It's time for some Peppermint Popcorn Crunch.
This little Christmas treat is perfect to bag and give to teachers, neighbors...or even just to set out in a big bowl for snacking. It won't last long.
Here's what you're going to do.
Pop popcorn. Here's how I make perfect popcorn on the stove. You can use micorwaved popcorn; I'd stay away from white cheddar flavor...just something nice and salty. Fish out most of the unpopped kernels. Lay it out on 1 or 2 large rimmed cookie sheet/s.
Toss with a little melted butter and salt.
{It's going to get messy.}
At this point, I divided the mixture onto 2 cookie sheets to let dry. Set aside until the candy melts have set.
Peppermint Popcorn Crunch
{inspired by Nest of Posies Valentine Confetti}
1 batch stove-popped popcorn or 2 bags microwave popcorn
2 TBSP salted butter, melted
2 pinches kosher salt
1 bag candy cane candy melts
1 (11.40 ounce) bags MINT M&M's, or if you can just find the small bags, eyeball it
Christmas sprinkles
Pop the popcorn. Pour onto a large, rimmed cookie sheet. Fish out as many unpopped kernels as possible. Toss with the melted butter and salt.
In a glass bowl, melt the candy melts on 50% power for 1 minute, then for 30 second intervals, stirring between each time until melted. Pour over the popcorn and toss.
Add about a bag and a half of the mint M&M's and a handful of Christmas sprinkles. Toss.
Spread the mixture out on 2 cookie sheets until the candy melts have set.
Bag and give...or just plop it in a big bowl, plop yourself on the couch, and eat.
If you're the planning type, file away this same idea to make "Bunny Bait."
That's it! Five minute Peppermint Popcorn Crunch. You deserve it.
My boys and I are soooo going to make this for their Preschool party.
ReplyDeleteMMM I could see making that!
ReplyDeletelooks yummy!
ReplyDeleteSounds SO yummy! I made your "Bunny Bait" back in the spring, but for May Day baskets instead. It was a hit! :-)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE popcorn mixes! Those minty melts are now on my shopping list :)
ReplyDeleteOh yum! I just pinned this - I might just have to make this tonight!!
ReplyDeleteNOM NOM NOM. Making this!
ReplyDeleteso cute! just love this idea!
ReplyDeleteThis looks yummy! Salty popcorn + chocolate = mmmm...
ReplyDeleteUm, I'm on my way to Michaels right now to find some peppermint melts! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to make this. I'm so obsessed with anything Peppermint or Candy Cane! Yay! Thanks for sharing (:
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they even made peppermint candy melts! Pretty sure you just changed my life.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!!
ReplyDeleteI make a variation of this every year! I just use unsalted popcorn, almond bark and mini M&Ms. So addictive!
ReplyDeleteI love this as a gift but really just want to make a big bowl for myself!
ReplyDeleteThis is so good! I make something similar.Popcorn, M&M's, pretzels,and peanuts, all covered in white chocolate and drizzled with milk chocolate. So addicting!
ReplyDeleteI love this stuff. I miss you, friend.
ReplyDeleteI have got to make this!! I'm a sucker for anything sweet and salty :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds absolutely delightful!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm pretty sure I could live on that!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fabulous, and I love the ease! The sprinkles make it all the more festive:)
ReplyDeleteOh, yeeees, I will be making this. And SOON. I make green and red kettle corn but this will knock that out of the park! Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteNeato! I didn't even know they made peppermint melts!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly yum! And looks to be gluten free as well :-)
ReplyDeleteSo festive & fun! Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this idea! mint and popcorn....I MUST try it!
ReplyDeleteSO festive, Bridget..I love the colors and the mintyness!!
ReplyDeleteI can totally get behind your definition of health food. This would be the perfect gift for our neighbors. That is, if I could package it up without eating half of it first.
ReplyDeleteThis just looks SO delicious!!! Great concept and execution!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for Christmas! Love the festiveness.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen the Wilton Candy Cane melts, will be looking for those on my lunch break today. Thanks for sharing this!!
ReplyDeleteWilton Candy Cane Melts??? Totally have to find those babies! This looks awesome!!
ReplyDeleteGreat gift idea!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! My grandma used to make something she called Puppy Chow which was like Chex mix, only coated with chocolate and rolled in powdered sugar. I will definitely try this recipe and I think I'll try and find the old Puppy Chow recipe and give it a whirl too!
ReplyDeletenice opinion, thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteHoping to find these ingredients tonight to take to Scotland tomorrow night and make this with my grandchildren!! YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteThat looks yummy! Great for a gift.
ReplyDeleteMade this tonight - I'm hosting our small group tonight! I couldn't find the peppermint melts, so I used vanilla and added a 1/4 tsp peppermint extract and 1tsp vegetable oil. It's now sitting on my counter and I'm hoping there's some left for my friends by the time they arrive! =)
ReplyDeleteDo you know how many bags this will make?
