This Halloween popcorn snack mix is such an easy recipe it's embarrassing! A combo of buttery popcorn, salty pretzels, candy corn, sprinkles, and peanut buttery Reese's Pieces creatives an addictive salty and sweet snack. All the boys and ghouls will gobble it up--I promise!
I love to make this super easy Halloween popcorn mix for my son's elementary school class Halloween party. It's also great for the neighborhood trick or treat block party or to munch on for movie night. Even better--there are so many different ways to customize this easy Halloween snack mix.
Not fan of Reese's Pieces? Use chocolate candies like M&Ms instead. End up with a TON of leftover Halloween candy? Chop up extra candy bars and add them in. Love gummy worms? Toss 'em in! This really is the best salty and sweet snack. Kids and adults alike won't be able to get enough!
This was inspired by the holiday white chocolate chex mix I made last year. I wanted something similar, but with a Halloween twist. If you're looking for other Halloween recipes, don't worry. I've got you covered. This Halloween fruit salad is a great healthy side dish for the season.
The whole family will love my mini monster meatloaves, and the adults won't be able to get enough of my Purple People Eater gin cocktail. Another fall friendly cocktail (for adults) is my autumn bourbon rickey. But enough about that, let's make this yummy Halloween party popcorn!
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this Halloween trail mix recipe:
- butter-flavored popcorn
- pretzel twists
- white chocolate melts
- Halloween sprinkles
- Reese's pieces
- candy eyes
- candy corn
- candy pumpkins
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to make this delicious snack mix:
- First, spread the popcorn and pretzels in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper.
- Then, heat the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at 30 second intervals until melted.
- Next, drizzle the melted white chocolate evenly over the popcorn mixture.
- Finally, sprinkle the candy eyeballs and sprinkles over the chocolate before it sets. Let the mixture stand at room temperature until set and then break apart. Mix with the remaining candies.
Hint: Be very careful when melting the chocolate in the microwave. I recommend stirring after 30 second intervals until the mixture is smooth.
Substitutions
Need some ingredient swaps? Here are some suggestions:
- Popcorn - Butter-flavored popcorn is a great flavor contrast with the sweet ingredients in this recipe. Feel free to use plain or salted popcorn if you prefer. Kettle corn and caramel corn are also excellent alternatives.
- Pretzels - Use your favorite pretzel shape instead of the pretzel twists. Peanut butter-stuffed pretzels are also a great option.
- Reese's Pieces - I'm a Reese's fanatic, so these are my go-to but feel free to substitute M&Ms instead.
Variations
Check out these additional ways to change up this recipe:
- Valentine's Snack Mix - Make a Valentine's Day snack mix by using pink and red candy corn, heart sprinkles, and Valentine's-colored M&Ms.
- Birthday Snack Mix - Use multicolored sprinkles, your favorite colored candy melts, and Skittles for a fun birthday-themed mix.
- 4th of July Snack Mix - Red, white, and blue candy melts plus mini marshmallows, patriotic M&Ms, and festive 4th of July sprinkles will be perfect for a summery patriotic mix.
Equipment
Here's the equipment you'll need for this recipe:
- dry measuring cups
- medium microwave-safe bowl
- rubber spatula
Storage
Store the mix in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bags for up to 1 week.
You can freeze this mix! Just be careful to store it in an airtight container so that no moisture gets in. (That'll make it soggy.)
Tasty Tip
Pop the chocolate coated popcorn and pretzels in the fridge to help speed up the hardening process after you've sprinkled with the candy eyeballs and sprinkles.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Heat about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or other high smoke point oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add a couple of corn kernels to the oil and cover with a lid--once they pop, the oil is hot enough. Add about ⅓ to ½ cup popcorn kernels and cover with the lid. Reduce the heat to medium-low and swirl the pan to coat the kernels. Continue to cook until there are one to two seconds in between pops.
It's such a versatile ingredient! I love a salty and sweet combo, so I go for a mix of pretzels and chocolate. Let your imagination go wild though--there's really no wrong answer here. Caramel, Oreo cookies, chocolate, peanut butter..the list goes on about what mixes well with this salty snack.
I don't recommend it. Every microwave is different. For this recipe, I microwaved for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, making sure to stop the microwave once there were pauses in pops every 1 to 2 seconds.
Either individually wrap portions or serve the popcorn mix in a bowl with a scooper for easy serving.
Store the popcorn in an airtight container to prevent it from getting stale or soggy from humidity.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Halloween popcorn snack mix:
🍽Get the recipe
Monster Munch Halloween Popcorn Snack Mix
Equipment
- dry measuring cups
- medium microwave-safe bowl
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped butter-flavored popcorn
- 3 cups salted pretzel twists
- 1 to 2 (10-ounce) packages white chocolate candy melts
- Halloween sprinkles
- 1 (9.9-ounce) package Reese's Pieces
- Candy eyeballs
- Candy corn
- Candy pumpkins
Instructions
- Combine the popped popcorn and pretzels in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on a clean surface.
- Place the candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth. (Depending on how sweet you want the mix, use 1 or 2 packages of candy melts.)
- Drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over the popcorn and pretzels.
- Sprinkle the chocolate with the candy melts and sprinkles before the chocolate is set. Let stand until set. Break the mixture into chunks and combine with the remaining candy. Serve in a large bowl or package individually in treat bags.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using your microwave.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Swathi says
Monster munch is delicious and colorful, I tired it, I am going to make it again.
AshleyFreeman says
Yay! So glad it was a hit!
Matt says
I’m planning to make this for Halloween! The mix of sweet and salty treats looks like it’ll be perfect for a festive snack.
AshleyFreeman says
For sure Matt! And so easy too!
Elizabeth says
My toddler and I loved making this! So yummy and the perfect sweet treat!
AshleyFreeman says
Yay! Love that!
Nicole Kendrick says
I love all the sweet and salty flavor and the fun colors. This is the perfect Halloween mix.
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks Nicole! I love a salty and sweet combo too!
Liz says
This is perfect for Halloween! Super fun and festive.
AshleyFreeman says
Isn't it so fun! We love this for Halloween!