Save A festive, crowd-pleasing snack of sweet popcorn clusters, topped with a burst of colorful red and green sprinkles&mdashperfect for last-minute parties or holiday gatherings.
This recipe has quickly become a favorite at our holiday parties due to its simplicity and delightful texture.
Ingredients
- Popcorn: 6 cups freshly popped popcorn (about 1/4 cup unpopped kernels or 1 microwavable bag plain or lightly salted)
- Coating: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Topping: 2 tablespoons red sprinkles 2 tablespoons green sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper Set aside
- Step 2:
- Place popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl Remove any unpopped kernels
- Step 3:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat melt butter Stir in corn syrup sugar and salt Bring to a gentle boil stirring constantly until sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes)
- Step 4:
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract
- Step 5:
- Immediately pour the hot mixture over the popcorn Using a silicone spatula gently toss to coat all popcorn evenly
- Step 6:
- Working quickly (the mixture sets fast) scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet forming small piles or clusters
- Step 7:
- While still sticky generously sprinkle red and green sprinkles over each pile
- Step 8:
- Allow to cool and set for 10 minutes before serving
Save This treat always brings everyone to the kitchen where stories and laughter are shared among family and friends.
Required Tools
Large mixing bowl Small saucepan Silicone spatula Baking sheet Parchment paper
Allergen Information
Contains Milk (butter) May contain traces of soy or gluten if using flavored popcorn or sprinkles&mdashcheck labels for allergens
Nutritional Information
Per pile Calories: 95 Total Fat: 2 g Carbohydrates: 19 g Protein: 1 g
Save Enjoy these colorful popcorn piles fresh for the best crunch and flavor.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I prevent unpopped kernels?
Remove unpopped kernels from the batch before coating to avoid hard bits in the clusters.
- → Can I substitute corn syrup?
Honey can replace corn syrup for a natural sweetness and a slightly different flavor profile.
- → What’s the best way to evenly coat the popcorn?
Toss the popcorn gently with the warm syrup using a silicone spatula until all pieces are evenly coated.
- → How long should the piles set before serving?
Allow the clusters to cool and set for about 10 minutes to firm up properly.
- → Can I add other toppings besides red and green sprinkles?
Yes, feel free to swap sprinkles with other colors or add chopped nuts and mini pretzels for extra texture.