This recipe arrived as a text on my phone after my mom was away on a weekend trip with her friends. She’d found a simple peppermint popcorn snack that everyone kept reaching for, and she sent it to me with a message that said, “You should make this.”
When I tried it, I realized why she was so excited. It takes almost no time to pull together, and the ingredients are easy to keep on hand.
The delicious combination of sweet white chocolate, cooling peppermint and crunchy bits of candy cane makes it feel festive.
Many mix-ins can be used to customize this recipe. Mini chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, red and white M&Ms or coconut flakes are all great options to customize the flavor.
This popcorn also works really well as a gift. A batch cools quickly, and once it’s broken into clusters you can tuck it into cellophane bags or small tins. It feels thoughtful without taking up your entire afternoon.
No matter how you decide to serve it, the best part is how effortless it is. There’s no baking, no complicated steps and hardly any cleanup. Just a few ingredients, a microwave and about ten minutes of hands-on time.
From our kitchen to yours — enjoy!
Serves A Crowd
Ingredients
2 bags microwave popcorn
1½ c. white chocolate chips (or almond bark)
½–1 t. peppermint extract
6 candy canes, crushed
Optional: a sprinkle of salt
Instructions
–Pop both bags and remove any un-popped kernels. Place popcorn in a large mixing bowl.
–Microwave white chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until smooth.
–Stir in peppermint extract.
–Drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn and gently toss to coat.
–Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
–Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and let harden for about 30 minutes.
