Name: Holiday popcorn with M&Ms and pretzels
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 6 cups popcorn (already popped (if you pop it yourself, about ¼ cup kernels makes roughly 6 cups.)); ½ cup white candy wafers (about 85 g); ¼ cup red and green M&Ms (about 40 g); 1.5 oz pretzels (about 40 to 45 g); ½ teaspoon red sprinkles; ½ teaspoon green sprinkles

Sweet, salty, and festive, this holiday popcorn with M&Ms and pretzels comes together in minutes and always disappears at parties and Christmas movie nights. You need popcorn, white candy wafers, red and green M&Ms, pretzels, and sprinkles. That’s it.
Make a batch now and set some aside for gifting before it’s gone.

A bowl filled with holiday popcorn, red and green chocolate candies, mini pretzels, and festive sprinkles, all drizzled with white chocolate for a cheerful holiday snack mix.

Ingredients

Serves: 4 to 6
Prep time: 5 minutes

6 cups popcorn, already popped (if you pop it yourself, about ¼ cup kernels makes roughly 6 cups.). Use plain popcorn without butter or extra oil so the coating adheres well. If you’re making popcorn ahead, leave it uncovered at room temperature so it stays crisp.
½ cup white candy wafers (about 85 g)
¼ cup red and green M&Ms (about 40 g)
1.5 oz pretzels (about 40 to 45 g)
½ teaspoon red sprinkles
½ teaspoon green sprinkles

Five bowls on a marble surface contain holiday popcorn, red and green M&Ms, pretzels, white candy wafers, and festive sprinkles. Each bowl is labeled with black and white text.

Instructions

Set up the base

Line a large baking tray with parchment. Spread the popcorn in a single layer so the coating hits more pieces.

A rectangular black baking pan filled with holiday popcorn sits on a white marble surface.

Add pretzels

Break half the pretzels into smaller pieces and scatter both broken and whole pretzels evenly over the popcorn. This gives good crunch in every bite.

A rectangular black baking pan filled with holiday popcorn and scattered pretzels, placed on a white marble surface.

Add M&Ms

Sprinkle the M&Ms across the tray so the color is evenly distributed.

A rectangular pan filled with holiday popcorn, mini pretzels, red and green candy-coated chocolates, and white drizzle sits on a white marble surface.

Melt the candy wafers

Place the wafers in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20 to 30 second bursts, stirring well after each, until smooth. Stop when a few small pieces remain and stir until fully melted. If it starts to firm up, give it a quick 5 second rewarm and stir again.

Drizzle and coat

Drizzle the melted candy over the popcorn mix with a spoon. Toss gently with clean hands or two spatulas, then drizzle a little more to catch any bare spots. Work quickly so the coating sets evenly.

A hand drizzles white icing over a tray of holiday popcorn mix with pretzels, red and green candies, and popcorn in a black baking dish on a marble surface, creating the perfect festive treat.

Finish and set

Add the red and green sprinkles while the coating is still soft so they stick. Let the tray sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, or chill for 5 minutes until firm.

Break and serve

Break into clusters and serve in a large bowl, or portion into gift bags.

A black baking pan filled with holiday popcorn—popcorn topped with red and green candies, pretzels, festive sprinkles, and drizzled white chocolate. Two small bowls with red and green sprinkles sit nearby on a marble surface.

Variations

Color swap: Change M&M and sprinkle colors to match different holidays or themes – pink and red for Valentine’s Day, pastel for Easter, or red and blue for the Fourth of July.
Diet tweaks: Use gluten-free pretzels if needed. Choose dairy-free candy wafers for a dairy-free version.
Texture: Leave larger clusters for a snack-mix feel, or break smaller for party cups.

Storage and gifting

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For gifts, pack in clear treat bags or tins and add a label with the date.

A white bowl of holiday popcorn, pretzels, red and green M&M candies, and festive sprinkles sits on a green cloth atop a white marble surface.

Simple, festive, and endlessly customizable, this holiday popcorn is the ultimate quick win for busy December days. Make it once, and it’ll become a go-to for parties, gifting, and cozy nights by the tree.

A hand reaches into a white bowl filled with holiday popcorn snack mix—popcorn, pretzels, red and green candies, and sprinkles—set on a wooden slab with a green towel atop a marble surface.

A white bowl filled with holiday popcorn—popcorn, mini pretzels, red and green candy-coated chocolates, and festive sprinkles—all drizzled with white chocolate, sits on a wooden surface with a green napkin.

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