Craving a festive holiday treat that’s both salty & sweet? This delicious white chocolate holiday popcorn comes together fast with just 4 easy ingredients!
This time of year, having simple, “go-to” holiday treats is essential. With all there is to do over the course of a couple months, who has time to spend all day in the kitchen? But I do believe that homemade food gifts are some of the most special gifts you can give. They are sentimental & definitely from the heart. In my opinion, if a gift isn’t from the heart, then there is no point in giving it at all. Everyone wants something that the giver is truly excited to give to them. But that doesn’t mean complicated recipes or a lot of time or money spent. As long as love and care goes into it, the recipient can see and feel that. Like this White Chocolate Holiday Popcorn I make with my kids every year.
It’s a tradition we started years ago when we moved far away from family. You see, for many years a particular family member would give us a tin of popcorn along with our gifts. When we moved it became an item that was just too large to ship to us, and it quickly was omitted from the package. While it’s just a $5 tin of flavored popcorn that I could pick up just about anywhere, it was the fact that it was a gift from someone who knew just how much we loved certain flavors of popcorn that made it special. Now, I have to admit, my favorite flavor popcorn is cheese. But I have been unsuccessful in recreating that distinct flavor myself. So I decided to create my second favorite, white chocolate with some of my favorite candies mixed in too.
Here is what you need:
1 bag popped & salted popcorn (approximately 4 cups) 1 cup white chocolate chips ½ tbsp. shortening 1 cup Holiday M&M’sStep 1: Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. Combine chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals until melted, stirring in between each round.
Step 2: Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn and toss in about ⅓ of the M&M’s. Mix until the popcorn is evenly coated with the chocolate. Continue adding more M&M’s as you mix. The chocolate will cool, and the M&M’s will stick to the popcorn instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl if you mix them in increments.
If giving as gifts, this would be adorable wrapped in a cellophane bag or in a tiny pail with a gift tag.
If you are not giving this popcorn away as gifts, I recommend enjoying at least a little bit of it right away. The heat from the warm chocolate melts the inside of the M&M’s but keeps the candy coating crisp. So it’s absolute heaven when you bite in. You can store in a paper sack at room temperature.
This is by far one of my all-time favorite recipes to make with my kids. They love being in the kitchen with me and getting creative with what sort of mix in’s we will add to the next batch. That’s the best part—you can add your favorite goodies in there or the favorite of your recipient to make it extra personal.
Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. Combine chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals until melted, stirring in between each round.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn and toss in about ⅓ of the M&M’s. Mix until the popcorn is evenly coated with the chocolate. Continue adding more M&M’s as you mix. The chocolate will cool, and the M&M’s will stick to the popcorn instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl if you mix them in increments.
Preparation time: 3-5 minutes. Cooking time: 3-5 minute(s).
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How long does this recipe last? I would like to give it as gifts but want to make sure it doesn't go bad. Do I need to gift the day I make it? Thanks!
You don't need to gift it the day you make it but I would not make it too far in advance. Maybe just a couple of days prior to gifting. :) Enjoy
What is the best way to keep or store this? And also the best way to give as a gift? Will those tin containers work?? Just wondering about it getting stale.
Hello. Looking froward to trying this - is it possible to freeze these ahead of time? For a week or two?
I have made this for years. I use the white chocolate bark cubes,no shortening needed. I pop about cup of corn in olive oil. Salt it really good and shake. While the corn is popping I melt 2 cubes of white chocolate bark as instructed. I pour half the popcorn in a huge plastic bowl with a lid, pour half of the white chocolate over the pop corn. Pour in the rest of the corn and the chocolate on top. Put the lid on and shake my booty till all the popcorn is covered with chocolate. Let it sit for an hour or so and YUMMMY. I give it at Christmas and the end of school to all my boys teachers. They couldn't be happier!
I've been looking for a fun and easy popcorn recipe to give as gifts and this sounds perfect! Can't wait to try it out.. thanks for sharing!
This looks great! Simple and tasty--perfect for the holidays. Do you know, however, if it is possible to substitute another ingredient for the shortening?
Although it's still technically a shortening, Palm shortening is a much healthier option - if that's your concern. It's what I plan to use for this recipe.
I love this and I think my boy will love this too. I will make it for him this holiday.
This is such a simple and delicious snack! I find myself at parties gravitating towards snacks such as this and always think that I need to remember how much I love it and need to make it!!
Thank you for reminding me of this tasty treat and for the recipe!
That looks delicious! Can't wait to try it out!