Christmas Popcorn

Christmas Popcorn – Easy, delicious and addictive festive treat made with popcorn, white chocolate, pretzels, m&ms and sprinkles. Perfect for the holiday season, it’s great for gifting, parties, or Christmas movie nights!

What is Christmas popcorn?

Christmas Popcorn, also known as Santa Munch or Christmas Crunch Snack mix is a delicious, addictive and easy festive holiday treat that is perfect for the Christmas season. It is nothing but plain or salty popcorn coated with white chocolate. It’s a great combination of chocolate coated sweet popcorn and fun add-ins like holiday M&M candies, Christmas sprinkles and mini pretzels. It is one of the easy treat recipes that can be made in under a half hour.

Ingredients & Substitutions:

Popcorn – You can use homemade popcorn, microwave popcorn or kettle popcorn. I have used lightly salted popcorn, you can also use the plain one.

White Chocolate – Use a good quality white chocolate or white candy melts to coat the popped corn. It can be replaced with green candy melts or red candy melts for a more festive look.

Mini Pretzels – Adds crunch and salty balance to the sweetness. If you want to use pretzel sticks, break them into small pieces.

M&Ms – Red and green m&m candies will add sweetness, crunch and festive touch. You can replace them with any similar chocolate candies.

Sprinkles – Use red and green holiday sprinkles to add texture and a festive vibe.

Serving suggestions:

This simple popcorn candy mix is ideal for holiday parties or a cozy Christmas movie night. It can be added to the Christmas tin along with other goodies. Pack it in cellophane bags or festive tin for a great gift or party favors. This sweet treat is perfect for any occasion.

Storage suggestions:

It tastes the best the day you make it. However, It can be stored in a tightly sealed airtight container for few days. If you want to store it for longer period of time, place them in a freezer safe zip lock bag and seal properly. It can be stored in the freezer for a month or two.

Tips & Notes:

Use fresh and good quality popped corn for the best taste and texture. Use either plain or salted one.

Melt the chocolate carefully to avoid burning it. Stir the chocolate frequently until it is smooth. Use a double boiler or microwave in short intervals to melt chocolate or candy melts.

Once the chocolate is melted, pour it over the popped corn immediately and mix quicky to coat before it sets. Add your favorite sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet so that they stick.

Do no forget to use a parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy cleanup to prevent sticking.

Variations:

Use dairy-free chocolate and vegan toppings for vegan variation of holiday popcorn.

Use red candy melts for half the corn and green for the other half to make them more festive.

To make nutty Christmas crunch, add some chopped toasted nuts like almonds, pecans or walnuts.

Feel free to experiment with different toppings like crushed peppermint candy canes, mini marshmallows, dried cranberries or candied cherries.

Step by step instructions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and keep it aside until use. Combine 5 cups of popcorn, pretzels and m&ms in a very large bowl.

Give them a mix and set aside.

Add chopped white chocolate or candy melts in microwave safe bowl and melt in microwave until smooth.

If you don’t have a microwave, melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method).

Pour melted white chocolate over the popcorn mix.

Mix everything until evenly coated.

Spread the chocolate coated popcorn on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle your favorite festive sprinkles top of the popcorn. Let it set at room temperature in the in the fridge for few minutes or until the chocolate hardens fully.

Break it apart into pieces and store in an airtight container.

More Christmas treats:

• Peppermint Kiss Cookies
• Old Fashioned Cherry Winks
• Nonpareils Candies
• Italian Hazelnut Cookies
• Lemon Snowballs
• Coconut Ice
• Molasses Crinkles
• Sugar Plums

Christmas crunch popcorn recipe video below: