Christmas Crunch is a festive, sweet treat made up of a mix of popcorn, candy, and pretzels. It’s perfect for holiday parties or as a fun gift. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make, ready in 15 minutes!

christmas crunch in a bowl with christmas greeting card in the background.
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Christmas Popcorn

Imagine a snack that perfectly captures the joy and color of the holiday season. That’s exactly what Christmas Crunch does. This delightful treat is a harmonious blend of sweet and salty, making it irresistible to anyone who tries it.

The combination of popcorn, pretzels, and candy, all drizzled in white chocolate, creates a snack that’s as festive to look at as it is to eat. With just a few simple steps and some basic ingredients, you can create a batch of this delightful mix.

Not only is Christmas Crunch a joy to make and eat, but it also serves as a charming, homemade gift. Pack it in mason jars or cute festive bags, and you have the perfect edible gift for neighbors, teachers, or anyone deserving a little holiday cheer.

Why We Love Christmas Crunch

  • Its no-bake simplicity makes preparation incredibly easy.
  • The perfect balance of sweet and salty satisfies all cravings.
  • Its festive, colorful appearance is ideal for spreading holiday cheer.
  • The recipe is versatile, allowing easy customization with ingredients.
  • It’s a delightful homemade treat, great for gifting.
christmas crunch with red and green m&m and pretzels.

Christmas Crunch Ingredients

  • Microwave popcorn
  • Mini M&M’s Candy: Red and Green
  • Peanut M&M’s Candy: Red and Green
  • Red and Green sprinkles 
  • Pretzels
  • White chocolate candy melts
  • Salted butter
  • Mini marshmallows

How to Make Christmas Crunch Popcorn

  1. POP the popcorn (use directions on the bag)
  2. SPREAD it on a parchment-lined baking sheet (or silicone baking mat)
    (See NOTE below)
  3. MELT the butter, white chocolate, and mini marshmallows over low heat (stir, stir, stir!)
  4. POUR 3/4 of the mixture over the popcorn and toss it around to coat it.
  5. DRIZZLE the remaining mixture over the popcorn and sprinkle the M&Ms, sprinkles, and pretzels on top.
  6. Let cool completely.
pour the melted marshmallow into the popcorn. add pretzels and m&ms.

Pro Tip!

  • Another option for coating the popcorn is right after it is popped, you can put it in a very large bowl. Pour 3/4 of the mixture and toss with a silicone spoon. Then toss in the toppings (M&M’s, sprinkles and pretzels – but save a few for the next step). Next, lay it on the baking sheet and drizzle with the remaining mixture and sprinkle the remaining toppings on top of the drizzled chocolate.
  • You can use any pretzel shape you want because we will break them up. But it is super cute if you can find the mini Christmas tree pretzels or other holiday pretzels to mix in!

DIY Holiday Gift

This Christmas Crunch makes a wonderful holiday gift for your friends and neighbors. Put some in a cellophane bag and tie it up with some pretty Christmas ribbon and a gift card or in a mason jar!

christmas crunch in large baking sheet.

How to Store Christmas Crunch

To store Christmas Crunch popcorn effectively:

  1. Let It Cool Completely: Before storing, ensure the Christmas Crunch is entirely cool to prevent moisture build-up.
  2. Airtight Container: Use an airtight container to keep it fresh and prevent it from going stale.
  3. Room Temperature: Store the container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat.
  4. Keep Dry: Avoid exposing it to moisture or humidity to maintain its crunch.

Following these steps should help keep your Christmas Crunch popcorn fresh and tasty for about a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Popcorn to Use

You can really use any microwave popcorn. We light to use a lightly buttered popcorn.

Can Christmas Crunch popcorn be made with different types of popcorn?

Absolutely! You can use any plain popcorn as the base for Christmas Crunch. Avoid heavily salted or buttered varieties as they can alter the intended flavor balance of the recipe.

How do I prevent my Christmas Crunch from becoming chewy?

To keep it crunchy, make sure all ingredients are completely dry before mixing, and store the finished product in an airtight container to prevent moisture absorption.

Are there any variations I can make for different holidays?

You can adapt it for other holidays by changing the colors and types of candies used. For example, use pastels for Easter or red and pink for Valentine’s Day.

More Christmas Treats

christmas crunch in a bowl.

More Holiday Treats

DIY Peppermint Candy Bowl | Peppermint Candy Spoons | Christmas Fudge | Easy Peppermint Fudge | Chex Mix Christmas Crack | Peppermint Bark | Melted Snowman Chocolate Bark | Snowball Cookies | Pop Corn Cake

If you tried this Christmas Crunch Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!

5 from 3 votes
christmas crunch in a bowl.

Christmas Crunch

Serves — 10
This Christmas Crunch popcorn is deliciously sweet and salty and perfect for the Holiday season! Throw a batch together in less than 15 minutes!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bags microwave popcorn made per package directions about 10 cups
  • Mini M&M’s Candy Red & Green
  • Peanut M&M’s Candy Red & Green
  • Sprinkles Red & Green
  • 1 cup pretzels broken in half
  • ¾ cup white chocolate candy melts
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • Line an 11 x 17 baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Pop the popcorn bags per package instructions.
    2 bags microwave popcorn
  • Spread popped popcorn over the parchment paper and set aside. (SEE NOTE BELOW for alternative mixing method)
  • In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat melt butter. Add mini marshmallows and white chocolate to butter mixture. Stir until melted and no lumps remain. Remove from heat.
    ¾ cup white chocolate candy melts, 6 tablespoons salted butter, 3 cups mini marshmallows
  • Pour ¾ of the butter mixture over the popcorn. Toss to coat.
  • Pour the remaining butter mixture over the popcorn and sprinkle the Mini M&M’s candy, Peanut M&M’s candy, sprinkles, and the broken pretzels over the butter mixture.
    Peanut M&M’s Candy Red & Green, Sprinkles Red & Green, 1 cup pretzels, Mini M&M’s Candy Red & Green
  • Let cool completely before serving.

Jenn’s Notes

To store:
  1. Let It Cool Completely: Before storing, ensure the Christmas Crunch is entirely cool to prevent moisture build-up.
  2. Airtight Container: Use an airtight container to keep it fresh and prevent it from going stale.
  3. Room Temperature: Store the container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat.
  4. Keep Dry: Avoid exposing it to moisture or humidity to maintain its crunch.
Following these steps should help keep your Christmas Crunch popcorn fresh and tasty for about a week.
Alternative Option for mixing:
Another option for coating the popcorn is right after it is popped, you can put it in a very large bowl. Pour 3/4 of the mixture and toss with a silicone spoon.
Then toss in the toppings (M&M’s, sprinkles and pretzels – but save a few for the next step).
Next, lay it on the baking sheet and drizzle with the remaining mixture and sprinkle the remaining toppings on top of the drizzled chocolate.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. This is so good. I have made 3 batches. I used microwave popcorn (Aldi’s) and also put popcorn in a bowl and mixed it.