Reindeer Popcorn

Santa’s reindeer called and they are tired of Santa getting cookies while they get carrots. They want some of this delicious M&M and sprinkle filled reindeer popcorn for Christmas!

Like every other kid on the planet, mine love putting out homemade cookies and milk for Santa every year by the fireplace. And like all parents I enjoy eating those cookies, especially when they are homemade! I have to say, I for one don’t enjoy taking a giant bite out of a raw carrot that they leave for the reindeer, especially when they leave one for each reindeer… reindeer popcorn is a tasty alternative.

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Sweet and Salty Reindeer Popcorn

I devised this delicious sweet and salty reindeer popcorn as a way to keep Santa’s reindeer happy (aka my husband and I) and my kids love making it, its super simple! We like to make a big batch on Christmas Eve and enjoy it while watching a Christmas movie that evening all snuggled up together. This popcorn is great with Hot Cocoa!

Reindeer Popcorn Ingredients

To make this reindeer popcorn, you will need:

• Salted popped popcorn – whether you pop it in the microwave or on the stovetop you want to use freshly popped popcorn that has been salted. A little salt goes a long way in balancing the sweetness of the candy melts and m&ms.
• Vanilla Candy Melts – I like to use candy melts instead of white chocolate since I find that they stick to the popcorn better and wont melt all over your hands as you are eating the popcorn. I used Wilton Candy Melts, they are available at most grocery and large retail stores.
• Christmas sprinkles – I love festive sprinkles, I use these, but you can use any you like!
• Festive M&Ms – since we are using candy melts it’s nice to get some real chocolate flavor and red and green M&Ms dop a great job of that while also adding a festive flair.

Steps to Make Sweet Popcorn

Once you have the ingredients, use the following method

Melt the Melts. Melt the vanilla candy melts in the microwave in 30 second intervals stirring frequently.

Drizzle and toss. Drizzle half the popcorn in the candy melts and then the other half making sure you coat well. Pour the mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet or countertop and add the sprinkles and M&Ms tossing to coat evenly.

Set and enjoy. Let the popcorn sit for a few minutes so the candy melts can set. Once they are no longer wet to the touch break into pieces and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks for perfect Reindeer Popcorn

Let it set. You want to make sure you let the candy melts set before trying to eat the reindeer popcorn. If it isn’t allowed to set it will be really messy to eat and the M&Ms and sprinkles will fall off.

Don’t overmix. While you want to make sure the popcorn is well coated in the candy melts you dont want to overmix. If you overmix your candy melts will start to harden and the sprinkles and M&Ms won’t stick well.

Use nonstick. To make cleaning easier, its best to use parchment paper and a spatula. Candy melts will stick to wooden and metal surfaces and it’s much harder to clean the melts off them.

Holiday Snack Popcorn FAQs

If you have leftovers let it cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.

Plain air-popped or lightly salted popcorn works best so it doesn’t overpower the sweet toppings.

Yes, always remove unpopped kernels to avoid biting into hard pieces once everything is mixed together.

Yes, you can make it 1–2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container at room temperature.

Make sure the popcorn is completely cool and dry before adding melted chocolate or coatings.

Mini pretzels, red and green candies, M&Ms®, peanuts, and holiday sprinkles are popular choices.

No, it’s best stored at room temperature unless your kitchen is very warm.

What to Enjoy with Reindeer Chow

This popcorn pairs well with fruit salad, hot chocolate, or a cheese plate for a movie night.

Check out some of my favorite Christmas recipes with your popcorn:

Boneless Ribeye Roast Recipe

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Muddy Buddy Cookies

Easy Champagne Fizz Cocktail

To see all our Christmas cookie recipes for Santa click here!

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