Sweet and Salty Christmas Popcorn Recipe
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This sweet and salty Christmas popcorn is a must once the holiday season starts. Freshly popped popcorn is combined with crunchy pretzels, M&Ms, and festive sprinkles, then drizzled with candy melts for the perfect holiday indulgence. The kids and kids at heart will absolutely love this! The best part? It only takes 5 minutes to make.
Picture this: a cozy night in, twinkling lights on the tree, a Christmas movie playing on the screen, and a big bowl of sweet, salty, candy-drizzled popcorn to enjoy. Sounds perfect, right? My kids love this snack so much that they ask me to make it even when it’s not Christmas season. And as much as I love to bake, it’s nice to have a simple recipe up your sleeve when you need something quick.
This easy treat is perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings, wrapping up in festive bags as edible gifts, or munching on just because. It’s my favorite thing to snack on whenever I go out for some holiday errands. With its festive red and green color and addictive flavor combination, there’s no way you won’t feel the holiday cheer when you eat this!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-fuss recipe: This festive treat comes together in just 5 minutes. No baking required!
- Budget-friendly: Whip up this insanely delicious snack using just a handful of simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
- Holiday must-have: A quick, fun, and festive snack perfect for sharing at holiday parties or gifting to family and friends.
- Sweet and salty perfection: The combination of sweet candy and chocolate and salty popcorn and pretzels hits all the right notes for a snack everyone will love.
- Great for all ages: Whether you’re young or just young at heart, this colorful, crunchy treat will bring out the holiday spirit in everyone.
- Customizable: You can easily swap out sprinkles, mix-ins, or candy to match any theme or taste preference.
How to Make Christmas Popcorn
This Christmas popcorn is as fun to make as it is to eat. I enjoy making this with my kids – they love decorating the popcorn with their favorite mix-ins!
Soon enough, they’ll be able to make this treat on their own because all you need to do is mix the popcorn, pretzels, and M&Ms, melt the white chocolate, then drizzle it all over the snack mix. Garnish with red and green sprinkles for extra fun!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Popcorn: We’ll be using already popped popcorn for this recipe. Plain popcorn cooked in an electric popcorn popper, on the stove, or in the microwave all work well. Avoid buttered microwave popcorn, though, as it can affect the candy coating’s texture.
- White candy wafers: Candy melts create a sweet, creamy coating that binds all the mix-ins together.
- M&Ms: Bring a pop of color and that sweet, chocolatey bite everyone loves. I use red and green M&Ms to follow the Christmas theme. You can also use different flavors like dark chocolate, caramel, or your favorite seasonal flavor.
- Pretzels: Pretzels add a satisfying salty crunch, balancing the sweetness of the candy coating and mix-ins.
- Red and green sprinkles: Sprinkles make your Christmas popcorn extra fun and festive. They’re the final touch that makes this treat holiday-ready.
Step-By-Step Instructions
The holidays are never complete without festive sweets and treats. When you need one but don’t have time to bake, this Christmas popcorn recipe is all you need. Just mix, melt, and toss – and you’ll have a gorgeous, delicious holiday snack in just minutes!
Step 1: Mix
On a baking tray, lay out the popped popcorn. Then break up half of the pretzels and spread both the broken and whole pieces of pretzel over the popcorn. Next, spread out the M&Ms over the popcorn.
Step 2: Melt
Melt the candy wafers in the microwave in increments of 30 seconds, until it’s melted and liquid.
Spread the melted candy wafers over the popcorn mix.
Step 3: Toss
Then add the sprinkles to the popcorn mix and toss everything to make sure the ingredients stick to each other.
Substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No biggie! These substitutions will make sure that your Christmas popcorn will turn out just as delicious:
- Popcorn: Swap plain popcorn with lightly salted or kettle corn for added sweetness.
- White candy wafers: If you can’t find candy melts, use white chocolate chips or almond bark instead. A chocolate drizzle is just as good!
- M&Ms: Can’t get your hands on some M&Ms or want to use a different candy? Try any brand of chocolate candies, chopped-up candy bars., or mini Reese’s Pieces.
- Pretzels: Substitute with mini crackers, salted nuts (like peanuts or cashews), or crunchy cereal (like Chex or Cheerios) for a similar salty element.
- Red and green sprinkles: Replace with nonpareils, crushed candy canes, or even edible glitter for a more whimsical twist.
Expert Tips
- Use freshly-popped popcorn: Start with freshly popped, plain popcorn for the best texture. If using store-bought, choose an unseasoned variety to avoid clashing flavors.
- Line your tray: Use parchment or wax paper on your baking sheet to avoid messy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Melt the candy wafers gently: Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, to prevent scorching. Overheating can cause the candy to seize.
- Work quickly: Once the candy coating is melted, toss it with the popcorn and mix-ins quickly. This makes sure that everything sticks together before the candy sets.
- Get creative with mix-ins: Add crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, nuts, or dried cranberries for a unique flavor twist. Let your kids sprinkle on the toppings – they’ll love adding their creative touch to this festive treat.
- Cool completely before storing: Let the coated popcorn set and harden fully before transferring to an airtight container. This keeps the treat crispy and fresh.
How to Store This Recipe
Store Christmas popcorn in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature, preferably somewhere cool and away from heat so the popcorn doesn’t get soggy. I don’t recommend refrigerating or freezing it – it only takes a few minutes to make, after all.
What to Serve with Christmas Popcorn
I love snacking on Christmas popcorn on its own, but I often enjoy it with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite seasonal drink. It’s delicious paired with peppermint hot chocolate in the afternoon or a glass of eggnog martini for happy hour. At parties, I like serving it alongside a fruit platter, a cheese plate, or other holiday appetizers and snacks.
More Christmas Treats To Try
- Saltine toffee (Xmas crack)
- Cinnamon palmiers
- 3-ingredient peanut butter blossoms
- 3-ingredient fudge
- Peppermint ice cream
If you make this Christmas popcorn, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!
Crunchy Christmas Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups popcorn already popped
- ½ cup white candy wafers
- ¼ cup M&Ms green and red
- 1.5 oz pretzels
- ½ tsp red sprinkles
- ½ tsp green sprinkles
Instructions
- On a baking tray, lay out the popped popcorn. Break up half of the pretzels and spread both the broken and whole pieces of pretzel over the popcorn. Spread out the M&Ms over the popcorn.
- Melt the candy wafers in the microwave in increments of 30 seconds, until it’s melted and liquid. Spread the melted candy wafers over the popcorn mix.
- Then add the sprinkles to the popcorn mix and toss everything to make sure the ingredients stick to each other.
Notes
- Start with freshly popped, plain popcorn for the best texture. If using store-bought, choose an unseasoned variety to avoid clashing flavors.
- Use parchment or wax paper on your baking sheet to avoid messy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, to prevent scorching.
- Once the candy coating is melted, toss it with the popcorn and mix-ins quickly. This makes sure that everything sticks together before the candy sets.
- Add crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, nuts, or dried cranberries for a unique flavor twist. Let your kids sprinkle on the toppings!
- Let the coated popcorn set and harden fully before transferring to an airtight container. This keeps the treat crispy and fresh.
