McEwen & Sons Sweet and Salty Popcorn Mix: The Perfect Halloween Treat
Looking for an easy Halloween snack that’s perfectly sweet, salty, and crunchy? This Halloween Popcorn Mix with candy corn and peanuts only takes three simple ingredients and a few minutes to put together. Freshly popped McEwen & Sons Popcorn gives you the crunch, candy corn brings the sweetness, and salty roasted peanuts adds just enough salt to balance everything out. Make a big bowl for a Halloween party, fall festival, football game, tailgate, bonfire, or family movie night. Or fill Mason jars with the mix, tie on a ribbon, and turn it into an easy homemade gift.
The Perfect Sweet and Salty Halloween Snack
Candy corn and salted peanuts are a classic fall combination for a reason. We decided there was one thing that could make the combination even better: McEwen & Sons Popcorn. Adding freshly popped popcorn makes the mix lighter, gives it another layer of crunch, and is a perfect snack you can put out for a crowd.
McEwen & Sons Sweet and Salty Popcorn Mix Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes: About 8 cups
Ingredients
4 cups popped McEwen & Sons Popcorn
2 cups candy corn
2 cups roasted and salted peanuts
2 tablespoons melted butter, optional
¼ teaspoon salt, optional
Instructions
1. Pop the popcorn.
Prepare your McEwen & Sons Popcorn according to the recipe on the back panel of the bag. Once popped, measure out 4 cups of popcorn, remove any unpopped kernels, and allow it to cool completely before assembling the mix.
2. Season the popcorn.
If desired, drizzle the warm popcorn with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and toss to coat. Taste before adding additional salt—the roasted peanuts will add plenty of salt to the finished mix.
3. Let the popcorn cool.
Allow the popcorn to cool completely before adding the candy corn. This is especially important if you plan to package the mix in Mason jars.
4. Add the candy corn and peanuts.
Combine 4 cups of popcorn, 2 cups of candy corn, and 2 cups of roasted and salted peanuts in a large bowl.
5. Toss and serve.
Gently toss everything together and you're done!
That's it! No baking. No complicated candy coating. Just a simple sweet and salty Halloween popcorn mix that's ready to serve.
An Easy Ratio to Remember
If you're making a bigger batch for a Halloween party, don't worry about doing recipe math. Just remember: 2 parts popcorn + 1 part candy corn + 1 part peanuts You can also adjust the ratio to your taste. Add more popcorn for a lighter snack or a little more candy corn if you've got a sweet tooth.
Make It for a Halloween Party
One of the best things about this Halloween snack mix is how easily it scales for a crowd. Put a big bowl out at a Halloween party, fall festival, football watch party, tailgate, or a bonfire and let everyone grab a handful. For a party, you can also divide the mix into individual paper cups or small treat bags. And unlike a dessert that needs to stay hot or cold, this is something you can prepare ahead of time and have waiting when everyone arrives.
Turn Your Halloween Popcorn Mix Into Festive Gifts
This recipe also makes an easy homemade Halloween gift. Simply spoon the popcorn mixture into clean, completely dry Mason jars. Put on the lids and dress them up with your favorite ribbon or twine. It's a simple gift for neighbors, teachers, coworkers, friends, party hosts, or family members—and making several jars at once doesn't require much additional work.
How to Keep Halloween Popcorn Mix Fresh
The enemy of good popcorn is moisture. Make sure the popcorn is completely cool before placing the mix in a Mason jar or other airtight container. Sealing warm popcorn can trap moisture causing the popcorn to lose that crisp texture. Keep the finished mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry place and, for the best texture, make it reasonably close to when you plan to serve or gift it.
Can I Add Other Ingredients?
Absolutely. We like this recipe because the three main ingredients keep it simple, but a Halloween popcorn mix is easy to customize.
Try adding:
Pretzels
Chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows
Pumpkin seeds
Other roasted nuts
Fall-colored candy
Just remember what makes the original work so well: sweet + salty + crunchy. You don't need much more than that.
A Simple Halloween Treat for Fall
When a recipe only has three main ingredients, each one matters. That's why we start with McEwen & Sons Popcorn. Popcorn is easy to overlook when it's covered in caramel, chocolate, and a dozen other ingredients. This recipe is different. The popcorn remains one of the stars of the bowl. It's a simple snack made from simple ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ratio of candy corn to peanuts?
There isn't one required ratio, and recipes vary considerably. For our Halloween Popcorn Mix, we use 2 parts popped popcorn, 1 part candy corn, and 1 part roasted and salted peanuts. That gives you a good balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy in every handful.
What can I add to Halloween popcorn mix?
Halloween popcorn mix is easy to customize. Popular additions include pretzels, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, pumpkin seeds, cereal, or additional nuts. We like keeping ours simple with McEwen & Sons Popcorn, candy corn, and roasted salted peanuts.
How do you keep popcorn fresh in a Mason jar?
Let your popcorn cool completely before putting it into a Mason jar, and make sure the jar is clean and completely dry. Seal the lid tightly and keep the jar in a cool, dry place. Keeping moisture away from the popcorn is key to maintaining its crisp texture.
How long does Halloween popcorn mix stay fresh?
For the best crunch and flavor, we'd make this popcorn mix close to when you plan to eat or give it away. Store it at room temperature in a tightly sealed Mason jar or airtight container. Similar candy-corn-and-peanut mixes are commonly recommended for make-ahead storage in an airtight container.
Can you make Halloween popcorn mix ahead of time?
Yes. This is a great Halloween snack to make ahead because there's no baking or refrigeration required after everything is combined. Let the popcorn cool completely, mix in the candy corn and peanuts, and store everything in an airtight container until you're ready to serve it.
Our McEwen & Sons Popcorn is made from certified organic popcorn kernels, delivering a naturally wholesome, high-fiber snack with a satisfying crunch. Perfect for movie nights, snack bowls, or creative recipes, our popcorn is a versatile ingredient that brings the classic sweet-and-salty flavor of fresh-popped corn straight to your kitchen.
