Elf Munch Snack Mix Recipe - Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

Elf Munch! The favorite snack inside Santa’s workshop! Want to have some and experience fun and the delicious taste of these festive Elf Munch?

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Everyone knows to leave warm chocolate chip cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve. It is a great way to say “Thank You!” to the big guy coming down the chimney. But this year, we want to appreciate the work of Santa’s little helpers too.

What snack is the favorite inside Santa’s workshops? Elf much, of course!

This sweet-and-salty concoction is a breeze to mix up – in 10 minutes or so you can have a fresh bowlful of Elf Munch for your “little helpers.”

My version of this classic holiday dish starts with kettle corn. I like starting with kettle corn, as opposed to regular popcorn or cereal or some other base, because it already comes with a flavorful glaze that really compliments the marshmallow mixture we will be adding on top.

Speaking of the marshmallow mixture – are you ready for your kitchen to smell like a winter wonderland? Melting the butter and marshmallows together produces a wonderful sweet aroma that is sure to attract any little elves in the area.

Use a large stock pan to melt your butter and mix in your marshmallows. It may seem like your stock pan is excessive for the butter and marshmallows alone, but remember that later you will need to be able to fit all of your kettle corn in there and mix it up!

Once the butter is melted down, add in the six cups of marshmallows and stir. That last part is the key; you need to stir the mixture regularly to avoid it sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning. Remember, too, that you are not trying to boil the mixture. The stovetop just needs to be hot enough to get a good, even melt going. And once the mixture is melted and mixed through, there’s no need to keep cooking it.

When your marshmallow mixture is ready, it is time to add in the green food coloring. Just remember the important principle of using any food coloring: a little goes a long way. You should not expect to need more than two or three drops for this recipe.

If you are interested in a food coloring that does not include some of the nasty chemicals found in other brands, try Watkins brand food coloring. They make their food coloring without any artificial dye but works just as well as other brands.

I use green for my Elf Munch mix – but you can use any color you want. Try making a batch of red and a second batch of green for a really festive looking mixture!

Mixing in the kettle corn is the fun part. Remember, though, that the glaze mixture is hot. Do your best to mix up the kettle corn with two large wooden spoons or other, similar tools.

And once all the kettle corn is evenly coated, candy time is here! M&M’s and Whoppers are a perfect companion, adding little bursts of chocolate flavor into this sweet-and-salty snack mixture.

I love packaging up this yummy treat and giving it away to teachers, friends, relatives, – really anyone will love this holiday snack.

Recipe Notes:

Storage-Make sure you keep your Elf Munch stored in an airtight container until you are ready to serve. It’s not just about protecting your treat from wandering elves! Keeping the mixture from drying out will make sure it’s as delicious as possible when you start to munch.

Candy Choices-I absolutely love M&M’s and Whoppers in this mix. But really, you can try any candies you want. Chocolate candies are best, because they add to the overall flavor profile

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