Holiday popcorn with M&Ms and pretzels
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.
Servings: 4 - 6
Calories: 165kcal
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
Instructions
- Line a large baking tray with parchment. Spread the popcorn in a single layer so the coating hits more pieces.
- 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.
- Sprinkle the M&Ms across the tray so the color is evenly distributed.
- 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 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.
- 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 into clusters and serve in a large bowl, or portion into gift bags.
Notes
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.