This Christmas popcorn recipe, also known as Christmas crunch, is perfect for parties, gifting, movie nights, or as a festive snack to celebrate the holiday season!
Homemade Christmas popcorn is such a fun treat to make. Christmas crunch, Christmas Party Popcorn, Popcorn Snack Mix, this holiday themed popcorn goes by many names. But, one thing remains the same: it's sweet, crunchy, and super delicious.
Because it's so customizable, you can alter it to suit any taste. Like peanuts? Throw them in! Don't like pretzels? Skip them! Similar to other themed popcorn recipes like Candy Corn Popcorn, Unicorn Popcorn, or Halloween popcorn, this is an easy, no-bake treat, and fun activity the whole family can enjoy making together.
Why you'll love it:
- Easy: This popcorn is super simple to make. And, if you buy pre-popped popcorn, it's even easier. Just melt the chocolate or candy melts and add the toppings. That's it!
- Customizable: While popcorn covered in white chocolate is the base, you can make this popcorn however you want. Common additions are peanuts, Christmas candies, or cookies.
- Fun: It's such a fun Christmas party popcorn! Not only is it fun to make, it is perfect for parties, sharing, and gifting!
Ingredients
- Popcorn: You can use any type of popcorn you like. Air-popped popcorn, microwave popcorn, and bagged popcorn like sea salt or kettle corn all work great. ! I do recommend a salty or sweet popcorn, since this is a candy coated sweet popcorn mix.
- Candy Melts or White Chocolate: Chocolate, Candy melts, or melting chocolate are what makes the toppings stick to the popcorn. White chocolate or candy melts work, but you can also add a drizzle of red and green candy melts.
- Holiday Sprinkles: I personally prefer jimmie sprinkles or nonpareils, but you can use your favorite holiday sprinkles!
- Pretzels: You can use your favorite pretzels and keep them whole or break apart into smaller pieces.
- Red and Green M&Ms: You can use regular holiday M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, peanut butter, really any holiday candies you like (get two bags and make these M&M Christmas Cookies!)
HOW TO MAKE
This popcorn recipe is super simple and it can be made in less than an hour.
Step 1: Melt Chocolate
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate or candy melts according to the package instructions. Typically, this involves heating them in 30-second intervals and stirring until smooth. You can also melt over a double broiler on the stovetop.
Step 2: ADD CHOCOLATE AND TOPPINGS TO POPCORN
Cover Popcorn with melted Chocolate: Add the popcorn, melted chocolate, half the pretzels and half the M&Ms to a bowl. Mix until evenly coated.
Spread on Baking Sheet: Working quickly, immediately spread the popcorn mixture evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.
White the chocolate is still melted, add the sprinkles, and remaining M&Ms and pretzels.
Step 3: Let Harden, Break Apart, and Enjoy!
Let the popcorn mix harden for 30-45 minutes at room temperature, then break apart the popcorn pieces. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Prepare Your Baking Sheet and Toppings in Advance: Prepare your baking sheet covered in parchment paper and have your toppings already to go before melting the chocolate. This ensures a quick and smooth assembly process without the chocolate hardening.
- Work quickly: Work quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden before the toppings are added and can stick to it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
There are two reasons chocolate can seize up and get grainy. The first is it was overheated. You can combat this by making sure to follow the instructions exactly when melting your chocolate. If using a microwave heat on half power and use a double broiler if heating on the stovetop. Do not ever heat any type of chocolate or candy melts directly in a pan on a stovetop. It will always overheat and seize up.
The second reason is because liquid somehow got mixed in with the chocolate. Be sure your bowl and utensils are completely dry before adding and melting the chocolate. And, if adding flavors or food coloring make sure they are oil based.
Yes! You can easily use red or green candy melts, or drizzle the colors on at the end for a fun festive holiday touch.
If you want to add food coloring to your white chocolate or melting chocolate, be sure to use candy colors which are oil based food. Regular or gel food coloring will cause the chocolate to get grainy.
Serving and Gifting
This Christmas crunch popcorn is perfect for holiday parties and Christmas movie nights! Like most popcorn, there are tons of fun ways to serve or gift it:
- Bags: I prefer clear plastic bags because you can see the popcorn, but, you can also use bakery bags, or these cute Christmas treat bags.
- Boxes: popcorn boxes (especially these holiday themed ones!) are so cute and perfect for movie nights!
- Popcorn Tins: These decorative tins and popcorn buckets are so cute and festive! Plus, the tins keep the popcorn fresh and they are a great option for shipping and the least likely to get damaged in transport.
Storing and Making Ahead
This holiday Christmas crunch popcorn is best within the first couple days of making, but will last up to a week or two in an airtight container, very tightly sealed. The better the seal, the longer it will last and stay fresh and the less chance of going stale.
Looking for more holiday recipes? Check these out!
Christmas Popcorn Recipe (Christmas Crunch)
INGREDIENTS
- 10-12 cups popped popcorn or ⅓ cup kernels, popped
- 1 10-12 oz bag white candy melts or white chocolate melted
- 2 cups mini pretzels optionally broken in pieces
- 10 oz Red and Green Christmas M&Ms regular, peanut, etc.
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.
- Add the popped popcorn to a very large bowl. Add the melted chocolate, and half of the pretzels and half of the M&Ms. Mix until everything is combined and coated and chocolate.
- Working quickly, spread the popcorn mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Immediately add the sprinkles and remaining pretzels and M&Ms white the chocolate is still melted.
- Let the chocolate harden, break the popcorn apart, and enjoy!
Notes
- Prepare Your Baking Sheet and Toppings in Advance: Prepare your baking sheet covered in parchment paper and have your toppings already to go before melting the chocolate. This ensures a quick and smooth assembly process without the chocolate hardening.
- Work quickly: Work quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden before the toppings are added and can stick to it.
Marie Comeau says
How far in advance can you make this up?
Sophia Assunta says
You can definitely make this a few days (or up to a week) ahead of time, just be sure to store it in an airtight container so the popcorn doesn’t go stale!