Christmas Crunch is irresistibly crunchy, sweet, and salty. This gluten free treat takes minutes to prepare, and even less time to devour.
“Obsessed. I have family who ‘doesn’t like white chocolate and they couldn’t stop RAVING about it! Getting ready to make the next batch to share with friends and coworkers now!”
We’ve all given up the pretense that we’re wearing, like, actual pants at this point in the holiday season, right? Me and my leggings are thoroughly enjoying our freedom by eating copious amounts of Christmas Crunch!
Say hello to the most addicting little treat you will likely ever taste. Christmas Crunch is a crispy, crunchy, salty, perfectly sweet snack mix that’s perfect for holiday parties or sharing with friends and family.
My husband said I’m no longer allowed to make it because anytime I do, it’s almost impossible to stop eating!
Watch How to Make It
Christmas Crunch Puffcorn = the Ultimate Holiday Treat
Christmas Crunch is buttery, crispy puffcorn paired with pretzels, peanuts, melted white chocolate, and holiday M&M’s and sprinkles.
The result is a gorgeous, totally addictive snack mix with the perfect balance of salty and sweet. It’s truly irresistible.
Perfect for Holiday Gift Giving
Christmas Crunch makes for the most delicious and thoughtful holiday gift. Every December my kids and I make several batches to package in festive treat bags tied with a pretty ribbon, then deliver to neighbors with our family Christmas card. It’s so fun!
The holidays are a great time to show the treasured people in your life that you care, and nothing says it quite as well as a handmade treat.
Ingredients Needed
For as gorgeous as this snack mix is, it requires just a handful of ingredients and can be made in just 10 minutes. The hardest part is waiting for the melted chocolate to set up. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Puffcorn: is a delicious and buttery tasting puffed corn snack that’s the perfect sturdy base for mixing and topping with lots of tasty goodies. I find it holds up way better than popcorn to stirring, and the buttery flavor compliments the sweetness of the white chocolate and candy.
- Pretzel Twists: I love Snyders Gluten Free Pretzel Twists for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite brand. If you don’t need to eat GF, you can use regular mini pretzel twists.
- Peanuts: I like roasted peanuts, which again, compliments the white chocolate and M&M candies. Peanut M&Ms are one of my favorite treats, and peanuts in the mix really drive home that flavor.
- White Chocolate Chips + Oil: I adore white chocolate, especially around the holidays. Such a beautiful, buttery vanilla flavor and color. I melt white chocolate chips with a thwack of vegetable oil or coconut oil which renders it nice and silky.
- Holiday M&Ms: the bold red and green candies add a festive holiday touch and chocolaty flavor to this snack mix.
- Gluten Free Sprinkles: Sweetapolita makes really pretty, gluten free red and green sprinkles that make this Christmas Crunch mix sparkle and shine like a Christmas tree!
How To Store Christmas Crunch
After mixing up the Christmas Crunch, there are several ways to store it. With a tight seal, it will last for days on the countertop.
- Store in a baking dish with a tight fitting lid.
- Store in gallon size Ziplock bags with the air pressed out.
- Scoop into treat bags then tie with a twist tie, and then a pretty ribbon.
Whether you serve this white chocolate coated treat at a holiday party, share with friends and family, or whip up to have as a tasty treat at home – just be sure to make it this holiday season!
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Pin ItHow to Make Christmas Crunch
Start with a bag of puffcorn. At the time of this writing, Old Dutch brand is gluten free (and amazing!) We buy this all year round because it’s just so darn good.
Add the puffcorn to an EXTREMELY LARGE bowl with gluten free pretzels and peanuts. If you don’t have an XL bowl then divy the ingredients into two large bowls.
Next add white chocolate chips and a thwack of coconut oil or vegetable oil to a microwave safe bowl then heat and stir in 30 second increments until the chocolate is smooth and melted. If you have a coconut allergy, or don’t have it in the house, vegetable oil is a great swap.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the puffcorn mixture then use a spatula to fold and toss the ingredients until everything is evenly coated.
Now comes the fun part! Pour the mixture onto parchment paper, wax paper, or a couple of silpats, then spread out and sprinkle on holiday M&Ms and sprinkles. This is the super fun, mad scientist part, so add as little or as much as your heart desires. Kids love this part!
Let the chocolate set then dig in! Like I said, Christmas Crunch is a spectacular treat to deliver to friends and family. Scoop into treat bags or tins then share the holiday magic. I hope you love eating this special Christmas treat – enjoy!
