Reindeer crunch popcorn drizzled with white chocolate and candy bits makes a perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer.
Reindeer Crunch
By Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime
Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas presents? I’ve heard a lot of my friends talk about how they have been shopping already, and some are even done. How far along are you in buying your gifts? I haven’t even got started.
But it’s not too early to think about it- the way this year has flown, time is slipping by fast. Holiday work parties are coming up as well as visiting with friends. Ideas for little gifts are always appreciated to me, as sometimes I struggle to figure what to get someone when it is a small token.
I do like making food gifts, and homemade gifts in general. So I was happy when my blogging friends decided to get together to share some of our favorite food gift recipes.
I decided to do this popcorn. O-M-G! It is so easy. I got it done in about twenty minutes. which is a breath of fresh air than say, doing a recipe for homemade Chinese dumplings where I struggle with the folded pleats. This was quick to get out of the way.
Especially since I had bought a melting pot (I had a 50% off coupon) which has a silicone lining. I know I can get disposable cups to melt chocolate in, but the silicone is great- I chill the bowl and the extra chocolate pops right out. No need to fill the trashcan with plastic. So I do recommend one of those.
I wish I had this recipe when my daughter was little (and that melting pot!). I remember fighting crowds at the mall to get tins of popcorn for Christmas and it was bloody expensive too. And really wasn’t that good. You know when you make it at home you can add as much chocolate or candies as you like and not worry about a stingy retailer.
This popcorn turned out nicely with what I put in it, but feel free to change that up—>you know what you like. I know I’ll be making this again, because there’s no way this will make it to Christmas Eve. And the best part is because it is so quick, it doesn’t impact the other cooking I’ll be doing (like the gazillion cookies to bake that are headed my way).
I hope you (and your food gift recipients!) enjoy! And don’t forget to scroll down and check out the other recipes. I’d say I’d be back tomorrow, but my posting has been sporadic this week, so I guess we’ll see. I’m supposed to have a post up on Thursday but haven’t cooked it yet so don’t want to say much about it (just in case). My schedule is wacked lately. And my chi is off. Like a train off the rail, I need to get back into the kitchen and back into the groove! C’ya!
~s
Reindeer Crunch
Ingredients:
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1-1/2 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces white chocolate melting wafers
- 20 cups popcorn (two 4-ounce bags)
- 11.4 ounces red and green plain chocolate M&M’s
- 5 ounces chocolate covered pretzels
- 7 ounces chocolate covered peanuts
- candy sprinkles (jimmies and nonpareils)
Method:
- Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick foil or silpat sheets.
- Spread popcorn over the silpat.
- Place melting wafers in a melting pot and set on high to melt for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally (or if using microwave to melt them just set them aside for now)
- Put the marshmallows and butter in a large microwave safe measuring cup and microwave for about 45 seconds to one minute, stirring halfway through.
- Drizzle caramel mixture over popcorn and toss to mix.
- Cover popcorn with candies and sprinkles.
- If using microwave to melt wafers, melt on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth and melted.
- Drizzle chocolate over popcorn and gently mix, making sure you get the M&Ms that fall to the bottom churned back up to the top.
- Allow mixture to set and dry.
- Package popcorn in plastic treat bags, decorated as desired, or place in a cookie tin.
From the kitchen of palatablepastime.com
Holiday Food Gifts
- Chocolate Mixed Nut Clusters by Family Around The Table
- Mama T’s Garlic-Parmesan Seasoning Mix by Tip Garden
- Chocolate Holiday Stir Sticks by The Freshman Cook
- Reindeer Crunch by Palatable Pastime
- Peppermint Bark Fudge by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Taco Spice Mix by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Churro Chex Mix by Books n’ Cooks
- Espresso Hot Fudge Sauce by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Old Fashioned Divinity by House of Nash Eats
- Rosemary Parmesan Crackers by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Infused Olive Oils by Bear & Bug Eats
- Brownie Mix by Making the Most of Naptime
- Mulled Cider Spice Mix by Everyday Eileen
- Caramel and Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods by Making Miracles
- White Chocolate Cranberry-Orange Bark by The Redhead Baker
- Orange Cranberry Walnut Loaf by Red Cottage Chronicles
- Hand Blended Mulling Spices by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Planning to put this in my holiday tins this year! Such a festive way you packaged them too! Thanks for joining in the Holiday Food Gifts event.
Thanks, Ellen!
The perfect snack for munching!
Yes, we love anything popcorn here!
5. “Drizzle caramel mixture over popcorn and toss to mix.” Where the *(expletive deleted) did this come from??? Was step 3 and 4 supposed to be combined? Attention to detail pls.
Microwave caramel is made from marshmallows and butter. Not chocolate. Read the recipe through to the end.
I can understand if you don’t know the caramel is the marshmallow bit. But you could have asked that instead of the vulgar response you gave.
In the future, please consider the nature of your remarks before posting. Normally this type of comment would be deleted without response as per my posted terms of service. I allowed your curse words to be scrubbed and the remaining comment post just to help you figure the recipe out, for what it’s worth.
My recipes are offered for free to the public out of kindness. All I expect is kindness in return, or at the very least, a modicum of politeness and civility. Thank you.
It looks so easy and so delicious! I may just copy you!
My kids would love this!
This throws me right back to a popcorn ball I used to get at my neighbour’s house for Halloween…. except it’s deconstructed and in Christmas form! I love this. It’s so pretty and festive and could be switched up for any holiday! I need a melting pot…..
The melt pot is great- simply for refrigerating the silicone tub then popping out the remaining chocolate like an ice cube.
I absolutely love sweet and salty treats! This will be a big hit around our house. What a great treat to tie onto the top of gifts too!
Thank you!
I am a sucker for a good snack mix. This looks absolutely lovely and I know it is going to be a hit with my family!
How long will thia stay fresh?
It’s best within one week.