The Santa Munch Popcorn Snack Mix is a delightful treat for the holidays that combines the sweet indulgence of caramel, M&M candies, and festive sprinkles with the salty crunch of popcorn and pretzels. It's ideal for holiday celebrations, movie evenings, or just lounging around.
Ingredients: 8 cups popped popcorn. 1 cup pretzel twists. 1 cup red and green M&M candies. 1/2 cup unsalted butter. 1/2 cup brown sugar. 2 tablespoons light corn syrup. 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. 1/2 cup holiday-colored sprinkles.
Instructions: Preheat oven to 250F 120C. In a large mixing bowl, combine popped popcorn, pretzel twists, and M&M candies. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and quickly stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. Mixture will bubble up. Pour hot caramel mixture over popcorn mixture, stirring quickly to coat evenly. Spread coated popcorn mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle holiday-colored sprinkles over the top while still warm. Allow mixture to cool completely before breaking into clusters. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.