This Popcorn Snack Mix is a sweet and salty blend of popcorn, pretzels, Chex cereal, M&M’s, and white chocolate, with sprinkles for extra fun. No baking needed!
Popcorn Snack Mix
A good snack mix is a must for our weekly movie nights. My kids have moved on from regular popcorn to wanting caramel corn or chocolate-covered popcorn.
Enter this Popcorn Snack Mix! It’s a hit with the kids, easy to make, and requires no baking. The kids love measuring, mixing, and breaking pretzels. The microwave melts the white chocolate, and after adding sprinkles, you just wait for it to set. Once it’s ready, it’s the real star of the night!
Popcorn Snack Mix Ingredients
- Popcorn: Store-bought popcorn is the fastest. You can also make your own with microwave popcorn bags, a popcorn machine, or stovetop.
- Corn Chex®: Feel free to use Rice Chex or another type.
- Pretzel sticks: Break them in half for better mixing.
- Mini M&M’s: Mini M&M’s are the best in this.
- White chocolate chips: Melt slowly to avoid overheating. Stir every few seconds.
- Vegetable oil: Helps the white chocolate melt smoothly. Canola oil works too.
- Sprinkles: If you want, sprinkles add colorful fun and a little more sweetness.
Quick Tip
Use good white chocolate: The better the quality of your white chocolate, the better your Popcorn Snack Mix will taste. Look for high-quality white chocolate that’s creamy and melts well for the best results.
How To Make Popcorn Snack Mix (Tips)
Here are some tips to make sure your snack mix turns out perfect every time:
- Fresh popcorn: Pop popcorn right before you use it for the best flavor and texture.
- Large bowl: A big bowl helps avoid messes and ensures even chocolate coating.
- Melt chocolate: Heat white chocolate in short intervals, stirring every 30 seconds to avoid overheating.
- Add the chocolate to the popcorn: Move fast to mix the melted chocolate with the popcorn before it hardens.
- Cover the baking sheet: Use baking paper or foil to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Use sprinkles: Add them right after spreading the mix so they stay on the chocolate.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Different cereals: Use Cheerios®, Captain Crunch®, or Golden Grahams® for a new flavor.
- Add nuts: Add roasted almonds or peanuts for extra crunch and protein.
- Change up the chocolate: Use milk or dark chocolate instead of white chocolate.
- Holiday themes: Use festive sprinkles and candies like red and green M&M’s for Christmas or orange and black for Halloween.
- S’mores version: Change pretzels for graham crackers, M&M’s for dried marshmallows, and pour over milk chocolate!
Storage
Storing Popcorn Snack Mix
For the best crunch, enjoy the Popcorn Snack Mix within a day or two. Store it in an airtight container at room temp.
To make it crunch longer, put the mix in the freezer to slow down the softening.
More No-Bake Treats:
- No-Bake Cookies peanut butter flavored
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake with a cookie crust
- Four No-Bake Treats including cookie butter melt-aways!
- Mint Oreo Truffles with a chocolate coating
- No-Bake Granola Bars drizzled in chocolate
Popcorn Snack Mix
This Popcorn Snack Mix is the ultimate sweet-and-salty treat! Crunchy popcorn, pretzels, sweet Chex, and M&M's, all coated in creamy white chocolate with sprinkles for extra fun. Quick to make, no baking needed!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups popcorn popped and lightly salted, see note 1
- 4 cups corn Chex Cereal
- 2 cups thin pretzel sticks broken in half
- 1-1/2 cups miniature M&M’s
- 2 cups white chocolate chips 11 to 12-ounce bag works here, see note 2
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper (or foil/liner). Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the popcorn (see note 3), Chex cereal, broken pretzel sticks, and mini M&M’s.
- In a separate, microwave-safe bowl, mix together the white chocolate chips and oil. Heat this in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the popcorn and cereal mix. Use a silicone spatula to quickly (but gently) stir and fold the mixture until all the ingredients are evenly coated in chocolate.
- Transfer the coated mixture onto the prepared sheet pan, spreading it in an even layer. If using sprinkles, scatter them over the mix immediately, before the chocolate hardens.
- Chill the sheet pan in the fridge for about 30 mins to an hour, or until the chocolate has fully set.
- Once set, break the snack mix into bite-sized pieces. Serve it in a large bowl and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Purchasing already-popped popcorn makes this recipe come together a little quicker. If you’d rather pop your own, these are the packets I use (lightly salted plain popcorn). You can also use kernels in a popcorn machine or on the stovetop. If you make plain popcorn, add a touch of salt. Regardless of the type of popcorn, be sure to sift out unpopped kernels—see note 3.
Note 2: The better the quality of white chocolate, the better your Popcorn Snack Mix will taste. Look for high-quality white chocolate that’s creamy and melts well for the best results.
Note 3: Remove the kernels: Put the popcorn in a large bowl and place a cooling rack over the top. Invert and shake over a plate, and all the unpopped kernels will come out! Scoop the rest of the popcorn out of the bowl and proceed with the recipe.
Storage: Popcorn Snack Mix is best enjoyed within a day or two. To keep it fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. If you need longer storage, you can freeze this popcorn mix.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 406IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
