Santa’s Trash Snack Mix Recipe
If you need a no-bake, sweet-and-salty, wildly festive treat that disappears faster than you can say “Merry Christmas,” this Santa’s Trash Snack Mix Recipe is about to be your new holiday tradition.
It’s a crunchy Christmas mix loaded with pretzels, chips, cereal, candies, and a silky coat of white chocolate—basically, everything delicious that “shouldn’t go together” but absolutely does. I make big batches as a Christmas movie snack, a holiday party snack, and a giftable Christmas dessert mix all season long.
What Is Santa’s Trash Snack Mix, Anyway?
Despite the funny name, Santa’s Trash snack mix is anything but trash. It’s a sweet and salty Christmas snack mix made with pantry staples: salty pretzels, ridged potato chips, crispy cereal, nuts, and colorful candies, all tossed in melted white chocolate and finished with sprinkles.
If you’ve ever had “white trash” or Christmas trail mix at a church bake sale or school party, this is that cozy holiday snack bowl, all grown up and dressed in red and green.
I started making this years ago when my kids were little and we needed a no bake Christmas recipe that:
- didn’t require turning the oven on,
- could survive a car ride to Grandma’s,
- and kept everyone—from toddlers to grandparents—snacking and smiling.
Here’s the thing I love most: it’s festive, but it’s also practical. You can adjust it to fit different needs:
- Add nuts for more protein and staying power.
- Use whole-grain cereal for a tiny bit of balance.
- Portion it into little bags for built-in snack control (or…not. No judgment here).
It’s perfect as:
- Christmas party food,
- a kids’ Christmas treat,
- a fun Christmas snack recipe for school events,
- or a big tray on the coffee table while you watch Elf for the hundredth time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No oven needed – This is a completely no-bake Christmas recipe; just melt, mix, and set.
- Ready in about 30 minutes – Most of that time is just letting the white chocolate firm up.
- Super customizable – Change the mix-ins for allergies, picky eaters, or whatever you have in the pantry.
- Sweet and salty perfection – The combo of pretzels, potato chips, and white chocolate is next-level addictive.
- Perfect for gifting – Pack this Christmas giftable snack into tins, mason jars, or treat bags for neighbors and coworkers.
- Kid-friendly to make – Little hands can help crush chips, stir the mix, and add sprinkles.
- Great for crowds – This festive snack mix scales up easily for big holiday gatherings or office potlucks.
- Stays crunchy – When stored right, it keeps its crunch, making it ideal as a make-ahead holiday candy mix.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Santa’s Trash Snack Mix Recipe. Feel free to use your favorite brands—this recipe is very forgiving.
-
4 cups mini pretzels
(Twists or snaps both work—pretzel sticks tend to break more, but they’re fine too.) -
3 cups ridged potato chips, lightly crushed
(The ridges hold the white chocolate better; crush them gently with your hands.) -
3 cups crispy cereal
(Rice Chex, Corn Chex, or a mix—this is the “trail mix” crunch base.) -
1½ cups salted peanuts or mixed nuts
(Use salted for more flavor, or choose unsalted if you’re watching sodium.) -
1 cup mini chocolate chips
(Semi-sweet balances the sweet white chocolate nicely.) -
1½ cups red and green M&M’s or similar chocolate candies
(These give that classic Christmas snack mix look.) -
24 oz white chocolate chips, vanilla almond bark, or white candy melts
(Use something that melts smoothly; if using chips, a teaspoon of neutral oil can help.) -
2–3 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles or nonpareils
(Red, green, gold—whatever matches your holiday theme.) -
Optional: 1 cup broken sandwich cookies (like Oreos)
(Adds a fun cookies-and-cream twist to this holiday dessert mix.) -
Pinch of flaky sea salt (optional)
(If you really love that salty sweet Christmas mix vibe, this is lovely on top.)
Ingredient Tips:
- White chocolate – If you’ve ever had white chocolate seize on you, you know it can be fussy. Candy melts or almond bark are usually the most foolproof.
- Cereal choice – Stick with a sturdy cereal; puffed cereals tend to get soggy faster.
- Nuts – Cashews, peanuts, and almonds all work. Just keep everything bite-sized so the mix feels easy to munch.
Directions
-
Prep your pans.
Line 1–2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper. This keeps the Santa’s Trash snack mix from sticking and makes clean-up easy. -
Combine the dry mix-ins.
