“When are you going to be making candy for us?” is a question my family and friends ask every year at Christmas. I certainly don’t mind making batches of candy-even though everyone wants a different type-because I have a Christmas “secret.” Ssssh. I will share it with you. I only make easy Christmas candy recipes. Most of them take only a few ingredients and ten to fifteen minutes of prep time. One of my favorites is this easy peppermint crunch popcorn recipe. Why bother to buy a package of this when you can make a huge batch with only 3 or 4 ingredients? This recipe is naturally gluten free so it’s good for friends with celiac! I’ve added step by step directions so it’s the perfect holiday recipe for everyone, including beginning cooks.
How to Make Easy Peppermint Crunch Popcorn:
Ingredients: Are you ready for this? All you need is
*popcorn (popped of course)
*white chocolate candy bark or melts
*peppermint candy canes
*optional red candy melts for drizzle
Tips: If you are in a hurry, purchase a package of sea salt popcorn. If not, pop three to four bags of microwave popcorn. Be sure to use regular NOT butter flavored.
You can substitute white chocolate chips for the white chocolate candy bark or melts, but it will not coat the popcorn as well.
Directions:
Step 1: Unwrap and crush candy canes. You can use a food processor or blender. If you don’t have those, place the candy canes in a plastic freezer bag, seal, and hit them with a wooden spoon. My kids love to do this and refuse to use the food processor.
Step 2: Place popped popcorn in a large bowl.
Step 3: Melt white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 45 seconds to 1 minute in microwave. Stir. If chocolate is not melted, return to microwave and melt for another 45 seconds to 1 minute.
Step 4: Pour melted white chocolate over popcorn.
Step 5: Add crushed peppermint and stir until well mixed.
Step 6: Spread the popcorn mixture evenly across a piece of waxed paper.
Step 7: Place the popcorn mixture in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes until chocolate is hardened. Remove from freezer.
Step 8: If desired, melt red candy melts (as directed above) and drizzle over popcorn mixture. Return to freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to allow drizzle to harden.
Printable Recipe:
- *12 cups popped popcorn
- *12 ounces white chocolate candy bark or melts
- *12 peppermint candy canes, crushed
- *optional 1/2 cup red candy melts for drizzle
- Step 1 : Unwrap and crush candy canes. You can use a food processor or blender. If you don’t have those, place the candy canes in a plastic freezer bag, seal, and hit them with a wooden spoon. My kids love to do this and refuse to use the food processor.
- Step 2: Place popped popcorn in a large bowl.
- Step 3: Melt white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 45 seconds to 1 minute in microwave. Stir. If chocolate is not melted, return to microwave and melt for another 45 seconds to 1 minute.
- Step 4: Pour melted white chocolate over popcorn.
- Step 5: Add crushed peppermint and stir until well mixed.
- Step 6: Spread the popcorn mixture evenly across a piece of waxed paper.
- Step 7: Place the popcorn mixture in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes until chocolate is hardened. Remove from freezer.
- Step 8: If desired, melt red candy melts (as directed above) and drizzle over popcorn mixture. Return to freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to allow drizzle to harden.
What are your favorite fast and easy holiday dessert recipes?
This looks so good! and I love that star-shaped tin-foil.
Okay I love this! Such a great idea!
Oh my this looks amazing! I;m going to try it this weekend. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
I love popcorn so much and though rarely deviate from my favourite of just plain old salted popcorn I do endulge in some other flavours like these
I need simple yet delicious recipes for the holidays. These are perfect!! I love them in the star-shaped tin foil pan you put them in!
This is so cool that I got to see your recipe today. My daughter is bringing something to her girl scout party next week and it is to have popcorn and candycanes in it. This is perfect.
My husband and I love the over-the-top cheesy Christmas movies. I need to make some of your popcorn and have an at-home date night to watch them.
Peppermint crunch popcorn looks delicious and super festive for this holiday season. I will have to try to make it up!
This will be a perfect treat for the Holidays. I am sure my family will love it.
Yum that looks gorgeous but also sounds really delicious! I love anything to do with peppermint so this would be really fun to try for my family!
This easy peppermint crunch popcorn would make for a great treat for anyone during the holidays season. I am going to have to make this for our movies night. My family loves anything peppermint. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I will have to give this a try.
I like your presentation…in those cute tins.
Awesome! These are so festive! My kids won’t be able to stop eating this!
I love popcorn by the fire during winter. Very cosy and this is a great recipe!
I’ve never tried this one! I’m pretty sure that my kids will surely love it.
What a great snack for a party! I love those aluminum pans too!!
This looks delicious and so festive. Will have to make some for our next holiday party this weekend!
Oh yum, two of my favorite treats combined! This recipe looks way too good – I can’t wait to try it.
What a great holiday snack for my kids! They would just love this.
This is a fun way to liven up popcorn for the holidays! I bet my kids would love this treat while watching Christmas shows!
I cannot wait to get this pepperminty treat in my belly! I’m a fan of pretty much any popcorn-based treat. It looks so good.
Best. Treat. EVER! I cannot wait to make these. They’ll be perfect Christmas treats for the kids.
This looks delicious! My family are all BIG fans of popcorn and whenever I can tie in some fun flavors, especially as it relates to the holidays they are always on board. Thanks for sharing!
I love this recipe so much! Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks, and I love the flavor of peppermint. I can’t wait to try this.
You had me at peppermint! I love making little fun snacks like this, and i love to bring it to work since everyone loves it. I think i will make this for work this year!
All you had to say was peppermint and you had me. I love anything and everything to do with meant and this would be a perfect combination of a little salt and a little sweet. I cannot wait to make it.
This sounds amazing! I love sweetened popcorn this would be amazing for a holiday movie marathon!
I have never tried sweetened popcorn but your recipe is really enticing. My grandchildren would love this along with a Christmas movie day at my house!
We love flavored popcorn and such an inexpensive treat or gift to make.
I love simple recipes that are easy to make. Popcorn is a favorite of mine and I’m looking forward to making your recipe. It looks so festive and I bet it tastes so good. Yum!
Agreed. The easier the better this time of year.
Mmmmm! I love the combination of sweet and salty in this! What a perfect Christmas party recipe! Can’t wait to make some.