Crunchy Monster Mash Popcorn Mix
A quick and easy festive snack mix combining buttery popcorn, candy-coated chocolates, roasted nuts, and pretzels for a perfect sweet and salty crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup (100g) popcorn kernels, popped fresh or 10 cups (250g) pre-popped popcorn (lightly salted works best)
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (25g) cinnamon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup (50g) mini pretzels, broken into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup (150g) roasted peanuts or mixed nuts, unsalted
- 1 cup (150g) orange and green candy-coated chocolates (e.g., M&Ms)
- 1/2 cup Halloween sprinkles or candy eyes (optional)
Instructions
- If using kernels, heat 2 tablespoons of neutral oil (like canola or coconut) in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels and cover with a lid. Shake the pan gently every 10 seconds to prevent burning. Once popping slows to 2-3 seconds between pops (about 3-4 minutes), remove from heat. Transfer popped corn to a large bowl, removing any unpopped kernels. Skip this step if using pre-popped popcorn.
- Melt 4 tablespoons (60g) of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan until fully liquid (about 30-45 seconds in microwave).
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons (25g) cinnamon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt.
- Pour the melted butter over the popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar and salt evenly over the coated popcorn. Gently toss with a wooden spoon or spatula to coat well.
- Add 1 cup (50g) broken mini pretzels, 1 cup (150g) roasted nuts, and 1 cup (150g) candy-coated chocolates. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
- Optionally, sprinkle 1/2 cup Halloween sprinkles or candy eyes over the mix and toss gently.
- Spread the popcorn mix on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and set for about 10 minutes to keep it crunchy and prevent clumping.
Notes
Use fresh popcorn for best crunch. Melt butter gently to avoid greasiness. Toss gently to avoid breaking popcorn or crushing pretzels and candy. Cool mix completely before storing to maintain crunch. For candy-coated chocolates to stay shiny, add after butter cools or just before serving. Nut-free version: omit nuts or replace with roasted pumpkin seeds. Gluten-free: use certified gluten-free pretzels or omit pretzels.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: popcorn mix, Halloween snack, festive snack, sweet and salty, party snack, easy snack, popcorn recipe