Movie nights in: Create the ultimate snack box

Snackle boxes, candy salads, and DIY movie snack boxes have just been given a whole new name. Use these movie night ideas to elevate your night in — the Hotel Chocolat way.

There’s something about a summer movie night in. Dimmed lighting, a soft breeze, and that film you’ve been wanting to watch (or re-watch), just waiting for you to press play. However, there’s one thing missing — it could only be your movie night snacks, of course.

We believe that a decadent movie night calls for something more than a packet of crisps or half-eaten bag of sweets. It has to be something from beyond the cupboard — something that celebrates and honours your moment of relaxation and rest.

What is a DIY movie snack box?

The answer to all your qualms? The movie night snack box — where each bite turns a once ordinary and simple night in into a luxury, cinema-like experience. 

No matter if you’re tucking under your blanket for a rom-com or getting the tissues ready for an emotional screening, DIY movie snack boxes are an excellent way to create your own cinematic spread, one nibble at a time. Gone are the days of popcorn and a blanket. From the comfort of home, there’s a whole new wave of film-night indulgence. 

‘Snackle boxes’ and ‘candy salads’ have taken the social media spheres by storm. Think little boxes and organisers filled to the brim with both sweet and savoury delights. It’s where snacking meets satisfying, where one-dimensional meets textural variation, and where beige meets colour.

Is a movie snack box really necessary?

It’s not essential, but to that argument, we ask — why not? There’s something deeply satisfying about grazing your way through a film. 

Think of something to bite down on and crunch during a tense action scene, the melty mouthfeel of a silky chocolate during a romantic one. The snacks we choose for our viewing can enhance the plot, turning a mundane weekend movie into a more engaging experience.

Get playful, get creative, and do it with a movie night snack box — one of our favourite movie night ideas.

What to include in your movie night snack box

The goal of a DIY movie snack box is for every texture, flavour, and nibble to play a leading role. To achieve this, you’ll need a snack line-up that spans all of the senses. Include eveything from smooth and sharp to chewy, salty, and sweet.

Here’s how to build a snack box that delivers on every texture and taste.

1. Sweet

Every snack box needs that classic cacao moment to cut through the movie-night tension — something tantalising, rich, and melt-in-the-mouth. Thankfully, The Nice Slice – Cinema Edition is primed and ready for the task. 

A decadent twist on classic cinema treats, reimagined with even more movie magic in mind, The Nice Slice – Cinema Edition layers peanut praline, hazelnut, and caramel chocolate with the excitement of toffee popcorn and crushed tortilla chips for added texture. It’s gooey, chewy, crisp, and smooth — a show-stopper in its own right.

Pop it in the fridge an hour before your movie starts, then slice into eight portions (or stash away for later).

Add to the sweetness with: Gummy sweets, candied almonds, and hard candies.

2. Salty

Cinema’s best-kept secret — a salty treat to awaken the palate and balance out any sweetness. Look no further than our Salted Caramel Brownie Selectors to fill this role. It’s far more than your average brownie bite.

Lashings of salted butter caramel and nutty dark praline combine in a mould inspired by the humble tray-bake brownie, delivering that salty, moreish flavour that we film lovers know, love, and can’t help going back for more of.

Enhance your salty offerings with: Sea salt popcorn, roasted pistachios, and kettle-cooked crisps.

3. Crunchy

Crunchy snack bites are made for those high-tension scenes — a plot twist personified. A crunchy mouthfeel can add texture variety, enliven the senses, and make those jaw-clenching moments feel much more Oscar-worthy.

Enter: The Florentine Isabelle Selector. A masterclass in balance, these morsels navigate crisp caramelised florentine layered over a base of hazelnut praline. The result? A richly textured bite. It’s a Selector that adds structure and sophistication to your snackle box.

Make your movie snack box even crunchier with: Roasted chickpeas, crispbreads, and salted pretzels.

4. Chewy

The slow, unrushed sub-plot of your movie snack box. 

Nothing says chewy and gooey quite like our Chocolate Fudge Sundae Selector with its sticky caramel toffee sauce and hazelnut praline soft centre. For the final flourish, this cacao bite is scattered with crunchy crisped rice. It’s then coated in white, milk, and dark chocolate. 

As the perfect juxtaposition for your tastebuds, it offers a satisfyingly gentle chew and a pop of textural surprise that is sure to keep you company throughout any scene.

Elevate the chewiness with: Nougat, liquorice, and marshmallows.

5. Silky

Sometimes, movie nights call for a bite that is both classic and oh-so-elegant. No bells, no whistles, no frills. Just a melt that lingers on the tip of the tongue like the comfort of your trusty blanket.

Designed to deliver, one of the simplest yet flavourful cacao offerings in our collection, are our Salted Caramel Chocolate Puddles. 

With only a pinch of sea salt needed, our soothing caramel chocolate puddles pack a punch and melt on the tongue like a hinted-at plot reveal. Perfect for snacking on between other more adventurous contenders, or for soothing the palate as a solo act. 

6. Nutty

If you’re craving an earthy depth of flavour for your snack box, nut chocolate is where you’ll find it. Nutty chocolate is best for balancing the fruitier, sweeter elements of your snackbox, bringing your taste buds back down to Earth before the movie’s final resolution.

When it’s time to add some nuttiness into your snack variety, trust in the unpretentious, effortlessly satisfying mouthfeel of our Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts. 

Packed with flavour and unashamedly more-ish, these plump Brazil nuts are encased in a thick layer of our signature dark chocolate for the utmost flavour and crunch — the best kind of movie finale.

Why not also add: Honey-roasted cashews, almonds, and peanuts?

Pre-made movie night snack boxes from Hotel Chocolat

If you’ve run out of time and want a grab-and-go movie snack box, our chocolate boxes are a convenient yet sophisticated choice. 

Covering every Love Match flavour preference, our boxes and best-selling Sleeksters have been designed to provide a curated selection of texture, taste, and appearance that hits the mark every time.

• Exuberantly Fruity Sleekster: For a vibrant selection of chocolates celebrating all things fruit and cacao.
  
• Exquisitely Nutty Sleekster: For a grounding taste and texture that ranges from rich and mellow to savoury and crunchy.
  
• Large Chocolate Dipping Adventure: For a taste of nostalgia with a welcome hint of interactivity and adventure.
  
• Unbelievably Vegan* Sleekster: For our best-loved selection of dairy-free Nutmilk chocolate bites. *We believe our dark and Nutmilk chocolate is suitable for vegans. However, as it is made in the same environment as our milk chocolate, we cannot guarantee it is free from milk.
  
• The Dark Signature: For lovers of smoky, mysterious, intense cacao flavours that can hold their own.

It’s time to create a new kind of movie night snack box

No matter if you’re building your own movie snack box or opting for the convenience of one of our ready-to-enjoy chocolate boxes, just make sure to savour the flavour, scene by scene and bite by bite.

Explore our full chocolate collection to curate a DIY movie snack box that speaks to all of your flavour preferences and textural cravings. Get ready for a taste experience that sticks with you long after the final credits.