Last Christmas season, I made batch after batch of White Chocolate Chroistmas Popcorn Party Mix. Everyone loved it, but this year I’ve had Peppermint Bark Popcorn on my mind. I don’t know why, but every time I think of making something, I think Peppermint Bark. Peppermint Bark. Peppermint Bark. It’s just so festive!

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Well, I still haven’t made my Peppermint Bark. Mostly due to the fact that someone got into my good chocolate. Ahem. You know who you are. I’m NOT happy at you! (It was one of my sons, and since I only have one, I have a pretty good idea which one. When he was a child he always wanted to know if I was “happy at him” and to this day we still say that in our family.) But even worse, when I went back to the store, I forgot to buy more chocolate. It turned out to be a happy accident.

About Peppermint Bark Popcorn:

But I DID have enough little chocolate chunks on hand to make this marvelous Peppermint Bark Popcorn. Talk about getting me into the Christmas spirit – this mix just screams (and tastes like) Christmas! The Peppermint Bark Popcorn is super easy to toss together. It’s fast, too.

Really, it is just a great little sumpin’ sumpin’to make if you’re in a hurry because time is short, or maybe you want to do something with the kids, or maybe you’re not a baker but still want a wow idea to package something up special for gifts. It’s great even if you don’t have come up with something fast, don’t have kids, and you are a baker!

It’s great to have this popcorn on hand for snacking, and just a nice little gift, too, for a friend or a neighbor. And I’d put a big bowl or two of it out at a party with no problem! And while peppermint bark is in my mind a Christmassy treat, it is good anytime and so is this popcorn.

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Making Peppermint Bark Popcorn:

My Peppermint Bark Popcorn is a bit different than most. I just didn’t feel like drizzling chocolate. Instead, I chopped up dark chocolate chunks, the only chocolate I had left in the house, and added it to the mix along with the white chocolate. They didn’t stick well, so I tossed the whole works (it was on two large sheet trays) into the oven at 275 F. till barely warm. Then I gently turned it with a spatula several times. It was the best popcorn, ever! I loved the chocolate chunks in this popcorn mix.

So try that extra little step of using the chunks rather than chips and slightly heating the popcorn if you want to…or just drizzle melted dark and white chocolate if you’d rather. Heck, it’s your popcorn! Just make it, make it with kids if you can – it’s always so much more fun to get everyone messy!

And make it with a labrador who can happily eat a few stray pieces of popcorn off the floor (before it’s coated with chocolate.) That of course makes this lab tested and Mother approved!

Chance loved his Santa to death!! There’s not much left of poor Santa!

Options for Peppermint Bark Popcorn:

Use either a microwave popcorn or make your popcorn on the stovetop or use an air popper for your popcorn.

If using the stovetop or an air popper, use a 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels. That makes about 16 cups (2 quarts) of popcorn, popped, according to Popcorn.org.

If using microwave popcorn, multiply the serving size by the number of servings to figure out how many cups of popped popcorn are in the bag. You’ll need two or three regular(not the larger family bags) bags to make about 16 cups.

This recipe is not too particular. It’s really up to you how many candy canes you want to use or how many pretzels you’d like to put in or even how much chocolate floats your boat.

As mentioned above, if you wish, you can melt your chocolate and drizzle it over the popcorn. When melting chocolate, place in a bowl or cup and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each.

Storing:

I wouldn’t keep this for more than a few days or maybe a week; keeping longer isn’t a food safety issue but any popcorn is so much better when its fresh.

I might add that this popcorn was devoured so quickly that storage was not an issue!

Saving Money on Peppermint Bark Popcorn:

• Popcorn: I wrote what I think is a fabulous little guide for making popcorn while saving money on my post Freshly Popped Homemade Popcorn. The best pricing. even using gourmet popcorn to start, is popping your own. Typically, microwave popcorn is 10 times the cost of a stovetop or an air popper popcorn. Keep in mind that this is comparing freshly popped popcorn to the cheapest microwave popcorn. It only goes up from there.
• Dark chocolate: I used the little chunks of dark chocolate when I made this popcorn. At the time it was the only chunk option available to buy and the only chocolate I had available at the house and it turned out to be a marvelous choice. It was Nestle. Buy your baking chips/chunks before any baking holiday: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, and Valentine’s Day are great holidays to stock up on baking goods. I have a post  Win at the Grocers with links to all the holidays and what to expect to be on sale before each.
• White Chocolate: The same hints that apply to dark chocolate also apply to the white chocolate but keep in mind that almond bark can substitute for white chocolate and might be a more cost-effective option.
• Candy Canes: You’ll only find those around Christmas. We always seem to have some left after the holiday. You might find them at an after Christmas sale for pennies but then the season is almost over. Candy Canes aren’t expensive pre holiday but it doesn’t hurt to check your stores/flyers to find the least expensive options.
• Pretzels: Check your big box stores for the best pricing. You’ll find low prices at alternative stores like Aldi or Lidl, too.

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

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• Author: mollie kirby
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 1 1/4 quarts 1x

Ingredients

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• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
• 1 – 2 tablespoons oil to pop the corn, if needed
• salt
• abt 2 cups  pretzels, lightly broken
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips or 12 ounces of good white chocolate (almond bark will work, too.)
• 4 – 6 peppermint candy canes, about 1/2 finely crushed, the rest in small chunks (use higher amount if you’d like more peppermint flavor, smaller amount if you’d like just a hint)
• 5 – 6 ounces Nestle (or other brand) chocolate chunks, roughly chopped

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

Make popcorn by your preferred method. Divide onto 2 large sheet trays. Sprinkle with salt, then sprinkle with the pretzels.

In a microwave safe container, heat white chocolate for 1 minute. Stir and continue to heat in 30 second intervals until chocolate is mostly melted. Stir again and set aside for a few seconds until it is completely melted.

Drizzle white chocolate over the popcorn/pretzel mix. Add the crushed candy canes and toss. Add in the chocolate chunks and any shavings. Place the trays in the oven for three to five minutes, until the chocolate pieces are just starting to look shiny. (If the chocolate chunks are too melty, let cool a bit before continuing.)

Remove and gently turn over several times with a spatula, scraping up any residue from the bottom. Let cool and break into chunks.

Store in airtight container.

Note: if you’d like a lot of peppermint flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract to the white chocolate during the final stir.

Keywords: Appetizer, Chocolate, Desserts, peppermint, Popcorn, pretzels, dark chocolate, white chocolate

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I’ll be posting this recipe at Fiesta Friday #202, hosted this week by Judi @ cookingwithauntjuju.com and Laurena @ Life Diet Health.