In a very large mixing bowl, add pretzels, crushed potato chips, cereal, nuts, mini chocolate chips, M&M’s, and cookies (if using). Gently toss with clean hands or a big spatula. Try not to crush the chips too much—you want some bigger pieces for crunch. -
Melt the white chocolate.
Add your white chocolate chips, almond bark, or candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds at a time, stirring well between each round, until smooth and pourable.
Tip: If it seems too thick, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of neutral oil (like canola) until it loosens up. -
Pour and toss.
Quickly pour the melted white chocolate over the snack mix. Using two spatulas or big wooden spoons, toss and fold everything together until all the pieces are coated. Work gently, scraping from the bottom so no dry bits are left behind. -
Spread it out.
Transfer the coated mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. Spread into an even layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—clumps are actually fun and make this Christmas snack mix feel more candy-like. -
Add the festive touch.
While the white chocolate is still wet, sprinkle your Christmas sprinkles and a pinch of flaky sea salt (if using) all over the top. This is where kids love to “help.” -
Let it set.
Allow the mix to sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm. If your kitchen is warm, you can slide the trays into the fridge for about 10–15 minutes, but don’t leave it too long or condensation can make things a bit sticky. -
Break and serve.
Once completely set, break the slab into bite-sized chunks. Transfer to a big holiday snack bowl, or portion into treat bags, jars, or tins.
You now have a crunchy Christmas mix that looks like it came straight from Santa’s workshop.
Servings & Timing
- Yield: About 10–12 cups of snack mix (enough for a crowd or several gifts)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Set Time: 20–30 minutes
- Total Time: 35–45 minutes
If you’re making this for a Christmas party, I like to prepare it in the morning so it’s ready long before guests arrive. It also holds beautifully overnight.
Variations
Looking to tailor this Santa’s Trash Snack Mix Recipe to your people or pantry? Here are some fun twists:
- Peppermint Party Mix: Swap half the M&M’s for chopped peppermint bark and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
- Nut-Free Kid Mix: Skip the nuts and add extra pretzels and cereal, plus more candy for a school-safe Christmas snack recipe.
- Dark Chocolate Drizzle: After the white chocolate sets, drizzle melted dark chocolate over the top for a fancier, slightly less sweet holiday snack bowl.
- Gluten-Friendly Version: Use gluten-free pretzels, gluten-free cereal, and gluten-free sandwich cookies.
- Salted Caramel Crunch: Toss in a handful of caramel bits or chopped soft caramels and add an extra pinch of sea salt.
- “Movie Night” Christmas Mix: Add popcorn in place of some cereal and call it your Christmas movie snack tradition.
Storage & Reheating
This is the easy part—this Christmas snack mix is very low-maintenance.
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct heat so the white chocolate doesn’t soften.
- Refrigerator: If your house runs warm, you can store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Just let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before serving so the flavors come through.
- Freezer: For longer storage, freeze in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter (still sealed) so condensation forms on the outside of the bag, not on the snack mix.
Make-ahead tip:
If you’re planning Christmas party food for a busy weekend, make this 3–4 days ahead, store it in a sealed container, and give it a gentle toss before serving to loosen any clumps.
Notes
-
Use a big enough bowl.
This recipe makes a large batch. If your mixing bowl is smaller, split everything between two bowls and divide the melted white chocolate. -
Don’t overheat the white chocolate.
White chocolate goes from silky to grainy quickly. Low power and short bursts in the microwave are your friend. -
Balance the sweet and salty.
If your potato chips are very salty, you might skip the extra sea salt on top. If everything tastes too sweet, that little pinch really helps round things out. -
Texture matters.
Leave some pretzels and chips in bigger pieces. Every handful should feel a little different—some more chocolatey, some more crunchy. -
Gift idea:
I like to scoop this holiday candy mix into cellophane bags, tie them with red and green ribbon, and tuck a little “From Santa’s Kitchen” tag on each. It’s inexpensive but feels thoughtful.
If you enjoy planning, you can even set up a “Christmas snack mix bar” where people build their own mix add-ins using this as the base.
FAQs
1. Why is it called “Santa’s Trash” snack mix?
It’s a playful name for a mix that feels like “everything but the kitchen sink”—all the bits and bobs from your pantry, turned into a festive Christmas snack recipe.
2. Can I use milk chocolate instead of white chocolate?
Yes, but it’ll taste more like a classic trail mix with chocolate rather than a white chocolate snack mix; still delicious, just different and less “snowy” looking.
