This Popcorn Trail Mix is an easy, delicious snack for movie night or a thoughtful edible gift for the holidays. Use the base recipe as written or swap in your favorite additions to create a custom mix.
If you want something a little different for your next movie night, this Popcorn Trail Mix is a great option. It’s simple to make and easy to adapt.
This mix isn’t meant for backpacking, but it’s perfect for snacking at home or packaging into small gifts for friends and family during the holidays.
You can assemble this snack mix quickly using store-bought components and a drizzle of melted chocolate, or take a few extra minutes to make homemade popcorn and roast nuts for a fresher result.
INGREDIENTS
- Sweet & Salty Popcorn – use store-bought or make your own. Plain popcorn (air-popped or stovetop) also works if you prefer.
- Pretzels – any small pretzel shape is fine.
- Roasted Almonds – use store-bought or roast your own. Substitute with your favorite nut if desired.
- Plain M&M’s – or another small candy.
- Milk, Dark, or White Chocolate – melted for drizzling. Use one type or a combination.
- Optional: Cachous balls (silver, red, or green) to make the mix festive if giving as a gift. Add after the chocolate has dried.
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat no equipment is necessary—just a baking tray for assembly. Spread the popcorn, pretzels, almonds and M&M’s across a baking tray in a single layer.
Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl (break into pieces if needed) and melt on high in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and fully melted.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the snack mix using a fork, spoon or spatula. Stir the mixture a couple of times while drizzling to help coat the pieces evenly and avoid large uncoated sections.
Let the chocolate set completely. Once dry, break up any large clusters if you like, then transfer the mix to an airtight container for storage.
TOP TIPS
- Making your own sweet-and-salty popcorn and roasted almonds adds freshness, but store-bought components work well and save time.
- Stir the mix a couple of times while drizzling chocolate to help distribute it evenly across all ingredients.
- If gifting, sprinkle cachous or other decorative candies onto the mix after drizzling and allow the chocolate to set before packaging in individual bags.
MORE POPCORN IDEAS
- Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn
- Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn
- Sweet and Salty Popcorn
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out—leave a comment and a rating. Enjoy!
📋 RECIPE
Popcorn Trail Mix
4
10 minutes
10 minutes
This Popcorn Trail Mix makes a great treat for movie night or as an edible gift for the holidays. Make this popcorn snack mix as is, or use the suggested additions and substitutions to make your own unique mix.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Sweet & Salty Popcorn
- 1 cup Pretzels
- ½ cup Roasted Almonds
- ½ cup M&M’s
- ¼ cup Milk, Dark OR White Chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Mix popcorn, pretzels, almonds and M&M’s together on a baking tray and spread into a single layer.
- Add chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl (break into pieces if needed) and microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the mix using a fork, spatula or spoon. Stir once or twice and drizzle again to ensure even coating.
- Allow the chocolate to dry fully, then transfer the snack mix to an airtight container. Break up any large clumps as needed.
Notes
- Homemade sweet-and-salty popcorn and roasted almonds add freshness, but store-bought will work fine.
- Stir the mix while drizzling to help coat all pieces evenly.
- For gifting, add decorative cachous after the chocolate sets and package into individual bags.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 160Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 114mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 2g