Easy Chocolate Popcorn Trail Mix (Sweet and Salty Recipe)

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Semisweet chocolate drizzled popcorn topped with peanuts, pretzels, and Reese’s Pieces for the ultimate sweet and salty trail mix. Make a huge batch, you won’t want to share!

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Make this Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn at your own risk, because once you start eating it, you won’t be able to stop!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Hi friends!! How are you? I hope you’re doing well, getting outside, getting a tan, and some Vitamin D!

Summer finally arrived here in Maine, and we are pleased as punch.

It finally got hot enough to put the air conditioners in! We had a couple of days this past week where it was almost 90º and humid to the max.

A typical summer around here is always humid, and we hover in the high 70’s and low 80’s most of the time, which is not unbearable.

But on the days we hit 90º?

YUCK.

No one’s doing anything. We all order pizza and go to the ocean or the lake for the day.

Regardless of whether you’re going to the beach or keeping the A/C company, you’re going to need some sustenance–at least until the pizza you ordered arrives.

How about some popcorn?

Chocolate drizzled popcorn to be more precise.

It doesn’t require any baking. Bonus.

You can make it the night before. Double bonus.

It’s a combo of sweet, salty, crunchy and chocolate peanuty goodness. Triple bonus.

I think I’ve made my case.

So treat yourself. Make a gallon of this chocolate-y, peanut-y, popcorn-y delight, and park yourself in front of the A/C or your favorite body of water and enjoy the summer heat!

What Popcorn Should I Use For This Recipe?

Let me just tell you, I am obsessed with popcorn! It’s me and D’s favorite snack. I think we eat it at least once or twice a week. I’ll even make a lunch out of it by serving a big bowl with a smoothie or alongside a PB&J.

When I make my homemade stovetop popcorn (instructions listed in the next section) I use either white or yellow kernels, there’s no taste difference that I’ve noticed.

Of course, you can make your life easier and use microwaved popcorn, or buy it already popped! Whatever works for you works for me!

When using microwave or pre-popped corn, just try to get no butter and no salt added. If you can’t find unsalted, no sweat, just omit the salt in the recipe.

If you like your snacks super sweet, using some kettle corn would be a great variation! You may need to omit the salt in the recipe, but just taste the popcorn after you’ve coated it in the white candy melts and season from there!

How To Make Popcorn On The Stove Top

Homemade popcorn is super easy and super fun to make! I highly recommend giving it a try if you’ve never done it before!

Here’s how I do it:

Makes 8 Cups

What You’ll Need:

• 1/3 cup white or yellow popcorn kernels
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• A heavy bottomed saucepot with a tight fitting lid (I use a 4qt size pot)

Instructions:

Pour olive oil into the bottom of your pot.

Add your popcorn to the oil and swirl it around, making sure the kernels are coated with the oil.

Set the pot on the burner, put the lid on and turn the burner to high heat.

Once the popcorn starts to pop, give the pot a shake every few seconds to prevent burning on the bottom.

*I have an electric stove, so I actually lift the pot off the burner to give it a good shake. Make sure to keep the lid on the pot!

Once the popcorn starts to pop furiously, turn off the heat and continue to pop and shake until there is a 1-2 second delay in between each pop.

Remove pot from the burner and pour the popcorn into a bowl. At this point you can add any topping you’d like!

How To Make Peanut & Pretzel Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn

Ingredients

Makes approximately 10 cups

• 8 cups of popped popcorn
• 10 oz of white melting wafers
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup of roasted and lightly salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 1cup of mini pretzel twists, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup of Reese’s Pieces
• 1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

Line a sheet pan or cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Pour popped popcorn into a large bowl and set aside.

Pour the white melting wafers into a heat safe bowl, and place the bowl over a pan of steaming water. Don’t allow the water to boil, keep the burner on low. Stir and melt until smooth.

Alternatively, pour the melting wafers into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir and keep adding 15 seconds until the wafers are completely melted and smooth.

Pour the melted candy coating over the popcorn. Moving quickly, stir until all the popcorn is evenly coated.

Pour the coated popcorn onto the prepared sheet pan and spread out to an even, thin layer.

Sprinkle on the salt, the pretzels, and the chopped peanuts.

Using a spoon or a fork, drizzle the melted semisweet chocolate chips over the top of the peanut, pretzel, popcorn mixture.

Immediately sprinkle on the Reese’s Pieces.

Give a gentle press to ensure the toppings adhere to the chocolate.

Allow to sit at room temp until set–about 2 hours.

Break into chunks and store in an airtight container.

Other Fun Additions and Variations

This is my favorite thing about this popcorn recipe–customization. The candy coated popcorn is your base and as far as toppings go, you’re only limited to your imagination! Here are just a few combos and ideas you can use to blow the top off any movie night snack!

• Really go nuts with the chocolate peanut butter theme and add some peanut M&Ms and peanut butter cups to the party.
• Cookies and cream- add chopped up Oreos and cookies n’ cream candy bars to the top instead of the peanuts and pretzels.
• Customize for the holidays or special occasions! For Valentine’s Day, add pink, white, and red M&Ms instead of Reese’s Pieces. Change up the colors of the M&Ms to match your party theme or holiday!
• Cookie Monster Popcorn- add chopped up Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, and M&Ms for a cookie popcorn explosion!

Share the love of chocolate drizzled popcorn with friends!

I love, love, love giving this popcorn as a gift to people!

I’ve made a Valentine’s Day version for my husband and a Christmas version for my sister! It’s so easy to swap out or add various toppings to customize your gift to suit the occasion or recipient.

This popcorn makes a great addition to any gift basket and dessert table. It’s also a perfect holiday or thank you gift!

This popcorn is also really easy to double. So you can make a ton to bring to your next pot luck or party–that is if you don’t eat it all yourself first!

Bonus, it travels really well, stores really well, and comes together super fast.

Tools You May Find Helpful

The saucepan I use

Popcorn Kernels

My Favorite Candy Melts–They taste just like white chocolate!

Some More Family-Friendly Recipes You May Like

Perfect Cheesecake Squares

From Scratch Birthday Cake Cookies

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Valentine’s Day Popcorn Snack Mix

Trail Mix Without Nuts

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