3. My white chocolate seized—can I fix it?
Sometimes you can bring it back by stirring in a teaspoon of neutral oil and whisking gently, but if it’s very thick and grainy, it’s usually better to start over.
4. Can I make this Santa’s Trash snack mix gluten-free?
Absolutely—use gluten-free pretzels, cereal, and cookies, and double-check your candies for gluten-free labeling.
5. Is this safe for nut allergies?
You can make a nut-free version by leaving out the nuts and increasing the pretzels, cereal, and candy. Just be sure to check labels on all components.
6. How can I keep it from getting soggy?
Make sure the mix is fully cool and set before storing, and always store it in an airtight container away from moisture.
7. Can kids help make this?
Yes, this is a great kids’ Christmas treat project. Let adults handle the hot chocolate, and let kids measure, stir, and sprinkle.
8. How much should I make for a Christmas party?
As a rule of thumb, plan for about 1–1½ cups of this crunchy Christmas mix per person if it’s one of several desserts, or 2 cups if it’s the main sweet snack.
Conclusion
This Santa’s Trash Snack Mix Recipe is everything I love about holiday cooking: easy, no-fuss, no-bake, and totally joyful. It’s the kind of salty sweet Christmas mix that keeps people hovering around the snack bowl, chatting and laughing just a little longer.
Give it a try for your next holiday movie night, classroom party, or neighbor gift. When you make it, I’d love to hear how you tweaked it—did you go extra chocolatey, super salty, or bright and peppermint-y? And if you enjoy this, you might also like trying a homemade hot cocoa mix or peppermint bark to round out your Christmas snack spread.
Santa's Trash Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 4 cups mini pretzels twists or snaps; sticks also work but may break more
- 3 cups ridged potato chips lightly crushed; ridged chips hold white chocolate better
- 3 cups crispy cereal such as Rice Chex, Corn Chex, or a mix
- 1 1/2 cups salted peanuts or mixed nuts use unsalted if preferred
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips semi-sweet recommended
- 1 1/2 cups red and green M&M's or similar chocolate candies
- 24 oz white chocolate chips, vanilla almond bark, or white candy melts use a variety that melts smoothly; if using chips, a teaspoon or two of neutral oil can help thinning
- 2-3 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles or nonpareils red, green, gold, or any festive mix
- 1 cup broken sandwich cookies such as Oreos; optional
- flaky sea salt pinch, optional, for extra sweet-salty contrast
Instructions
- Line 1–2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- In a very large mixing bowl, add the mini pretzels, lightly crushed ridged potato chips, crispy cereal, nuts, mini chocolate chips, M&M's, and broken sandwich cookies (if using). Gently toss with clean hands or a large spatula, trying not to crush the chips too much.4 cups mini pretzels, 3 cups ridged potato chips, 3 cups crispy cereal, 1 1/2 cups salted peanuts or mixed nuts, 1 cup mini chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cups red and green M&M's or similar chocolate candies, 1 cup broken sandwich cookies
- Place the white chocolate chips, almond bark, or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until completely smooth and pourable. If the mixture is too thick, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of neutral oil until it loosens.24 oz white chocolate chips, vanilla almond bark, or white candy melts
- Quickly pour the melted white chocolate over the snack mix in the large bowl. Using two spatulas or large wooden spoons, gently toss and fold until all pieces are evenly coated, scraping the bottom of the bowl so no dry bits remain.24 oz white chocolate chips, vanilla almond bark, or white candy melts
- Transfer the coated mixture to the prepared baking sheets and spread into an even layer. It does not need to be perfectly flat—clumps are welcome for extra crunchy clusters.
- While the white chocolate is still wet, immediately shower the top with Christmas sprinkles and a pinch of flaky sea salt, if using.2-3 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles or nonpareils, flaky sea salt
- Allow the snack mix to sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, or until the white chocolate is completely firm. If your kitchen is very warm, place the trays in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to help it set, but do not leave them too long to avoid condensation.
- Once fully set, break the slab of snack mix into bite-sized chunks. Serve in a large bowl or portion into treat bags, jars, or tins for gifting.
Notes
Tips: Use a very large bowl or divide the mixture between two bowls for easier tossing. Do not overheat the white chocolate—microwave at 50% power and stir often to prevent seizing. Adjust the level of sea salt based on how salty your chips and nuts are. Leave some pretzels and chips in larger pieces for more interesting texture. Great for gifting in cellophane bags or jars with ribbons and tags.
