Chocolate covered popcorn, like caramel popcorn, is a favorite treat for many children. It combines the sweet and salty flavors craved by children and adults alike. Chocolate covered popcorn makes a great Halloween treat and Christmas gift. There are a couple of different ways to make these delicious treats. Experiment with all of them and see which one brings the desired flavor and texture.
The easiest way to make chocolate covered popcorn involves the use of chocolate chips. Pop the desired amount of plain popcorn in the microwave, or with a popcorn popper, then spread it out in a greased baking dish. Melt a spoonful of butter with a handful of marshmallows in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add a dash of vanilla for flavoring, then stir in a handful of chocolate chips. Spread the melted mixture over the popcorn and put in a 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121.11 degrees Celsius) oven for 20 minutes.
Chocolate covered popcorn can also be made using cake mix. Prepare plain popcorn in the microwave or popcorn popper and spread in a baking dish that has been greased. Mix together equal parts cake mix and evaporated milk, then add twice as much sugar. Place the mixture over medium heat and stir continuously until it boils. Lower the heat and stir continuously until it forms a soft ball, then remove from the stove. Beat with an electric mixer for ten minutes, then pour evenly over the popcorn and allow it to harden.
For quick and easy chocolate covered popcorn, microwave a bag of buttered popcorn and empty it into a large pot. In a small pot melt, together a smidgen of butter with equal amounts of chocolate chips, popcorn, and corn syrup. Pour the hot mixture into the large pot with the popcorn and quickly mix together. Spread into a greased baking dish and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Add holiday sprinkles for a festive look.
Chocolate covered popcorn will vary in sweetness depending upon the amount of chocolate used. Use a lot of chocolate chips and sugar for chocolate covered popcorn that tastes like, and resembles candy. Chocolate chips are available in varying levels of sweetness, such as cocoa flavored, unsweetened and semi-sweet. Experiment using white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or toffee chips. How one chooses to make chocolate covered popcorn is a matter of preference and availability of the ingredients.
Chocolate covered popcorn makes great Christmas gifts. Roll the popcorn into balls, before it hardens, and stack two of them on top of each other to make snowmen. Decorate the snowmen as desired. Wrap the finished snowmen in colored cellophane and tie off with a ribbon.
