Crunchy Caramel & M&M’s® Popcorn Mix

Crunchy Caramel & M&M’s® Popcorn Mix

The perfect family game night NEEDS the perfect game night snack. Something quick, easy to grab, and that won’t get your hands sticky and ruin the game. This Crunchy Caramel & M&M’s® Popcorn Mix offers something for everyone crunch, chocolate, caramel, and salt without a gooey mess!

There’s nothing quite like the combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy in a single snack. This Crunchy Caramel and M&M Popcorn Mix is the perfect treat for movie nights, parties, or anytime you crave a delicious, homemade snack. Packed with caramel-coated popcorn, chow mein noodles, nuts, and a generous mix of Peanut and Pretzel M&M’s®, this recipe is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

What You Need to Make Crunch Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients

• 1 cup popcorn kernels
• 1 cup chow mein noodles
• 1/2 cup almond slivers
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts
• 1 1/2 tablespoons large crystal salt
• 1 cup Peanut M&M’s®
• 1 cup Pretzel M&M’s®

For the Caramel:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup water

How to Make Crunchy Caramel Popcorn

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Pop the Popcorn:
   • Pop the popcorn kernels using your preferred method and place them in a large mixing bowl.
3. Make the Caramel:
   • In a thick-bottomed pot, combine the brown sugar, butter, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is well combined.
4. Combine Ingredients:
   • Pour the caramel over the popped popcorn, chow mein noodles, almond slivers, and mixed nuts. Stir until everything is evenly coated with the caramel.
5. Season and Bake:
   • Sprinkle the large crystal salt over the caramel-coated popcorn mixture.
   • Split the mixture onto two parchment-lined or baking mat-lined cookie sheets.
   • Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes to ensure even baking.
6. Cool and Add M&M’s®:
   • Remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
   • Stir in the Peanut M&M’s® and Pretzel M&M’s®.
7. Serve and Enjoy:
   • Once the popcorn mix is completely cool, transfer it to a serving bowl and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• Popcorn: Use high-quality popcorn kernels for the best results. You can also use pre-popped, unsalted popcorn to save time.
• Caramel Coating: Ensure the caramel reaches a smooth, syrupy consistency before pouring it over the popcorn mixture. This will help evenly coat the ingredients.
• Stirring: Stirring the popcorn mix every 10-15 minutes while baking ensures even coating and prevents burning.
• Cooling: Allow the popcorn mix to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. This will help maintain its crunchiness.

Serving Suggestions

• Movie Nights: This mix is the perfect companion for a family movie night. Serve it in individual bowls or a large shared bowl.
• Parties: Pack the mix into small treat bags or jars for party favors or a fun snack station.
• Gift Idea: Fill decorative tins with the popcorn mix and give them as holiday or birthday gifts.

Variations and Substitutions

• Nut-Free: If you have a nut allergy, substitute the nuts with additional chow mein noodles or pretzels. And skip the M&M’s.
• Different M&M’s®: Feel free to experiment with different types of M&M’s®, such as Milk Chocolate, Crispy, or Caramel M&M’s®.
• Extra Crunch: Add pretzels, cereal, or additional nuts for extra texture and flavor.

Other Great Recipes

• Caramel Moose Munch Fancy Popcorn
• Caramel Popcorn
• Popcorn Flavor Shakers
• Valentines Day Popcorn Snack Mix
• White Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Popcorn
• Trail Mix
• Neapolitan Road Trip Snack Mix

Crunchy Caramel & M&M's® Popcorn Mix

The perfect family game night NEEDS the perfect game night snack. Something quick, easy to grab, and that won't get your hands sticky and ruin the game. 

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Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: caramel, game night, m&ms, popcorn mix, snack

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Calories: 5296kcal

Author: Rachael

Ingredients

• 1 cup popcorn kernels
• 1 cup chow mein noodles
• 1/2 cup almond slivers
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts
• 1 1/2 TBS salt large crystal
• 1 cup Peanut M&M's®
• 1 cup Pretzel M&M's®

Carmel

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F
• Pop the popcorn
• In a thick bottom pot, bring butter, brown sugar, and water to a boil
• Pour over popped corn, chow mien, and nuts, and give it a stir
• Sprinkle large crystal salt over the top
• Split popcorn mixture onto two parchment or baking mat lined cookie sheets
• Bake at 300 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes
• Remove from oven, let cool for about 5 minutes
• Stir in M&M's® and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 5296kcal | Carbohydrates: 741g | Protein: 98g | Fat: 226g | Saturated Fat: 97g | Cholesterol: 275mg | Sodium: 13994mg | Potassium: 1784mg | Fiber: 56g | Sugar: 354g | Vitamin A: 3300IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 705mg | Iron: 26.2mg

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

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