Christmas Crunch

5 from 7 votes
8 Comments

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This Christmas Crunch snack is sweet and salty and EXACTLY what you need this holiday season! It takes less than 15 minutes to put together and makes a delicious holiday gift.

Christmas crunch snack mix in serving bowls
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients for Christmas Crunch
  2. What Type of Popcorn to Use
  3. Tips for Making Christmas Crunch
  4. Additional Mix-Ins
  5. Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Crunch
  6. More Christmas Treats to Try
  7. Christmas Crunch Recipe

Need gifts for your neighbors and friends? Or a snack to feed a crowd? What about something to snack on while you drink hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies in your pajamas? This Christmas Crunch recipe is EXACTLY what you need this holiday season! Loaded with popcorn, seasonal M & M’s, and pretzels, this yummy snack mixture takes less than 15 minutes to put together and is SO tasty!

It’s truly the most addicting snack; once you start snacking, you won’t be able to stop (in fact, I’m munching on some right now as I am writing this post)! I love the salty pretzels and peanuts mixed with the sweet M&M’s and the melted white chocolate. Whip up a batch of this Christmas crunch popcorn snack mix for all your neighbors and friends this holiday season.

Christmas crunch in bags tied up with Christmas ribbons

Ingredients for Christmas Crunch

For this easy treat, all you need are a few bags of ingredients from the store and that’s it. Pop some popcorn, pour the ingredients together in a bowl, stir in melted white chocolate chips or white almond bark and you’ve got the most addictive snack mix ever! Here’s what you need:

  • Popcorn – I typically like to use two bags of gourmet white microwave popcorn, popped, with all the un-popped kernels removed
  • Pretzels – you can use about three cups of mini pretzels, or broken pretzel pieces.
  • M&M’s – For holiday flair, use a bag of Christmas red and green candies.
  • Peanuts – roasted and salted are the best for this recipe, but you can use any kind of peanuts you have on hand.
  • White Candy Melts – I like how easily this candy melts over the popcorn mixture but you can use white chocolate chips or white almond bark too.
  • Christmas sprinkles – These red and green sprinkles are fun and festive.
Close up Christmas crunch with pretzels, popcorn, and M&M's

What Type of Popcorn to Use

Our favorite type of popcorn to use in Christmas Crunch is Orville Redenbacher Tender White Popcorn. It comes out so tender and fluffy! It also has a really subtle butter and salt flavor, which makes it a great base for this recipe. You don’t want to use any popcorn that has a strong flavor like movie theatre butter or kettle corn. It won’t take the flavor of the white chocolate as well.

Tips for Making Christmas Crunch

  • Make sure that when you add the popcorn, you don’t add any un-popped kernels — there is nothing worse than biting into one of those! I like to shake the popcorn bag really well so all the kernels fall to the bottom and then add the popcorn by the handful.
  • Let the chocolate cool all the way before you transfer the mix into containers or bags.
  • Store it in a cool, dry place to avoid the chocolate melting.

Additional Mix-Ins

This is one of those recipes you can really personalize and make your own. Switch up the colors of sprinkles and make a fun salty snack mix for Halloween, Easter, or birthdays. Here are just a few ideas for more mix-ins:

  • Christmas Cap’n Crunch Cereal
  • Chex cereal
  • Any other Christmas Cereal – there seem to be new ones every year!
  • Cashews, Almonds, Pecans
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Mini Peanut Butter Cups
  • Peanut M&M’s, Peanut Butter M&M’s, Mint M&M’s or Pretzel M&M’s

Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Crunch

How long is Christmas Crunch good for?

If kept stored in a cool, dry place, leftovers can last up to a week.

Should Christmas Crunch be refrigerated?

Once you let the mixture cool, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator or the freezer for up to a month. Be sure to let it come back to room temperature before serving.

How can I package this Christmas Crunch as a gift?

When I bring this snack to my neighbors during the holidays, I like to put it in cellophane bags and tie them up with Christmas-y ribbon. You can also fill a Christmas tin, a Christmas mug, or place it in a resealable plastic bag.

READ NEXT:25+ Christmas Dessert Ideas

More Christmas Treats to Try

Christmas Crunch

5 from 7 votes
This Christmas Crunch is sweet and salty and EXACTLY what you need this holiday season! It takes less than 15 minutes to put together and it is SO tasty!
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 32 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine popcorn, pretzels, M&M’s, and peanuts.
  • Melt white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring the chocolate each time, until smooth.
  • Drizzle over the snack mix and toss until coated.
  • Add sprinkles and toss until evenly distributed.
  • Spread over wax paper until cool. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Notes

  • One recipe makes approximately 32 cups of Christmas Crunch. 
  • To avoid getting unpopped kernels in your mix, shake the popcorn bag really well so all the kernels fall to the bottom and then add the popcorn by the handful.
  • Let the chocolate cool all the way before you transfer the mix into containers or bags.
  • Store it in a cool, dry place to avoid the chocolate melting.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Echo Blickenstaff

Echo lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah with her husband, Todd, who works in advertising, and her four kids: two girls and two boys. She deploys her accounting degree as the blog’s resident problem solver. In her time outside the kitchen, Echo loves to get away from the phones and busy schedules and spend quality time with the family. Anywhere’s great – but getting out into nature in the mountains or on the beach – is the best kind of getaway.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Yum! This will be perfect for Christmas, I know I’ll have to make a few batches though or it won’t last 😉

  2. 5 stars
    This was so easy to make and everyone in my family loved this fun holiday snack! I know it’s “Christmas Crunch” but I might be making this all year long 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I’m not so sure I’d share this with my neighbors and friends… I might go Scrooge and keep it for myself it looks so delicious!