Jolly Santa Crunch Popcorn Recipe: A Festive Holiday Treat

Popcorn lovers rejoice as this santa crunch popcorn delivers a delightful holiday twist on a classic snack.

Winter celebrations call for something special and memorable.

Sweet and salty flavors dance together in every delectable bite.

Festive sprinkles and white chocolate add a magical touch to this treat.

Rich, creamy coating creates irresistible clusters that snap and crackle with each munch.

No ordinary popcorn could compete with these delightful seasonal morsings.

Grab a bowl and savor the holiday cheer in every crunchy, chocolatey handful.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 12

What’s Inside Santa Crunch Popcorn

• Popcorn: Fresh, light, and airy base for the sweet treat, choose high-quality kernels for best crunch and flavor.
• Parchment Paper: Creates a clean, non-stick surface for spreading and cooling the popcorn.

• White Chocolate Chips: Melts into a creamy, smooth binding agent that adds luxurious sweetness and helps create clusters.
• Christmas Sprinkles: Festive and colorful decorative elements that bring holiday cheer and delightful texture.
• Red and Green Candy Melts: Creates vibrant holiday colors and adds extra sweetness with a fun, crunchy element.

• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile of the popcorn.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the sweet coating, creating a more complex taste experience.

Popcorn Tools for Making Santa Crunch Festive

• Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious container for tossing and coating popcorn with sweet ingredients.
• Parchment-Lined Baking Sheet: Essential for spreading popcorn and allowing easy cooling and handling.
• Measuring Cups: Precise tool for measuring popcorn and ingredients accurately.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for stirring and evenly coating popcorn with mixtures.
• Sharp Knife: Helpful for cutting any additional toppings or decorations.
• Cooling Rack (optional): Useful for ensuring popcorn stays crisp while cooling.

Steps for Making Sweet Santa Crunch Popcorn

• Make Popcorn Base

Spread freshly popped popcorn evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, carefully removing any stray unpopped kernels to ensure a smooth, crunchy treat.

• Prepare Candy Coating

Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and creamy, avoiding any burning or clumping.

• Drizzle and Decorate

Pour the melted white chocolate over the popcorn, gently tossing to coat each kernel evenly. Sprinkle festive red and green holiday sprinkles across the surface for a jolly, colorful finish.

• Chill and Set

Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, allowing the chocolate to harden and create a crisp, sweet shell that transforms the popcorn into a delightful seasonal snack.

• Break and Serve

Once fully set, break the Santa Crunch Popcorn into bite-sized clusters, ready to be enjoyed at holiday gatherings or as a sweet personal treat that captures the magic of the season.

Tips to Switch Up Your Popcorn Mix

• Kernel-Free Perfection: Carefully sift through your popped corn to remove any unpopped kernels, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable snacking experience without unexpected hard bits.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this festive treat up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature, keeping the popcorn crisp and the candy coating crunchy.
• Gluten-Free Option: Check that your white chocolate and sprinkles are certified gluten-free to make this recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Kid-Friendly Decorating: Let children help sprinkle the candy pieces and colored sugar, turning this recipe into a fun holiday activity that creates delightful memories.
• Storage Savvy: Keep the Santa Crunch Popcorn in a cool, dry place to maintain its crisp texture and prevent the candy coating from becoming sticky or melting.

Serve Santa Crunch Popcorn in Fun Ways

• Festive Movie Night Delight: Serve this colorful Santa Crunch Popcorn during holiday movie marathons with family and friends, creating a cozy celebration of seasonal flavors.
• Winter Party Centerpiece: Display the popcorn in a large clear glass bowl or festive red serving dish, making it a stunning snack for holiday gatherings and winter parties.
• Gift-Worthy Treat: Package the popcorn in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, creating adorable homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or coworkers during the holiday season.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Include this sweet and crunchy popcorn as part of a holiday dessert spread, offering a playful alternative to traditional cookies and candies.

Store Holiday Popcorn with Ease

• Quick Cool Storage: Store Santa Crunch Popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain its crispy texture and festive crunch.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the popcorn batch a day before your event, keeping it sealed in a tight container to preserve freshness and prevent moisture absorption.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Layer the popcorn between wax paper in a freezer-safe container, which can extend its shelf life up to 2 weeks without losing its delightful taste and texture.
• Portion Control Trick: Divide the batch into individual snack-sized bags or containers, making it easy to grab a quick treat and preventing unnecessary exposure to air that could make the popcorn soggy.

Crunchy Santa Crunch Popcorn Recipe

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4.9 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Santa crunch popcorn brings holiday cheer with its festive mix of sweet and salty flavors. Candy-coated kernels deliver a delightful crunch you can’t resist.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 cups (64 fl oz / 1.9 L) popped popcorn
• 1 cup (6 oz / 170 g) white chocolate chips
• ½ cup (5 oz / 142 g) M&Ms (red & green)
• ½ cup pretzels, broken into pieces
• ¼ cup crushed candy canes
• ¼ cup Christmas sprinkles
• 1 tbsp (15 mL / 15 g) coconut oil or butter

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly spread freshly popped popcorn, carefully removing any unpopped kernels.
2. Chocolate Melting: Microwave white chocolate in short 15-second intervals, stirring between each burst until completely smooth and liquefied.
3. Coating and Decorating: Drizzle melted white chocolate over popcorn, ensuring an even coverage, then immediately scatter Christmas-themed sprinkles, red and green candy-coated chocolates, and crushed candy canes for a festive appearance.
4. Setting: Allow white chocolate to harden at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or accelerate the process by chilling in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
5. Serving: Once chocolate is fully set, break popcorn into clusters and transfer to a serving bowl or package in decorative gift bags for a delightful holiday treat.

Notes

• Prevent Chocolate Burning: Microwave white chocolate in ultra-short 15-second bursts, stirring between each interval to maintain smooth consistency and avoid scorching.
• Ensure Crisp Popcorn Base: Carefully remove unpopped kernels before adding toppings to prevent potential dental risks and maintain a pleasant crunchy texture.
• Achieve Even Coating: Use a spatula or spoon to distribute melted white chocolate uniformly, guaranteeing each popcorn piece gets an equal sweet coverage.
• Quick Setting Technique: Accelerate chocolate hardening by placing the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, reducing waiting time and creating faster preparation.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 204
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 75 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 2 mg