Halloween Muddy Buddies Popcorn Mix
PLUS - 10 favorite movie night ideas for your littlest pumpkins
Does the crisp air of the fall make you crave all of the comfort foods?
It always does for me. As with everything, there are nostalgic feelings associated with this time of year, especially when it comes to food. I am all about still maintaining a clean-ish diet, but I also think it is important to enjoy things too…as with most things I talk about around here, I truly believe that most things in life fall into a BOTH/AND category.
So, although one of my all-time favorite things to do during the fall and Christmas seasons is to make fun snacks and desserts as a family. It is a great way to build memories together and indulge in a little something you might not normally have. I will also provide you with some tips on how to make them a little healthier (if you desire to).
On to the treat….
Chocolate and peanut butter snacks are always a favorite in our home, so Muddy Buddies (or Puppy Chow, as I hear some call it) is a holiday staple. Because we are a family that also LOVES popcorn to the extreme, we make this Halloween Muddy Buddies Popcorn Mix, which is seriously the most fun snack to have for movie night.
If you have little ones, I can guarantee that they will have just as much fun making it as they do eating it!!
Halloween Muddy Buddies Popcorn Snack Mix
What you will need:
Chex Cereal of your liking
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chips
Powdered Sugar
Butter
Vanilla Extract
Popcorn
White Chocolate Chips, wafers, or coating Chocolate (Almond Bark)
Candy Coated Chocolate or Peanut Butter
QUICK TIPS to make it HEALTHIER
PEANUT BUTTER: Use a natural and/or no added sugar peanut butter
CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Buy high-quality chocolate; our favorites are
Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks (if looking for an allergy free chocolate)
POPCORN: Pop your own popcorn in avocado oil; other brands we like are Skinny Pop and 365 (Whole-Foods) if you want to buy packaged
BUTTER: Opt for a grass-fed butter, Costco’s Kirkland brand is affordable in comparison to other grass-fed butters
POWDERED SUGAR: Look for an Organic option (Trader Joes, 365, and even Walmart carry this option)
CANDY-COATED CHOCOLATE: Instead of the regular M&Ms, look for the UNREAL Chocolate Gems or Candy-Coated Chocolate from Trader Joe’s, which are all food-dye-free!
Directions:
Using the basic recipe found on the Chex box, make your Muddy Buddies!
When it is time for the sugar to coat the cereal mix, have the kids shake it up. It will keep them busy!! Just make sure the bag is securely sealed…
The recipe can be found on the Chex website here.
After the Chex has been coated, lay it on cooking sheets to set for a few minutes while you melt your white chocolate. Some people prefer to use Almond Bark for melting, but I prefer white chocolate (just a personal preference). Usually, I use the White Chocolate Chips from Trader Joe’s or Ghirardelli.
Next, mix your popcorn with your Muddy Buddies. Then, drizzle the white chocolate over.
Immediately add your Spooky Eye Sprinkles to the white chocolate.
Top with your favorite candy-coated chocolate (or peanut butter!)
Let set and then break apart into festive bowls (okay, it doesn’t have to be festive, but it sure does make it more fun).
Enjoy with one of your favorite Halloween Movies below!!
Favorite Halloween Movies for Kids ages 2-8
Budget Saving Tips: 1. If you do not have subscriptions to Disney or Amazon and still own a DVD player (I always suggest keeping one around!), check your local library to see if these are free to rent. 2. Always search before you buy; you never know where you might find a FREE app that plays one of these movies.
Favorites for Little’s (Ages 2-5)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickeys Treat (On Amazon: Season 102, Episode 4/Volume 53)
Monster Musical (On Amazon: Season 110, Episode 7/Volume 114)
Mickey Mouse Roadster Racers
The Haunted Hotrod (On Amazon: Season 2, Episode 7)
These are for sure geared towards a younger audience but are a super kid-friendly, non-scary way for the little ones to enjoy a Halloween “Movie” night and have a shorter viewing time to hold the little’s attention. All are available on Disney+ or Amazon
Curious George Boo Fest
We love curious George in our home. Everything from books to shows to coloring pages. So it is no surprise that we also enjoy the holiday theme movies they put out too! This is a great wholesome movie for your little ones to enjoy. For Rent or Purchase on Amazon Video. This one sometimes comes up for Free on other app’s too so always do a quick search before you buy!
Arthur and the Haunted Tree House
Arthur has become a favorite in our home. I tried this with my kids a few times, but they didn’t start to get into the show until around age 4. Arthur and the Haunted Tree House is a great kid-friendly movie that even adults will enjoy (even if it is due to just nostalgia). It is available on Amazon or with a PBS Kids Subscription on Prime Video.
For Older kids 6+
Obviously for a parent to discern if a child is mature enough for the movies listed below
Casper
I would say this one is better for ages 5+ only because some of the content will go over the little kid’s heads in a way that they will not even sit to enjoy it. Watch for FREE on Peacock or Amazon
Spooky Buddies
This puppy series is so fun for little kids! Due to it being a live-action movie, kids around age 5+ will probably enjoy this more than your 2-year-old would. You can find them all on Disney Plus or Amazon. SUGGESTION a cute family night is to make Muddy Buddies popcorn mix and then watch Spooky Buddies.
Hocus Pocus
The same goes for Hocus Pocus, of course, it is a favorite among us mom’s but I would say closer to ages 6 or 7 is when this movie might start to grab some interest. Available on Disney+ or Amazon
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This can be scary for your younger ones, so watch with caution. My personal age range is 6+, though the soundtrack is always a good time, no matter what age. There is also an instrumental version we often play during October when baking or cleaning up. You can find The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+ or Amazon.
I know there are MANY more movies that could be added to this list, but I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. What are some of your family favorites?!
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