ReplyDeletePopcorn is already so addictive - I don't stand a chance now!!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd like a Christmas stocking stuffed to the rim with this!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love you Bridget!
ReplyDeleteI found the melts at WM for $2.50 a bag, but I think a pack of white almond bark, peppermint extract and crushed candy canes mixed in would be comparable and cheaper, since it is only 1.89 for a larger package.
ReplyDeleteI would also just pop plain popcorn to save money but that is just me, cheap and I stupidly bought a 50 lb bag of popcorn a few years ago because it was SOO cheap and we are still eating it.
I just made this w/Andes candies peppermint crunch baking chips b/c I couldn't find the candy melts. The baking chips melted into a pinkish red. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how many cups of popcorn are in a microwave bag? I'm popping mine on the stovetop... -Kirsten
ReplyDeletehttp://lnfaw.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_4472.html
ReplyDeleteAre your Christmas sprinkles Wilton? I found the last three bags of melts in the state of CO I think. Half off at Joanne's through tomorrow (12/11).
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect treat during the holidays!
ReplyDeleteWow! It really is a simple, 5-minute recipe that sounds like a fun and delicious treat. And the idea of putting them in gift bags is a great one for the holidays. Thanks.
ReplyDeletethanks for the shout out! you are awesome.
ReplyDeletethis looks incredible. i was just thinking about making some sort of mix with our faithful standby recipe for white chocolate popcorn. this ought to do the trick for sure!
xo
kellie
http://beyondbw.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-seeing-red.html
ReplyDeleteI bragged on you today!
:) Thanks for the inspiration.
I made this over the weekend to give to some friends as part of their Christmas gifts, and it was a hit!! Thanks for the recipe! :)
ReplyDeleteMade this today. Awesome. Found the sprinkles at Target. They are called Frosty Confetti - and are with all of the Christmas baking things that Target does each year. I did a batch with the candy cane melts and one with white melts, two crushed candy canes and two tablespoons of red sugar - and the taste is the same. I also added the red/green/white gumdrops to one of the batches = chewy and crunchy. Yum. Thanks for the inspiration Bridget!
ReplyDeleteWE must be on the same wavelength. I just made White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn for a cookie swap last weekend and posted it as my recipe on my Must Try Monday link party! Then, I pop over here and see you made some with m and ms. Cool!
ReplyDeleteI was actually coming over to congratulate you on all the bakers who loved your Chocolate Chip Cookie dough Fudge Recipe and made it for the Mom's Crazy Cooking Challenge!
I love making gifts for the holidays and this is a fun, festive and delcious treat all in one. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYum! I love experimenting with new popcorn treats. This reminds me of a very expensive Harry and David Moose Munch variety... But probably much better!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this recipe!! I just made it and it is fabulous!! I used plain white vanilla candy melts since that is what I had in the pantry and they still turned out wonderfully. I also used cute red and green holly berry sprinkles that I found at Target - perfect for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI just made this for my Christmas gift bags and it is awesome! I couldn't find the Candy Cane Melts or the Mint M&Ms, and my store was out of peppermint extract. Instead I used white chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, regular M&Ms and snowflake sprinkles. Had to make an extra batch to have around the house. :-)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find the wilson melts so I used the candycane hershey kisses and melted those down.....turned out FABULOUS!
ReplyDeleteI just made my own variation of this. (It was my own variation because I couldn't find the candy cane candy melts) I popped 4 bags of popcorn and mixed it with 1 big bag of Mint M&Ms. I had half a bag of white candy melts & 1 whole bag of red candy melts, so I melted them together. I mixed in some dust from smashed peppermints (that I had left over from peppermint bark) in with the chocolate. Then I start that big ol' mess! After I got it all mixed and on wax paper I sprinkled crush peppermints.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea! (Also I love your blog, I check it often!)
I would like to say thanks for the time you took in writing this post. You’ve an inspiration for me.These popcorn variations sound great! I just made some triple Popcorn Gifts, and was looking for savory flavors.
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So easy and so cute and festive!
ReplyDeletexo
This will be my second year including this in the goodie bags we give out for Christmas gifts. It was a HUGE hit last year. I combed the comments to see if anyone had already asked this and I didn't see anything. I wanted to know if you can tell me the name of, and where I might find the 3 pronged "popcorn tosser" that is in the background of one of the pictures. It has a green handle. I use an extra large spatula right now, but it seems that it would be much easier with this tool you have. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi! Those are called "salad hands." :) You can find them at Sur La Table or Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Jj7se0 I love mine!
DeleteHey Bridget. Wow - has it been five years since you posted this? I wonder if they still make the peppermint melts. I have also used white choc chips and crushed candy canes - but the melts are so much easier! Have you seen them? Also - I hoarded them a few years ago so. . . the office ladies are getting some this year (except the one who doesn't like peppermint - how can that be?).
ReplyDeleteCouldn't find the candy melts, so in a pinch, I used a bag of white chocolate chips melted with 2 Tbsp of shortening and a crushed candy cane. Turned out fabulous!
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