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This Fall Harvest Popcorn is coated in a pumpkin spice white chocolate and loaded with vanilla wafers, caramel bits, toasted pecans, sprinkles, and lots of cinnamon. It’s quick to make, easy to customize, and I guarantee everyone will keep grabbing for it.
It’s so good that you’ll want to double the recipe and package it up as a gourmet fall gift.
Originally published in October of 2021, this recipe has been slightly modified since pumpkin spice pudding mix has become hard to find.
I’ve got to tell you, this is the perfect fall popcorn for movie night. Just imagine it… cuddled under a fuzzy blanket, munching on a bowl of crunchy, sweet-salty, perfectly spiced popcorn, while watching all your favorite spooky movies. There’s nothing better than that!
Looking for more fall movie night treats? Check out my Maple Pumpkin Fruit Dip, or this salty sweet Candy Corn and Peanuts!
Watch This Quick 30 Second Video Tutorial:
Fall Harvest Popcorn Ingredients
Here’s everything you will need to make this fall popcorn, and a few important notes so you’ll want to keep reading.
- Plain Popcorn: Feel free to use microwave, air popped, or pre-bagged popcorn varieties. Just make sure it’s unsalted or lightly salted and without butter so it doesn’t throw off the rest of the flavors.
- White Chocolate Chips: For the best taste you’ll want to use white chocolate chips or a chopped up white chocolate bar. Skip the melting wafers on this one.
- Oil: This helps the white chocolate chips melt down to a thin, smooth consistency that will not seize up. I use avocado oil, but canola or vegetable oil work as well.
- Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix: When I first published this recipe it was so easy to find, but now it’s not. If you can find it, great! I’ve had luck with getting it at Walmart. If not, you will need to grab an instant vanilla pudding and ground pumpkin pie spice mix.
- Vanilla Wafer Cookies
- Caramel Bits: I recommend these ones because they mix into the popcorn so easily. You can also use soft caramel squares cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Toasted Pecans: The quintessential nut of the season! If you cannot buy pre-toasted pecans, just chop up the raw ones into bite-sized pieces and heat in a dry pan for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Fall Themed Sprinkles
- Ground Cinnamon
How to Make Fall Harvest Popcorn
You’re going to love how simple this fall popcorn is to make.
1. MIX the plain popcorn, caramel bits, vanilla wafer cookies, and toasted chopped pecans in a large bowl.
2. MELT the oil and white chocolate chips until smooth. Stir in the instant vanilla pudding and ground pumpkin pie spice mix (or pumpkin spice pudding mix if you can find it). Pour that over the goodies and mix until everything is well coated.
3. SPREAD it out (1 to 2 inches high) on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, top it with the fall themed sprinkles and another dusting of ground cinnamon. Allow the chocolate to harden.
4. BREAK APART and serve!
Find the complete recipe instructions with measurements below.
Storing Information
Always store your leftover Fall Harvest Popcorn in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag. It will keep fresh at room temperature for around 3 days, possibly more depending on the temperature and humidity of your home. Personally, I keep mine until it’s too chewy to eat.
Tips for Melting White Chocolate Successfully
Chocolate chips can be tricky to melt, so here are a few tips so your chocolate doesn’t sieze.
1. The size of the bowl or cup matters. You do not want the white chocolate chips piled too high or it’ll take longer to melt and possibly seize the chocolate. Choose a more shallow bowl or cup and make sure the chips are under 2 inches from the bottom.
2. Heating for a long time does not mean it will melt better. We do this in the microwave and in 30 second increments so the heat doesn’t shock the chocolate. You’ll also want to stir it between each increment and really push the chocolate to the sides of the bowl (where it is hot) to help them break down.
3. If the white chocolate becomes hard and clumpy, it sieized. Quickly add a half teaspoon of oil and whisk vigorously, because you may be able to save it.
3 Ways to Make Your Fall Popcorn Unique
1. ADD OTHER FALL FLAVORED GOODIES. I immediately think of candy corn, kettle corn, or Cinnamon Candied Pecans. You could also swap the vanilla wafers for ginger snap cookies, chopped cinnamon graham crackers, or maple cream cookies. Honestly, there are so many possibilities!
2. TRY DIFFERENT INSTANT PUDDING FLAVORS. If you’re not a fan of pumpkin spice you can use butterscotch, cheesecake, or even white chocolate flavored puddings. I still recommend adding ground cinnamon to pull in the fall theme.
3. PACKAGE IT UP FOR GIFTING & SHARING. This is hands down my favorite gourmet snack to share in the fall. I love putting it in these cute pumpkin boxes, wrapping it up with cellophane, and tying festive ribbons on the top. I will also use brown kraft bags and fall-themed metal tins from Hobby Lobby.
For More Fall Snack Recipes, Check These Out:
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Fall Harvest Popcorn
EQUIPMENT
- baking sheet - lined with parchment paper
INGREDIENTS
- 6 cups plain popcorn - without butter or salt, can be microwaved, airpopped, or bought in bags pre-popped
- 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips - or a chopped white chocolate bar
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 ½ ounces instant pumpkin spice pudding mix - or instant vanilla pudding mix plus 1 tablespoon of ground pumpkin spice
- 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies - roughly chopped
- ¾ cup caramel bits
- ½ cup toasted pecans - chopped in bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup fall themed sprinkles
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the plain popcorn, chopped vanilla wafer cookies, caramel bits, and chopped toasted pecans. Set aside.
- Using a large heat safe measuring cup or shallow bowl, stir together the white chocolate chips and avocado oil. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Add the instant pumpkin spice pudding mix and combine until fully incorporated and smooth. Pour over the bowl of popcorn and goodies. Toss together until everything is well coated.
- Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into a 2 inch thick layer. Sprinkle with fall themed sprinkles and ground cinnamon. Allow the fall popcorn to dry in a cool place until the pumpkin spice white chocolate has hardened.
- Break into pieces and serve immediately.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
- Add other fall flavored goodies like candy corn, kettle corn, candied pecans, ginger snap cookies, chopped cinnamon graham crackers, or maple cream cookies. The possibilities are endless!
- Try different pudding flavors if you’re not a huge fan of pumpkin spice. We like butterscotch, cheesecake, and even white chocolate flavored puddings. We do add a couple teaspoons of ground cinnamon to amp up the fall flavor.
STORING INFORMATION
- At room temperature, in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag, for up to 3 days or until stale.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
You are right; this is the perfect popcorn to watch fall movies with! My daughter and I kicked off fall last weekend by watching Hocus Pocus and eating this delicious popcorn. We both love pumpkin spice so we devoured it! Next time we may have to make 2 batches so we don’t have to share, lol.
This fall harvest of popcorn was the best snack I ever tried. It was so delicious that the flavors played in my mouth! A great snack for movie night with the family! Must-try!
This popcorn mix not only was visually appealing but also incredibly tasty. The white chocolate mixed everything together perfectly, offering a delightful blend of fall spices and pumpkin flavor. My kids loved the festive fall-themed sprinkles and added their own amounts of ground cinnamon which was the perfect finishing touch.
This is sooo good!! i love the spice and sweetness of it! perfect go-to snack this fall season!
This popcorn is so good! I love the way the white chocolate coats everything, plus the more substantial crunch of the nuts. My new favorite fall snack.
The spices make this popcorn one you can’t stop eating.
Yes it does! So glad you find it addicting too!
~Elizabeth
Awesome recipe for fall.
So glad you think so too! Thank you!
~Elizabeth