This trail mix popcorn combines nuts, seeds, dried fruit and chocolate chips for a playful, crunchy snack.
The pantry door opens and she barely notices—until the sound of a plastic bag being torn grabs her attention. Her ears perk up and the classic tilted-head look faces me.
I open the microwave and she watches with hopeful anticipation. Fifteen seconds tick by and she remains perched on the edge of the rug. Pop. Pop pop. Her gaze is fixed.
Pop, pop, pop, pop. She trots into the kitchen, nails clicking on the hardwood. She sits at my side as we wait.
I empty the bag into a bowl. She hops backward toward the couch and bumps a chair, a decorative column and the TV stand on her way, unfazed—popcorn is worth it to a dog.
For the next twenty minutes we play the same game: a kernel for me, a kernel for her. Her catch rate is around fifty percent, a few get lost under the couch, but joy levels are through the roof.
This routine unfolds every time we have popcorn in this house.
Ginger will eat popcorn plain, but I need it jazzed up—caramel, chocolate, spices or something sticky. Butter alone rarely does the trick. I love bold flavors on popcorn and party snacks, which is why I’m also a fan of classic mixes and seasonal variations.
To mark JOLLY TIME Pop Corn turning 100 (and National Popcorn Month), I created my ideal popcorn mash-up: trail mix popcorn. It blends nuts, seeds, dried fruit, spice, a touch of stickiness and chocolate—everything you want in a snack that’s both playful and satisfying.
JOLLY TIME popcorn uses non-GMO kernels and is family owned, so you can indulge without worrying about ingredients. And yes—chocolate is dangerous for dogs, so Ginger’s portion is always chocolate-free and she gives this mix her full approval.
Trail Mix Popcorn
Ingredients
- 4 cups popped popcorn
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped cashews
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons oats
- 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
-
Combine the popcorn, chopped cashews, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips and oats in a large bowl.
-
Pour the melted coconut oil over the mixture and toss to coat evenly.
-
Drizzle the honey and gently mix until the pieces are lightly coated.
-
Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
*This post is sponsored by JOLLY TIME and Kitchen-PLAY. All content is my own.