Make it Do Gift: Peppermint Popcorn

This gift idea that doesn’t cost much and is so easy to make.  It’s Peppermint Popcorn.  After receiving a bag for Christmas last year, my husband asked me to figure out how to make it.  I took the recipe for White Chocolate Popcorn, and simply added the crushed candy cane… and the result was festive and very yummy.

Here’s the recipe:

  • 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn (approx. 16 cups popped depending on your popcorn and popper)
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes
  • a dash of salt
  • popcorn may be lightly buttered if desired

1.  Start by popping 1/2 cup of popcorn.  I use an air popper and 1/2 cup is the size of my measuring cup on the lid.  This makes approximately 16 cups of plain popped popcorn.

2.  Place peppermint candy canes or candies into a ziplock bag and using a rolling pin (or the like) finely crush.  This is a great activity if you have any pent up frustrations…

3.  In a heat proof bowl, carefully melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent scorching.  It took 1 1/2 minutes in my microwave.

4.  In a very large bowl (I was wishing mine was bigger!) start drizzling the white chocolate evenly over the popcorn, then quickly sprinkle the crushed candy, and a dash of salt over the popcorn and stir vigorously to evenly coat all the popcorn before the chocolate starts to set up.

5.  Once it is evenly coated, turn the popcorn out onto waxed paper in a thin layer and allow to cool.

6.  When the popcorn is completely cool and dry, brake up into small pieces.

7.  Now it’s ready to be put into bags or eaten (my preference.)

I used a cellophane gift sack, which is the most economical way to package your popcorn.  But you could use a fun tin, gift box or colored Chinese take out box.

52 Comments

  3. Mmmm… White chocolate pocorn is my favorite thing Brooke makes. I am going to try this new recipe. I know it will be a hit here at my house! Thanks.

  11. Looks great can’t wait to make this. When putting the popcorn on the wax paper should that be in a single layer. Also is the consistency more like popcorn balls or a little freerer like normal popcorn?

  13. Thank you for this recipe it was a huge hit with the girls at work, I always love a new sweet treat and this was super easy and super good.

    • Kathy, you can use microwave popcorn. I don’t usually buy microwave popcorn, so I don’t know the flavor options… but I would use a light butter and salt.

  24. Thank you so much!! Someone gifted me some of this last year and I loved it!! I just thought that since my husband is back home, I could make him some and see how he likes it.. It will be great!

  27. I just made this for Christmas gifts for my daughter’s kindy classmates & it made 17 small bags – need to make another batch now to make sure there’s enough for everyone, but I’m hoping there’ll be some leftovers from batch #2 because it is sooooooo delicious!!

  28. Wow what a great idea! I think I too will make up little mini gift bags for my sons kinder classmates, for their break up christmas party – perfect! Thanks :)

  29. I love the recipe idea and will be trying it for sure, how long do you think it will last for before consumption? or do you think it is something that has to be eaten within a day or so ?

  30. Ooh that sounds really good. I wonder if you used something I just spotted and bought myself the other day if it would make this process quicker. Have you seen the Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips yet? I bet if those were melted and mixed with the popcorn that might be very good as well. Here is info about them http://www.tootsie.com/products.php?pid=101 and a closer picture http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/37/l_78c3b07191bf4b34a04fc778403826a1.jpg They smell heavenly. I can’t wait to figure out what I want to make with them myself.

    Thank you for the recipe and cute way to wrap as a gift.

    • Alecia, My guess is that it would last about a week or so after packaging. The only thing that can be a problem is the cranberries. Make sure to package new, firm cranberries and toss out any that might be soft. Good luck, Calli

  33. oh my word – this is good! When I make more I’ll do half batches – i have a microwave popper that uses 1/3 cup of corn and that ends up being about 8 cups – I could probably leave it in longer – but who wants burnt popcorn! We’re giving it to teachers this year!

  34. I made this for some visiting teaching ladies and it was yummy yum! I dont think half a cup of corn did 16c but thats ok cause the chocolate wasnt skimpy! It was so good I cant wait to make it again for friends and family!
    thank you for such a great idea!

  37. Thanks! I was looking for a recipe like this for some Christmas treats. My sister and I are going to try it out tomorrow. I almost hope that my husband doesn’t like it enough to give it to his co-workers so that there’s more left at home for me :)

  39. Calli,
    Thanks so much for this recipe. I made it w/a friend who has a little one w/gluten alergies. We made several batches some with milk chocolate, semi sweet and white. The white set the fastest. We also used christmas m&ms in one batch. All turned out great!
    Thanks again
    ninabean

  41. I made these for teacher coach and bus driver gifts this year and everyone loved the popcorn! It was a great gift idea. Thanks!

  42. This recipe is sooo sweet! It was given to me as a gift and I loved it soo much hat I insisted that I must have the recipe. The only thing that I would say is that it is not necissary to use so much chocolate for that amount of popcorn….so u can just use more popocorn to make more!!

  43. Calli I made this again for Valentine’s Day treats for the 3rd grade class. And once again, everyone loved it! We also made bags of it for the basketball team on our treat day and it was a big hit there, too!

  45. I first tried this at a Demarle at Home party and have been searching for the recipe. Yours looks likethe same thing so I am going to give it a try, but of course I am going to cool my popcorn on a Silpat!

  46. I made a sample of this tonight. DELICIOUS !!! I am making it for all the girls in our family for Christmas this year.I found candy apple striped cellophane bags on line and polka dot ribbon like you showed with your recipe. I found darling candy striped initials to tie with the ribbon that can be used as a ornament for the Christmas tree. Thanks for the great recipe!

  47. I made quite a few batches of this delicious treat last year and passed it out to everyone. This year I had not thought about making it until my husband called me at work yesterday and sdaid his co-workers were wondering when he was going to bring in some of that great popcorn. Guess what I will be doing this weekend? I also use different chocolates(white, mint, peanut butter). I think this year I may try adding M&Ms.

  48. I needed a gift to put with a $5 Starbucks card for the 7 on my staff that I supervise, it turned out great! thanks so much for the receipe!
    Gay

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