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Santa Munch Popcorn Snack Mix is an easy 5 ingredient popcorn mix that is the perfect Christmas treat! Popcorn, pretzels, and nuts, coated with white chocolate and mixed with M&Ms making the perfect sweet treat for parties or packaged for goody bags with the printable tags!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Santa Munch
We love binging Christmas movies, and while we’re doing that we need snacks!
One of the things I love to binge eat while binging TV is popcorn. I’m pretty sure Santa loves popcorn too, especially when it’s coated in white chocolate, mixed with pretzels, nuts, and M&Ms, and even more so when you package it in cute little bags.
Santa munch popcorn snack mix is a little reminiscent of my Elf Munch recipe, which at some point I need to remake and reshoot and repost. Every year, I see that post pop up in my analytics and cringe a little, hoping that the reader clicks “home” after printing so they know I’m better now than I was then.
This is an easy snack mix for Christmas – and you can substitute any color M&Ms for any time of year. Eat it yourself or package it up to give away. It’s also great for shipping!
What’s In Santa Munch Snack Mix?
Santa Munch is an EASY popcorn snack mix recipe. You can put anything you want in there, but I love adding:
Popcorn: You can use any kind you want! Microwave, packaged, or pop it yourself. We love popping popcorn in the microwave using this silicone popcorn maker, or you can air pop your popcorn!
Pretzels: Choose rods or twists.
M&Ms: Use any color and any flavor!
White Chocolate: I love using Candiquik or Candy Melts for this. My favorite candy melts are Ghiradelli.
How to make my Santa Munch Recipe
- Prep your cookie sheet by lining it with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Pop your popcorn and remove any kernels that didn’t pop.
- Place popcorn, pretzels, and nuts in a very large bowl.
- Place white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and coat with oil. Heat on 50% power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture and carefully toss to coat.
- Turn out mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and let sit to set (chill if needed).
- Once it’s set, break apart the popcorn mixture and place in a resealable bag for storage. Add the M&Ms. Serve in a big bowl or package into treat bags.
Tips & FAQ for making Popcorn Snack Mix
If you don’t buy it already popped, use microwave popcorn or pop your own kernels in a silicone microwave popper or air popper.
I don’t recommend them but you can use them. Chocolate Chips aren’t formulated for coating, so they’ll melt in your hands when eating the snack mix.
Use any kind of candy melts or almond bark you like – any flavor or color.
Another reason I like using the candy melts is they don’t do this often, but if they are stubborn and not melting, add 1 tsp vegetable oil or shortening. Should help them get started melting.
Store this in an airtight container for up to 5 days!
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Santa Munch Popcorn Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn (see note)
- 2 cups pretzels rods or mini twists
- 1 cup nuts optional (I used almonds)
- 12 ounce bag white chocolate chips about 2 cups
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or shortening
- 11 ounce bag holiday M&Ms any kind
Instructions
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Place popcorn, pretzels, and nuts in a very large bowl. Place white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and coat with oil. Heat on 50% power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture and carefully toss to coat. Turn out mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and let sit to set (chill if needed).
- Once it’s set, break apart the popcorn mixture and place in a resealable bag for storage. Add the M&Ms. Serve in a big bowl or package into treat bags.
- Mixture stays good for up to one week, as long as it’s airtight.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- You can use store bought popcorn (like Skinny Pop) or use microwave popcorn. Or pop your own using an air popper.
- Be sure to remove any un-popped kernels from the popcorn before making mix.
- Use any color or flavor M&Ms
Recipe Nutrition
Popcorn is such an easy impromptu ingredient that can make the holidays even better. Gaslamp Popcorn is encouraging consumers to think about popcorn differently: not only as an easy better-for-you snack, but also as an ingredient (like in a popcorn snack mix).
This post was originally sponsored by Gaslamp Popcorn in 2016. I started this recipe with Gaslamp popcorn. Maybe you remember them? They’re the star of my Pumpkin Spice Latte Popcorn when I was on T.V. for the first and only time. I was so excited they wanted to work with me again this year. I usually have a bag of their Sea Salt & Olive oil popcorn in my pantry anyway and I their Cinnamon Caramel Popcorn is probably my favorite flavor ever, and the inspiration behind my Cinnamon Caramel Sauce. Their popcorn is fresh, non-GMO, & gluten free…and it tastes amazing when you coat it with white chocolate.
Last Updated on May 20, 2022
I’m using my air popper should I butter my popcorn then mix it
You don’t need to butter it – just pop it then proceed. You can if you want but it’s not needed.
Do you coat the white chocolate in oil before putting in microwave?
I usually just pour oil into the bowl I’m using to melt the chocolate.
Do you know how many treat bags on average this recipe makes? I want to give out to my class as Christmas treats.
I think it was about 8-10
Made this early this am. Was the easiest holiday treat I’ve done in less than five minutes and so yummy! thank you!
How many sandwich bag size portions does this make? I’d love to make it and hand it out at my son’s Christmas party but I want to make sure I buy enough supplies. Â Thanks!
About 8-10
Does it matter if you use buttered or salted microwave popcorn?
Nope, you can use any kind of popcorn you like!
This stuff is SO addicting!
I made this for our church fellowship hour today. We have a lot of kids and it got gobbled up!! A keeper recipe for sure!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was disappointed to see that you recommend keeping the Santa Munch Popcorn  for only one week.  I was wondering why that is?  Everything in it doesn’t spoil quickly.  Does the popcorn get stale that quickly?Â
Since I’m not someone with a food safety background, I only speak to my experience. It was gone after a week so I can’t testify to knowing if it lasts longer.
This sounds really good……#teamjess4eva
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