a little salt. Do this while the chocolate is molten so the toppings stick to it.
- Allow to harden at room temperature. Then break the popcorn into chunks (whatever size you like.)
- Mix the chocolate covered popcorn with both of the pretzels, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
*Caskata sent me a selection of dishware to enjoy this season.
I love how versatile this Christmas popcorn recipe is! The mix of textures and flavors sounds amazing, and the addition of flaky sea salt is such a great touch. Have you tried drizzling caramel over the mix before it sets? I bet that would be incredible!
Great, easy and fast to make and give to friends and family. Thank you for the post.
Glad you enjoyed it Janet!
Love everything u do!
This. Is. Fantastic! I can get some bowls from Dollar Tree and fill them with this instead of 5-6 different cookies and/or brownies on each tray for the neighbors! Genius! Thanks!
Where would be be without the Dollar Tree ~ it’s perfect for this!
This looks like a great idea to add to my gift boxes this year. What is the shelf life in a closed bag once made? Thank you for sharing such wonderful recipes!
This is a fresh product without preservatives, so I’d only give it a week, Jennifer.