It is your week and there are twelve kids
Two bags of microwave popcorn, half a bag of pretzel sticks, and a cup of chocolate chips fill a mixing bowl. Twelve sandwich bags, one scoop each, and snack duty is done for under six dollars.
Do it the night before and clip the bags shut. Popcorn goes stale faster than you think and a stale bag is the one that comes back full.
Check with the coach or team parent about nut rules before you buy anything, and bring the original packages so any parent can read the labels themselves. If a family has a stricter rule than yours, theirs is the one that applies.
Ingredients
The batch makes about 8 cups, enough for a team. Plan on about 12 minutes, light cooking for the popcorn.
- 6 cups popped popcorn (from 1/3 cup kernels)
- 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken in half
- 1 cup mini crackers or cereal squares
- 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolates
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts or sunflower seeds
How to Make It
- Pop the popcorn and let it cool fully so the chocolate does not melt.
- Pour the cooled popcorn into a large bowl with the pretzels and crackers.
- Add the raisins, chocolate, and peanuts.
- Toss gently with clean hands until everything is mixed, then scoop into bags or cups.
Make It Work for Picky Kids
A big mix scares off some kids, so portion a plain version before you add the sweet and nutty bits.
- Bag a popcorn-and-pretzel-only mix for the kid who picks around add-ins
- Skip the chocolate for a kid who only wants salty snacks
- Use sunflower seeds instead of peanuts to keep it nut-free for the whole team
Pack or Store
This makes a great grab bag for a cooler full of post-game snacks.
- Scoop into individual snack bags so each kid gets a fair handful
- Store the big batch in an airtight container for up to a week
- Keep it out of a hot car so the chocolate does not melt
- Serve with: water bottles, orange slices
Parent Tip
Let the popcorn cool completely before adding chocolate, or you will end up with melted clumps.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
Candy-coated batch
Swap the chips for candy-coated chocolates on the last game of the season.
Seed version
Sunflower seeds add crunch without peanuts, but read every label since facilities and recipes change.
Cinnamon sugar
Toss the warm popcorn with cinnamon and sugar before the pretzels go in.
Ranch dust
Ranch seasoning and no chocolate makes a fully savory bag for an older roster.
Dried fruit
Dried pineapple and coconut flakes turn it chewy, which some kids prefer after a cold game.
Cheese crackers
A cup of square cheese crackers stretches the batch to sixteen bags for a bigger team.
Plan the next step
Browse team snacks
See more crowd-size snacks built for snack duty and the cooler.