By Family Features
The holiday season opens up a myriad of opportunities for joy, from cheerful decorations and party hosting to delightful wintertime activities. It’s an ideal moment to gather loved ones and share in festive celebrations. Popcorn, an affordable and versatile whole grain, can enhance a variety of traditional festivities.
Explore these easy seasonal tips for incorporating popcorn into your holiday fun.
Festive Decorations
Create a nostalgic atmosphere by stringing popcorn and cranberries to adorn your family tree, or craft whimsical popcorn trees for your table display. Before stringing, let the popcorn sit out for a day or two; this helps prevent breakage during threading. Use a needle to thread popcorn through the center of each kernel, pulling it to the end of the knotted thread, optionally alternating with cranberries. For charming tabletop trees, combine popcorn with melted marshmallows, shape them, and finish with festive sprinkles.
Gift Giving
If you’re hosting this holiday season, consider popcorn as delightful party favors. Prepare tasty treats like Cranberry Popcorn Balls, package them in decorative jars or wrapping, and top each with a festive bow. Enhance your gift by providing the recipe and some popcorn kernels in a separate container, allowing guests to recreate the treat at home.
Tasty Snacks
Freshly popped popcorn serves as a simple yet delightful snack after a day filled with shopping, caroling, sledding, or decorating. Elevate your snack game with innovative recipes such as Gingersnap Popcorn Snack Mix, White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Bark, and Easy, Elegant Holiday Popcorn. Whip up these treats in the morning so they’re ready for guests when they arrive.
For additional sweet, savory, and salty holiday recipe inspiration, visit Popcorn.org.
Gingersnap Popcorn Snack Mix
Yield: 2 quarts
2 quarts popped popcorn
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray
1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black or white pepper
Preheat your oven to 325°F.
Spread the popcorn on a baking sheet and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix together the sugar substitute, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper; evenly sprinkle this mixture over the popcorn.
Spray with nonstick cooking spray again and toss to evenly distribute.
Bake for 7 minutes and serve warm.
Easy, Elegant Holiday Popcorn
Yield: 8 cups
8 cups popped popcorn
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Candy sprinkles
On a serving platter, lay the popcorn in a thin layer.
Melt the milk chocolate chips using a double boiler or microwave, then drizzle over the popcorn.
Melt the white chocolate chips in the same way and drizzle that over the popcorn too.
Add candy sprinkles on top of the warm chocolate-coated popcorn and allow it to set until firm.
White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Bark
Yield: 1 pound
5 cups popped popcorn
12 ounces white chocolate baking chips or chopped white chocolate
1 cup crushed peppermint candies
Prepare a baking pan by lining it with foil or wax paper and set it aside.
Put the popcorn into a large bowl and set it aside as well.
Melt the chocolate over a double boiler with simmering water or according to the package instructions until smooth.
After melting, mix in the crushed peppermints and pour the chocolate mixture over the popcorn. Stir to coat the popcorn evenly and spread it out onto the prepared pan, allowing it to cool completely.
Once set, break into pieces for serving and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Cranberry Popcorn Balls
Yield: 18 balls
2 cups sugar
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce, slightly mashed
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 quarts unsalted popped popcorn
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix together the sugar, cranberry sauce, orange peel, cranberry juice, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cooking until it reaches 250°F on a candy thermometer.
Watch closely as the mixture bubbles in the pan to prevent boiling over.
Slowly pour the hot mixture over the popcorn, stirring to ensure that every piece is well-coated.
Let it sit for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is cool enough to form into balls.
Butter your hands and shape into 3-inch balls.
For more delicious holiday recipes, visit Popcorn.org.
