This Christmas Munch Popcorn recipe combines buttery popcorn, white chocolate, festive M&Ms, cake mix, and sprinkles into the ultimate holiday snack!
(And how it became my holiday life-saver… accidentally.)
You know that one recipe that becomes a tradition, even though it kind of happened by accident? This Christmas Munch Popcorn is mine. A few years ago, I was knee-deep in wrapping paper, half the gifts still in bags, and my kids had just used all my gift tags for “art.” Naturally. I had promised to bring a dessert to the Christmas Eve gathering. “Something fun,” my sister-in-law said. (No pressure, right?)
I panicked. Opened the pantry. Popcorn? Check. Leftover white chocolate melts? Sure. Sprinkles from decorating cookies with the kids? Absolutely. M&Ms hiding behind the coffee? Jackpot. I tossed them all together, crossed my fingers, and called it Christmas Munch. And you know what? People loved it. They asked for the recipe, as if I had planned it all along. I didn’t have the heart to tell them I was just trying to avoid a last-minute trip to the store.
Now? I make it every year. Sometimes twice. Sometimes three times because it magically disappears. Funny how that works.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Munch Popcorn Recipe?
(And why you should probably make a double batch.)
Let me just put it this way: if you like snacks that are sweet, salty, crunchy, and ridiculously easy to throw together, you’re gonna fall for this Christmas Munch Popcorn. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up eating handfuls of it before it even makes it to the serving bowl.
It’s the perfect balance of salty popcorn and creamy white chocolate, with cake mix giving it this sneaky little birthday-cake flavor that makes you feel like a kid again. And the sprinkles? Pure joy. Not to mention it looks so festive, you’ll look like you planned it weeks ago… even if you whipped it up while juggling gift-wrapping and rewatching Home Alone (yes, again).
Ingredient Notes:
(A little real talk on what works—and what’s optional.)
I keep this simple because I have enough going on in December without complicated snacks. Here’s the lowdown:
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Popcorn
I usually pop a bag of microwave popcorn. Something lightly buttered and salted. You need that little hit of salt to balance the sweetness. (Learned that the hard way when I used plain popcorn one year—meh.) And please, fish out the un-popped kernels. Dental drama is not part of the holiday fun. -
White Cake Mix
Okay, I know some people get weirded out by eating cake mix straight. Totally fair. You can toast it in the oven for a few minutes if you want to be extra careful. Me? I live on the edge. That cake batter vibe is everything here. I’ve used vanilla, funfetti, and one time I even threw in spice cake mix… it worked. -
White Chocolate (or almond bark, or candy melts)
Use what you’ve got. Almond bark melts easy and smooth, but white chocolate chips work in a pinch. I once used a combo because I didn’t have enough of either, and nobody noticed. -
Holiday M&Ms
Red and green are classic. But last year I found some with little Christmas trees on them and nearly squealed in the store. Use whatever makes you smile. -
Christmas Sprinkles
This is your “look how festive I am” moment. I lean into it hard. Red, green, gold stars, snowflakes—if it’s sparkly, it’s in.
How To Make Christmas Munch Popcorn?
(I could say “easy as pie,” but honestly this is easier.)
Step 1: Line It Up
Grab a big baking sheet and line it with parchment or wax paper. This is where all the magic happens.
Step 2: The Big Toss
Toss your popcorn, cake mix, and M&Ms into a giant zip-top bag. (Or a mixing bowl if your kids “borrowed” all your bags for crafts. Ask me how I know.) Give it a good shake or stir. Pretend you’re one of those fancy chefs.
Step 3: Chocolate Drizzle—First Round
Spread the popcorn mix onto your baking sheet. Drizzle half of your melted chocolate over it. Don’t worry about being perfect. This is supposed to be messy fun.
Step 4: Sprinkle Like It’s Snowing
Immediately add half your sprinkles while the chocolate’s still wet. It’s like decorating cookies… only faster and way less cleanup.
