Christmas Grinch Popcorn Recipe – Quick and Easy Festive Snack

Looking for a holiday snack that’s as fun as it is delicious? This Christmas Grinch Popcorn Recipe is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and delightfully festive. With its bright green candy coating, fluffy popcorn base, and pops of red from candy hearts and sprinkles, this treat looks straight out of Whoville!

Perfect for movie nights, Christmas parties, or classroom snacks, Grinch Popcorn brings a touch of magic (and a little mischief) to your holiday season. The best part? It’s ready in less than 20 minutes and requires just a few simple ingredients.

🎄 Why You’ll Love Christmas Grinch Popcorn

• Quick & Easy: Ready in under 20 minutes—no baking required!
• Fun for Kids: A great activity for little helpers to mix and decorate.
• Festive Look: Bright green color with red accents inspired by the Grinch’s growing heart.
• Perfect for Parties: Sweet, crunchy, and totally crowd-pleasing.
• Customizable: You can add candies, pretzels, or marshmallows for a twist.

This cheerful popcorn is perfect for sharing during The Grinch Who Stole Christmas movie night—or anytime you want a little holiday cheer!

🍿 What is Christmas Grinch Popcorn?

Christmas Grinch Popcorn is a fun holiday spin on traditional candied popcorn. The popcorn is coated with melted green candy melts or white chocolate tinted with green food coloring, then sprinkled with red and white toppings for a festive look.

It’s a little sweet, a little salty, and completely irresistible. The red heart candies are a nod to the Grinch’s heart that grew three sizes—a cute and tasty touch that ties the theme together.

🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this festive treat:

• 10 cups popped popcorn (about ½ cup kernels or 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn)
• 1 cup green candy melts (or white chocolate chips + green food coloring)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or shortening (for smooth melting)
• ¼ cup mini marshmallows (optional, for extra sweetness)
• ¼ cup red heart candies or red M&Ms
• 2 tablespoons red and white sprinkles

Optional add-ins:

• Crushed candy canes for a minty crunch
• Pretzel sticks for a sweet-and-salty combo
• Mini white chocolate chips for added texture

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Popcorn
Pop your popcorn using an air popper or microwave. Remove any unpopped kernels and spread the popcorn evenly on a large parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. Melt the Candy Coating
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the green candy melts and coconut oil. Heat in 20-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and creamy.

If using white chocolate, melt it the same way, then add 3–5 drops of green gel food coloring and mix well.

3. Coat the Popcorn
Drizzle the melted candy coating evenly over the popcorn. Using a spatula or gloved hands, toss gently to coat all pieces. Work quickly before the chocolate sets!

4. Add Toppings
While the coating is still warm, sprinkle red heart candies, marshmallows, and sprinkles over the top.

5. Set and Serve
Allow the popcorn to sit at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes, or until the candy coating hardens. Break into clusters and serve immediately, or store in an airtight container.

Christmas Grinch Popcorn

A quick and easy festive popcorn treat coated in green candy melts, sprinkled with red hearts, and perfect for holiday movie nights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 10 cups

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Calories: 130

Ingredients

  

Popcorn Base

• 10 cups popped popcorn plain, no butter

Candy Coating

• 1 cup green candy melts or white chocolate with green food coloring
• 1 tbsp coconut oil for smooth melting

Toppings

• 0.25 cup mini marshmallows optional
• 0.25 cup red heart candies or red M&Ms
• 2 tbsp sprinkles red and white

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Spatula
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper

Method

 

1. Pop the popcorn and spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy melts with coconut oil in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
3. Drizzle melted candy over popcorn and toss gently to coat.
4. While coating is still warm, sprinkle with red heart candies, marshmallows, and sprinkles.
5. Let sit for 10–15 minutes until candy coating hardens, then break into clusters.
6. Store in an airtight container or package for gifting.

Notes

Customize with candy canes, pretzels, or M&Ms for added texture and color.

🎁 Serving & Packaging Ideas

This festive popcorn isn’t just a snack—it’s a giftable treat! Here are a few creative ways to present it:

• Cellophane Bags: Fill with Grinch Popcorn and tie with a red ribbon and tag reading “Merry Grinchmas!”
• Mason Jars: Layer popcorn with red candies for a decorative effect.
• Popcorn Cones: Wrap in festive paper cones for parties or classroom snacks.
• Movie Night Bowls: Serve in themed bowls while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

🌈 Flavor Variations

Once you’ve mastered the classic version, try these fun twists!

1. Minty Grinch Popcorn:
Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the candy coating and toss with crushed candy canes.

2. Salty-Sweet Mix:
Add pretzel sticks or salted peanuts for a delicious contrast.

3. Marshmallow Magic:
Drizzle melted marshmallows over the popcorn for a gooey, rice-krispie-like version.

4. White Chocolate Grinch Mix:
Use white chocolate chips and mix in red and green mini M&Ms instead of sprinkles.

5. Gluten-Free Option:
Use certified gluten-free popcorn and candy melts to make it allergy-friendly.

🎬 Perfect For:

• Christmas Movie Nights: Themed after The Grinch, of course!
• Holiday Parties: Colorful and easy to serve in bulk.
• Gift Exchanges: A cute, budget-friendly treat that travels well.
• School Snacks: Easy for kids to eat and share.
• Cookie Trays: Adds a fun, crunchy element to sweet assortments.

🎨 Tips for Perfect Grinch Popcorn

• Use fresh popcorn. Stale popcorn won’t hold up under the candy coating.
• Work quickly. Candy melts set fast, so mix and top immediately.
• Line your tray. Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Avoid overheating. Candy melts can seize if overheated—stir often.
• Double batch it! It disappears fast—make extra for gifting and snacking.

🍬 Nutritional Information (Per Cup)

• Calories: 130
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 75mg
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 12g

❤️ Fun Fact: The Grinch’s Heart and Holiday Spirit

Dr. Seuss’ beloved character The Grinch has become an icon of holiday transformation. His small heart grew “three sizes that day”—just like this snack, which starts small and grows into something joyful and full of love! Grinch Popcorn captures that spirit in every sweet bite—because sharing treats is the best part of the holidays.

🎉 Why You’ll Make This Every Year

Once you see how quick, colorful, and crowd-pleasing this Grinch Popcorn Recipe is, it’ll become a holiday tradition. It’s easy enough for weeknight fun and fancy enough for Christmas parties. Plus, it’s one of the few desserts that’s both adorable and addictive!

So grab your popcorn, melt your candy coating, and get ready to spread some holiday cheer—Grinch-style!