This Fall Harvest Popcorn is loaded with autumn flavors like pumpkin spice, caramel, and toasted pecans. It comes together in minutes and will be the snack mix everyone keeps grabbing for!
Looking for more fall movie night treats? Check out my Marshmallow Pumpkin Milkshake or my Maple Pumpkin Fruit Dip.
I’ve got to tell you, this is the perfect fall snack mix for movie night. Just imagine it… cuddled under a fuzzy blanket, munching on a bowl of crunchy, sweet, and salty popcorn, while watching your favorite fall movies.
I devoured it last weekend watching Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, and Halloweentown. You’ve seen them right?! Mid to late 90s classics about witch sisters, curses, and magic.
Anyways this Fall Harvest Popcorn is fall girl vibes and you have got to try it! It makes a great treat for sharing with friends, neighbors, or making with the kids on the weekend!
For more fall snacks, try my Pecan Pie Dip, Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Pie Dip, 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins, Caramel Apple Pie Dip, or this Maple Pumpkin Fruit Dip!
Watch This Quick 30 Second Video Tutorial:
Fall Harvest Popcorn Ingredients
This Fall Harvest Popcorn is loaded with so many delicious flavors and ingredients. Keep reading for notes and potential substitutions on each.
- Plain Popcorn: I used microwave popcorn but you can also do air popped at home or even pre-popped bagged varieties.
- White Chocolate Chips: This is the glue for all of our goodies to stick together. Choose your favorite brand.
- Canola Oil: Used to help the white chocolate chips melt to a thin, smooth consistency that will not seize up. If you use white chocolate melting chips feel free to omit this.
- Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix: This adds the delicious spices and pumpkin flavors needed for an epic Fall Harvest Popcorn. You can also use vanilla pudding with pumpkin pie spice seasoning and ground cinnamon if needed.
- Vanilla Wafer Cookies: These add a crunchy, buttery, vanilla note to the popcorn.
- Caramel Bits: These mix into the popcorn so easily and who doesn’t like a little caramel in the fall?! This can be substituted for soft caramel squares or candies cut into bite sized pieces.
- Toasted Pecans: The quintessential nut of the season. Technically they do not need to be toasted but they do taste better. Be sure to chop them up into bite sized pieces though.
- Festive Fall Themed Sprinkles: No explanation needed here, everything is better with sprinkles!
- Ground Cinnamon: Because we love and need more cinnamon flavor.
How to Make Fall Harvest Popcorn
You’re going to love how simple this recipe is. Keep reading for a quick overview, the recipe card below will have complete details.
1. POP POPCORN and throw it into a large bowl with the caramel bits, vanilla wafer cookies, and toasted chopped pecans. Lightly mix everything together.
2. MELT WHITE CHOCOLATE and canola oil together until smooth and then stir in the pumpkin spice pudding mix.
3. COAT GOODIES with the white chocolate pumpkin spice mixture.
4. POUR ONTO A BAKING SHEET that has been lined with waxed paper. Be sure to keep the mixture piled up 1 to 2 inches high. This helps everything stick together and it is much more satisfying when you break it apart and eat it.
5. TOP WITH TOPPINGS, a dusting of ground cinnamon and festive fall sprinkles.
6. DRY, BREAK APART, AND SERVE! Let it sit at room temperature for the chocolate to harden, but if you’re crunched for time you can always throw it in the refrigerator.
Storing Information
Always store leftover Fall Harvest Popcorn in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag. It will keep fresh at room temperature for around 3 or more days (I keep mine until it is stale and too chewy to eat).
I do not recommend refrigerating or freezing your popcorn snack mix.
3 Fun Fall Harvest Popcorn Variations
1. SUBSTITUTE THE PUMPKIN SPICE PUDDING. If you cannot find any I recommend using vanilla pudding mix with pumpkin pie spice seasoning and ground cinnamon. If you want to skip the pumpkin spice or cinnamon flavors all together you can use vanilla, butterscotch, white chocolate, or even cheesecake flavors of pudding mix.
2. ADD OTHER FALL FLAVORS. I immediately think of candy corn, kettle corn, maple syrup, marshmallows, fall colored M&M’s, candied almonds, Pie Crust Cookie Chips, etc.
3. PACKAGE IT UP FOR GIFTING. I love wrapping it in cute boxes or cellophane baggies and tying cute festive ribbons on the top. They are great for the kids at school, neighbors, or for passing out at fall festivals and parties.
Notes On Melting White Chocolate
I always use white chocolate chips because I feel like they taste better than melting chocolates. With that being said, chips are a lot trickier to melt successfully than melts. Here are a few tips:
1. The size of the bowl/cup does matter when you are melting white chocolate. You do not want the white chocolate chips piled too high (it takes longer to melt and it melts your chocolate unevenly causing the bottom portion to seize). My rule is the chips should be no higher than 2 inches from the bottom.
2. You need the canola oil. This helps the white chocolate to not only thin out but it promotes a more even melt. If your white chocolate seems too thick you can add a teaspoon at a time until you reach the consistency you are looking for.
3. Heating for a long time does not mean the chips will melt better. Stir in between each 30 second increment of heating for at least 30 seconds. Push the clumps you see to the sides of the bowl where it is hot to help them break down. Typically it only takes white chocolate 60 seconds to melt in the microwave.
4. If the white chocolate becomes hardened and clumpy this means it has seized from being too hot or water getting into the mixture. Add another half teaspoon of canola oil and whisk vigorously (you may be able to save it).
For More Popcorn Snack Recipes, Check These Out:
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Fall Harvest Popcorn
Equipment
- baking sheet; lined with parchment paper
Ingredients
- 6 cups popcorn; plain without butter or salt
- 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 ½ ounces pumpkin spice pudding mix
- 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies
- ¾ cup caramel bits
- ½ cup toasted pecans; chopped
- ¼ cup fall themed sprinkles
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To a very large bowl, add the popcorn, vanilla wafer cookies, caramel bits, and chopped toasted pecans. Stir together until everything is incorporated.
- In a heat safe measuring cup or bowl, stir together the white chocolate chips and canola oil. Microwave in two to three 30 second increments, stir well between each increment.*NOTES BELOW*
- Once the white chocolate is melted and smooth, add the pumpkin spice pudding and mix until smooth.
- Pour the white chocolate pumpkin spice coating over the popcorn mixture. Toss together until it has been well coated.
- Pour Fall Harvest Popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and festive fall themed sprinkles.
- Allow the popcorn to dry at room temperature before breaking into pieces. Enjoy with your favorite fall movie!
Video
Notes
Storing Information:
- At room temperature, in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag, for up to 3 days or until stale.
- I do not recommend refrigerating or freezing this popcorn snack.
Notes On Melting White Chocolate
- The size of the bowl/cup does matter when you are melting white chocolate. My rule is the chips should be no higher than 2 inches from the bottom.
- You need the canola oil. This helps the white chocolate to not only thin out but it promotes a more even melt.
- Heating for a long time does not mean the chips will melt better. Stir in between each 30 second increment of heating for at least 30 seconds. Push the clumps you see to the sides of the bowl where it is hot to help them break down. Typically it only takes white chocolate 60 seconds to melt in the microwave.
- If the white chocolate becomes hardened and clumpy this means it has seized from being too hot or water getting into the mixture. Add another half teaspoon of canola oil and whisk vigorously (you may be able to save it).
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
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