Skip to content
H
Haunts HalloweenVintage Folklore & Tales

Snacks & Party Food

Trick-or-Treat Caramel Snack Mix

Popcorn, pretzels, and candy corn bound in a buttery caramel that hardens to a shatter. Make a double batch — it disappears.

Trick-or-Treat Caramel Snack Mix — Halloween recipe
Prep time
35 min
Serves
12
Difficulty
Easy
Save & shareEmail

Popcorn, pretzels and peanuts bound in a buttery caramel that bakes to a shatter, tossed with candy corn once cool. Make a double batch; a single one never survives the evening.

Ingredients

  • 10 cups popped popcorn
  • 2 cups mini pretzels
  • 1 cup salted peanuts (optional)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup candy corn, added at the end

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 250°F (120°C). Toss the popcorn, pretzels, and peanuts in a large roasting pan.
  2. Boil the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt for 4 minutes without stirring.
  3. Off the heat, whisk in the baking soda and vanilla — it will foam pale and light.
  4. Pour over the popcorn mixture and fold until everything is coated.
  5. Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15, then spread on parchment to cool.
  6. Break into clusters and toss with the candy corn once fully cool.

Why it works & making it ahead

The baking soda is what makes the caramel light and crisp instead of chewy — whisk it in off the heat and it will foam pale. Stir every fifteen minutes in the oven so nothing scorches. Add the candy corn only when the mix is stone cold, and store in an airtight tin for up to a week.

Share this recipeEmail

Add the candy corn only after cooling or it melts into a sticky mess.

More like this

All Halloween recipes