Red, white, and blue popcorn snack mix is a festive, easy-to-make sweet treat ideal for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or any patriotic gathering. This crunchy, colorful snack combines salty popcorn and pretzels with mini marshmallows, white chocolate, and red and blue candy melts for a crowd-pleasing party mix that comes together in minutes.
This red, white, and blue popcorn snack mix is a quick, no-fuss patriotic treat. Sweet, crunchy, and bright, it’s perfect for cookouts, backyard parties, or holiday snack tables. The recipe is flexible and easy to scale up when you need to feed a crowd.
One Fourth of July trip to Yorktown, Virginia started the tradition for our family. A friend brought this mix to the celebration and it vanished almost as quickly as the fireworks. It was such a hit that we now make it every year—simple, fun, and always popular.
Ingredients
Gather a few simple pantry ingredients. The colored candy melts are often available at craft stores, large retailers, or in baking aisles.
- Popcorn: A 4.4-ounce bag of pre-popped popcorn or freshly popped at home.
- Pretzels: About 2 cups of broken pretzels or pretzel sticks for crunch.
- Mini marshmallows: 1 cup for a soft, chewy contrast.
- White chocolate chips: 12 ounces, melted — or use white chocolate melts or almond bark.
- Red candy melts: For drizzling and color.
- Blue candy melts: For drizzling and color.
- Red, white, and blue chocolate candies: About 1/2 cup (M&M’s-style candies work well).
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles: About 1/2 cup to finish the mix.
How to make red white and blue popcorn snack mix
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Spread the popcorn, broken pretzels, and mini marshmallows across the sheet in an even layer.
- Microwave the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between, until fully melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted white chocolate over the popcorn mixture and gently stir or toss to coat. (If you prefer, mix everything in a large bowl.)
- Allow the white chocolate to set until firm. To speed this, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
- Scatter the red, white, and blue chocolate candies evenly over the coated popcorn.
- Melt the red and blue candy melts in separate bowls according to package instructions (short bursts in the microwave work well). Drizzle each color over the popcorn to create a festive pattern.
- Sprinkle on the red, white, and blue sprinkles. Let the candy drizzles fully harden, then break the mixture into bite-sized clusters and transfer to a serving bowl.
Heather’s recipe tips
- When popping your own popcorn, remove any unpopped kernels for safety.
- If you want the chocolate to set quickly, chill the baking sheet in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
- Work efficiently when drizzling the colored melts—chocolate can set quickly and you’ll want the candies to stick.
- Double or triple the ingredients for larger gatherings.
Variations
This mix is highly customizable. Swap ingredients and colors to suit the occasion.
- Nuts: Add peanuts, almonds, or your favorite nuts for extra crunch.
- Cereal: Stir in Chex, Cheerios, or another cereal to change texture and bulk.
- Different colors: Use other candy melt and candy colors to match any theme or holiday.
Storage instructions
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to preserve crunch and flavor.
More snack mix recipes
- Christmas reindeer crack recipe
- Cupid crunch
- Fall popcorn snack mix
Red White And Blue Popcorn Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 4.4-ounce bag popped popcorn
- 2 cups pretzels, broken up
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips, melted
- 1/2 cup red, white, and blue chocolate candies (like M&M’s)
- 1/2 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Spread popcorn, pretzels, and mini marshmallows on the sheet.
- Microwave the white chocolate in 30-second bursts, stirring until smooth and melted.
- Pour the melted white chocolate over the popcorn mixture and stir to coat.
- Let the chocolate set.
- Sprinkle the chocolate candies over the popcorn.
- Melt red and blue candy melts separately and drizzle over the mixture.
- Add sprinkles, let everything harden, then break into pieces.
Notes
- Remove unpopped kernels if you pop popcorn at home.
- Chill the baking sheet briefly to speed chocolate setting.
- Work quickly when drizzling so the candy adheres while the chocolate is tacky.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is approximate.
Additional Info
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American