Peppermint Popcorn

This holiday season, I’ve teamed up with over 35 other bloggers for Christmas Week–a collection of sweet treats for your enjoyment!! Originally started in 2012, and hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic, we’ve all pitched in to make your Christmas merry and bright with an awesome giveaway! Make sure you enter in the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post…

Check out all the great recipes from Day 6 of Christmas Week!

Red Velvet Swirl Fudge from Cravings of a Lunatic
Christmas Wreath Cupcakes from The Redhead Baker
Fresh Cranberry Mini Scones from Farm Fresh Feasts
Chocolate Praline Pretzels from Food Lust People Love
Cranberry Tangerine Mojito from Mind Over Batter
Creamy Espresso Hot Chocolate from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
Gingerbread Cookie Bars from From Gate to Plate
Stained Glass Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Macadamia Coconut Macaroons from Aloha Flavor
Mexican Chocolate Panna Cotta from Cooking in Stilettos
Peppermint Mocha Truffles from Try Anything Once Culinary

I couldn’t help myself–it’s another seasonally-colorful treat for me today. After I prepared the Peppermint Bark for Monday, I couldn’t get the colors and flavors out of my mind. I originally planned on some variety of chocolate truffles, but this vision haunted me instead. I needed another outlet for my Peppermint Bark obsession.

Enter the popcorn…

I already do a lot of baking at Christmas-time for general sharing, but I get the most enjoyment out of the homemade treats that double as gifts. Beyond the cookie trays laden with molasses cookies and butterballs, these are the things you select for your recipient because they matter to you. They’re worth the time and effort, and it’s just fun knowing you had a hand in what they’ll be enjoying. This is what it’s all about.

Peppermint Popcorn is a hybrid: popcorn meets Peppermint Bark. The difference: while I insist upon good quality chocolate for the bark, because there’s nothing for it to hide behind, I encourage you to get colorful with your popcorn. Go for the candy melts for the white and red components, but stick with a chocolate chip you like for the chocolate portion. It all melds together nicely, and looks great, too!

Thanks for joining me during Christmas Week!! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below–good luck!

Peppermint Popcorn

Carrie @ poet in the pantry

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 hrs 15 mins

Cook Time 3 mins

Total Time 2 hrs 18 mins

Course Snack

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 bag microwave popcorn popped
• 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup white candy melts
• 1/4 cup red candy melts
• 3/8 teaspoon peppermint extract divided
• 1/3 cup crushed candy canes

Instructions

 

• Line a work surface with parchment paper and lay out the popcorn. Pick out any unpopped kernels and throw them away.
• Add the chocolate chips and candy melts to 3 zip top sandwich baggies (one for each color) and place in a microwave safe bowl with the tops open.
• Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted, stirring in between each interval.
• Once melted, stir 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract into each of the chocolates. Squeeze out any extra air and seal the tops of the baggies.
• Snip the tip off one of the bottom corners of the milk chocolate baggie and drizzle it over the popcorn. Repeat with the white candy melts, and then the red candy melts.
• Sprinkle crushed candy canes all over the popcorn.
• Let sit until set (may take a couple hours), then package in airtight containers or baggies.
• Consume within 3 days.

Notes

My favorite microwave popcorn to use with this? Sea Salt. It balances the sweetness beautifully!

The Christmas Week Amazon Gift Card Giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada. Giveaway will run from December 7, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Winners must be 18 years of age. Winners will be notified by email. Winners will be asked a skill testing question.
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