More Gluten Free Holiday Treats
- Gluten Free Scotcheroos
- Gluten Free Shortbread
- Chocolate Peppermint Covered Pretzels
- Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
- Gluten Free Kiss Cookies
- Buckeyes
- Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow
- Gluten Free Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
- 10 Gluten Free Christmas Cookies and Treats
Ingredients
- 8 cups gluten free puffcorn, Old Dutch brand recommended
- 2 cups gluten free pretzels, Snyders GF recommended
- 1-1/2 cups dry-roasted peanuts
- 12 oz bag gluten free white chocolate chips
- 1 Tablespoon coconut or vegetable oil
- 11 oz bag Holiday M&Ms
- gluten free holiday sprinkles
Directions
- Spread a couple sheets of parchment paper, wax paper, or two silpats on the countertop then set aside.
- Add puffcorn, pretzels, and peanuts to a very large bowl – if you don’t have an XL bowl, use two large bowls – then set aside.
- Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl then microwave for 40 seconds and stir. Microwave for 30 seconds then stir. If chocolate chips aren’t completely smooth, continue microwaving in 10 seconds increments, stirring between increments, until completely melted.
- Drizzle chocolate over puffcorn mixture then gently fold with a spatula until everything is evenly coated. Spread mixture out onto prepared surface then sprinkle with M&Ms (may not use whole bag) and press gently so they adhere to the warm chocolate. Add sprinkles then let cool completely. Transfer to treat bags or an airtight container.
Notes
- Feel free to freeze this for longer storage!
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Dang I really want to make this recipe and I’ve looked everywhere for puff corn without flavoring. Nowhere to be found. Can I use Pirates Booty instead?
Oh darn it!! There’s a “Chester’s” brand (the Cheetoh Chester) of Puffcorn that you might try and find. Unfortunately I don’t know if the cheddar flavor in the Pirate’s Booty would work well with the white chocolate, but if you think the flavors sound good together, then you could definitely give it a go!
hello kristin, this looks delicious! we have a nut allergy in our family, so any idea on what to substitute for peanuts for similar texture and/or taste? thank you. (=
Hi Jen! You could use sunflower seeds, or whatever you typically use to replace peanuts in recipes. Or you can leave that part out — it will still be super delicious!
They loved them!
So glad to hear it!!
I made this for co-workers and it was a hit. I had to make several batches. I wonder if a trash bag could be used for mixing a large batch??
If you have a squeaky clean tub (like one for organizing) I think that would work well!
What peanuts do you use? We did the sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms for my annual baking day with grandkids. They loved them!! I have one grandson with celiac.
I’m so glad to hear they loved the cookies, Carrye! I use Fisher peanuts – the kind with just peanuts and salt in the nutrition label!
I looked up puff corn online and they want $42 for two bags. needless to say, I won’t be making this recipe, even though it looks delicious!
Walmart sells puffed corn snacks for $2.50 a bag.
Pirates Booty is also another “puffcorn” Some has white cheddar/ranch seasoning on it, but I like the sweet with savory mix.
Oh shoot! I want to say I saw a similar product at Trader Joe’s if you have one of these near you!
Has anyone used other brands of the puffed corn? I cannot find that brand where I live. Also we eat dye free-especially for our son. Are there any substitutions for the M & M’s and colored sprinkles?
You can use whatever dye-free candies you typically use — this is a very flexible recipe!
Could you eMail your Christmas Crunch recipe and how you make it
Please. It sounds delicious and
Perfect for Christmas Eve?
Hi Jane, you bet!
Can you make this ahead of time and freeze?
Hi hi! I have never frozen puff corn so I can’t so for sure how it would hold up to being thawed.
Made this today with my teenage daughter and we love it! We substituted cashews for the peanuts because we like those better. We also used the new white chocolate pretzel M&Ms since they matched our sprinkles :)
Ooo, LOVE cashews – it sounds divine!
We made these for 2 different functions and they couldn’t believe it was gluten free and wanted more!!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it’s a keeper and can be used anytime not just for the holiday’s!
YAY!! So glad it was a hit, Stacie!!
Puff corn is dairy free!! I used Enjoy Life chocolate chunks instead of M and Ms, and the allergy friendly white chocolate from Walmart. Delicious!!
Love the idea for the M&M swap! We used Enjoy Life’s new white chocolate chips for a batch this year and it was great! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Obsessed. I have family who ‘doesn’t like white chocolate and they couldn’t stop RAVING about it! Getting ready to make the next batch to share with friends and coworkers now!
Woo!! Love a white chocolate convert story! So glad it was a hit – happy holidays! :)