Description
A festive and crunchy Christmas Crunch treat made with microwave popcorn, white chocolate, marshmallows, colorful M&M’s, sprinkles, and crunchy pretzels. Perfect for holiday snacking and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn Base
- 2 bags microwave popcorn (about 10 cups popped)
Mix-Ins
- Mini M&M’s Candy Red & Green, 1/2 cup
- Peanut M&M’s Candy Red & Green, 1/2 cup
- Sprinkles Red & Green, 1/4 cup
- 1 cup pretzels, broken in half
Binding Mixture
- 3/4 cup white chocolate candy melts
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line an 11 x 17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Pop Popcorn: Pop the microwave popcorn according to the package directions, yielding about 10 cups, then spread evenly over the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Melt Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, then add the mini marshmallows and white chocolate candy melts. Stir continuously until the mixture is smooth, melted, and free of lumps. Remove from heat.
- Coat Popcorn: Pour three-quarters of the melted butter mixture evenly over the popcorn on the baking sheet. Toss gently to coat the popcorn thoroughly.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the Mini M&M’s, Peanut M&M’s, colorful sprinkles, and broken pretzels over the coated popcorn. Drizzle the remaining butter mixture evenly over the top to bind everything together.
- Cool and Set: Allow the Christmas Crunch to cool completely on the baking sheet so it sets into a crunchy treat before serving.
Notes
- Before storing, ensure the Christmas Crunch is completely cool to avoid moisture buildup and sogginess.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat.
- Keep the treat dry and avoid exposure to humidity to maintain its crunch.
- Alternative mixing method: Toss the freshly popped popcorn with 3/4 of the melted mixture in a large bowl using a silicone spoon, then add in most of the toppings. Spread on the baking sheet and drizzle the remaining mixture and toppings on top.
- This recipe keeps well for about a week when stored properly.