Step 5: Repeat
Want To Save This Recipe?
Drizzle the rest of the chocolate, sprinkle again, and stand back to admire your work. Bonus points if you throw on a little extra for fun.
Step 6: Let It Set
Give it about 30 minutes at room temp, or pop it in the fridge if you’re impatient (I usually am). Once it’s firm, break it up into snackable chunks.
Step 7: Try Not to Eat It All Yourself
Not kidding. Every time I make this, I promise I’ll just have one piece while I bag it up. And every time… yeah.
Storage Options:
(Hide it if you want it to last.)
This Christmas Munch Popcorn keeps well in an airtight container for about a week. I usually make mine the night before a party, stash it in gallon bags, and hope nobody finds it before I’m ready. (Spoiler: they always find it.) You can make it a few days in advance, and it stays crunchy and fresh. Just keep it away from heat… unless you like melty M&Ms sticking to your hands. No judgment.
Variations and Substitutions:
(Fun to play around with—especially if you’ve got a half-empty pantry.)
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Different Chocolate
Swap the white chocolate for milk or dark. Or do half-and-half if you’re indecisive like me. -
Candy Swap
No M&Ms? Try Reese’s Pieces, mini marshmallows, or crushed candy canes. I threw in peanut butter chips once. Solid choice. -
Nutty Version
Add some roasted almonds or cashews for extra crunch (and protein—so it’s healthy, right?). -
More Cereal
Add some Rice Chex, Cheerios, or even pretzel sticks. Anything crunchy works. -
Seasonal Spins
Make this for other holidays! Red and pink sprinkles for Valentine’s. Orange and black for Halloween. You get where I’m going.
What to Serve with Christmas Munch Popcorn?
(Or how to make snack time feel fancy.)
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Hot Cocoa
Classic. I’m talking extra marshmallows and a candy cane stir stick if you’re feeling fancy. -
Spiced Cider or Mulled Wine
For the grown-up crowd. Nothing like sipping something warm while munching something sweet. -
Holiday Movies
This is mandatory. Put on Elf, The Grinch, or Love Actually (whatever your vibe is). Snack your heart out. -
Gift Bags
Scoop some into cute bags, tie them with ribbon, and you’ve got instant gifts. I hand these out at school pickup… and instantly become the favorite mom.
Frequently Asked Questions:
(Yep, these are the questions I actually get.)
Can I make this ahead of time?
Totally. I’ve made it 3-4 days ahead of a party, and it was still great. Just keep it sealed tight!
Do I have to use cake mix?
Nope! But it adds a little extra sweetness and flavor. If you’re not into it, try dusting with powdered sugar instead.
Can I use air-popped popcorn?
Yep. Just make sure it’s salted a bit to balance the sweet. I’ve done plain once and it was… meh.
And there you go—my go-to, can’t-fail Christmas Munch Popcorn. It’s messy, sweet, and ridiculously addictive. If you make it, let me know how it goes! Did you add something wild? Did your kids eat half the batch before it cooled? Spill it. I wanna hear!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Keep the Flavor Coming – Try These:
Christmas Munch
Ingredients
- 8-10 c lightly buttered popped, and salted popcorn (homemade or microwave)
- 1/2 c white cake mix powder
- 16 oz white chocolate melted (or almond bark or candy melts)
- 1/2 c Christmas sprinkles
- 1 c holiday M&M candies
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan, with parchment or waxed paper.
- In a bag mix together the popcorn, M&Ms and cake mix powder. Shake the bag thoroughly to ensure a coating on the popcorn.
- Spread the popcorn mixture onto the pan.
- Drizzle half of the melted chocolate over it then gently toss. Sprinkle half of the Christmas sprinkles on top. Repeat this process with the remaining chocolate and sprinkles.
- Let the mixture cool and harden, for 30 minutes.
- Once set break up your munch into pieces. Store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh and enjoy them whenever you like!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
