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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Christmas

Christmas Popcorn

Updated: Nov 12, 2024 · Published: Dec 3, 2019 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 13 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Vegetarian
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Christmas Popcorn with a text title overlay.

If you are looking for a festive snack that kids will love, then try this Christmas Popcorn. It's great for feeding a crowd too. Full of all the best festive flavours, easy to adapt and ready in just 10 minutes. Popped corn smothered in a sweet and buttery chocolate sauce with hints of orange, ginger and cinnamon.

Popcorn in a red bowl next to Christmas decorations.

Snacks don't tend to get given a lot of thought at Christmas time, because there is so much other food to think about with the turkey, side dishes and desserts. However if you have guests staying, you might be looking for snacks to keep them topped up until the next meal time, especially if there are kids around.

This Christmas Popcorn recipe is so easy, so you don't need to spend any extra time in the kitchen. Just pop the corn and coat it in this really easy sauce. It's easy to adapt to change it up with your own personal favourite Christmas flavours.

This Christmas Popcorn keeps for well for 2-3 days, making it ideal for making in a big batch for snacking on over the festive season.

Looking for some other delicious snacks to try? Why not try our Roasted Chickpeas, Healthy Flapjacks or Peanut Butter Banana Muffins?

Jump to:
  • How to Make Christmas Popcorn - Step by Step
  • Variations
  • Homemade Christmas Gift
  • What to Serve with Christmas Popcorn
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Christmas Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

How to Make Christmas Popcorn - Step by Step

A large red pan containing popcorn kernels.
  1. Step 1: Put the oil and corn in a large heavy pan with a lid on and put on a medium heat. After a few minutes, the corn will start to pop. Shake it every now and then to stop the corn burning to the pan. The popping will then start slowing down to every few seconds, rather than constant. Once it slows down to every 5-10 seconds, take it off the heat and tip into a large bowl (to stop it from cooking).
A stainless steel saucepan containing melted butter and golden syrup.
  1. Step 2: In a saucepan, add the butter and golden syrup and melt.
A stainless steel saucepan containing melted butter, golden syrup, spices and orange zest.
  1. Step 3: Take off the heat and stir in the cocoa powder, orange zest, cinnamon and ginger.
A large metal bowl containing chocolate popcorn.
  1. Step 4: Pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix well.

Variations

The great thing about this is that you can use this Xmas popcorn as a base recipe and then change it up to suit your own tastes. Don't like cinnamon? Leave it out and use more ginger, or leave them both out and have it as chocolate orange popcorn. We also have a Chocolate Popcorn recipe you could try.

You could add a pinch of cayenne if you like a kick to your Christmas popcorn. You could also swap the cocoa powder for melted chocolate, although it will give the popcorn a harder coating.

If we are making this for a lot of people, and we want to bulk it out a little (and make it more colourful), then we add some M&Ms, mini marshmallows and cranberries to it - kids love that. We have even put unicorn sprinkles in ours before.

Stick some candy canes in the popcorn once in the bowl for decoration and even more of a festive vibe.

Homemade Christmas Gift

I love a homemade Christmas gift. Not only does it save money, it saves buying someone something they probably don't want or will use and it shows that you have put some thought and love into it too.

Everyone loves edible gifts, right? If you put this cinnamon popcorn in nice presentation bags/boxes, they would make lovely gifts for neighbours, teachers and friends. We always put a bag in food hampers that we make up for people.

Chocolate popcorn in a bowl.

What to Serve with Christmas Popcorn

Our new Christmas Eve tradition is Christmas films in the afternoon with Snowman Hot Chocolates, a big bowl of this popcorn and Gingerbread Cupcakes.

We then all make individual Christmas Tree Pizzas before settling down in our new PJs to watch more films and open our Christmas Eve boxes.

We have even left some out for Santa in the past. I am sure he gets bored of cookies and mince pies after the 100th house. Why not make this Christmas popcorn part of your own Christmas Eve traditions.

Extra Tips

  • Feel free to get creative with the extra ingredients. Add as many colours and sprinkles as you like - this popcorn is meant to be fun and a little crazy.
  • Add a drizzle of white chocolate to make it really festive.
  • If you want to try a different flavour, swap the orange zest for some peppermint extract to make chocolate peppermint popcorn.
  • Make these into lovely homemade gifts by wrapping in cellophane bags (or eco-friendly alternatives) and wrapping with some festive ribbon.
  • If you want to store this for more than a day and make it in advance, don't put the coating on it right away. Store the plain popcorn in an air tight container or zip lock bag and then put the coating on it when you are ready to eat it.
A bowl of popcorn next to Christmas decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store Christmas popcorn.

You can keep this popcorn in an airtight container for 2-3 days, any longer and it will affect the texture of the popcorn because of the coating on it.
However, if you end up making too much of this cinnamon popcorn, put some aside before you coat it and that will keep in an air tight container for a week or so and then you can add the flavours fresh when you are ready to eat it.

Is Christmas popcorn gluten free?

Plain popcorn is naturally gluten free. Just be careful of what toppings you add and make sure there is no cross contamination.

More Christmas Recipes

  • A pancake decorated like the face of Santa.
    Santa Pancakes
  • Cranberry Orange Muffins, some on a cooling rack, some in a basket.
    Cranberry Orange Muffins
  • Christmas Rice Krispie Treats next to a nutcracker soldier.
    Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
  • Christmas cheesecake with a slice cut out.
    Christmas Cheesecake

If you’ve tried this Christmas popcorn recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A bowl of Christmas popcorn surrounded by Christmas decorations.

Christmas Popcorn

By: Dannii Martin
For a festive snack that kids will love, and great for a party, try this Christmas Popcorn. Full of festive flavours, easy to adapt and ready in 10 minutes.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
The words low carb in a white circle.
Low Carb
An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
Vegetarian
4.93 from 14 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American, British
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 8 minutes mins
Total: 10 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 97kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil
  • 80 g (0.5 cups) Corn kernels
  • 2 tablespoon Butter
  • 2 tablespoon Golden syrup
  • 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
  • 1 Orange - zest only
  • 0.5 teaspoon Fresh ginger - grated
  • 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon

Instructions

  • Put 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil and 80 g Corn kernels in a large heavy pan with a lid on and put on a medium heat. After a few minutes, the corn will start to pop. Shake it every now and then to stop the corn burning to the pan. The popping will then start slowing down to every few seconds, rather than constant. Once it slows down to every 5-10 seconds, take it off the heat and tip into a large bowl (to stop it from cooking).
  • In a saucepan, add 2 tablespoon Butter and 2 tablespoon Golden syrup and melt.
  • Take off the heat and stir in 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder, zest of 1 Orange, 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon and 0.5 teaspoon Fresh ginger.
  • Pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix well.

Recipe Tips

  • Feel free to get creative with the extra ingredients. Add as many colours and sprinkles as you like - this popcorn is meant to be fun and a little crazy.
  • If you want to try a different flavour, swap the orange zest for some peppermint extract to make chocolate peppermint popcorn.
  • Make these in to lovely homemade gifts by wrapping in cellophane bags (or eco-friendly alternatives) and wrapping with some festive ribbon.
  • If you want to store this for more than a day and make it in advance, don't put the coating on it right away. Store the plain popcorn in an air tight container or zip lock bag and then put the coating on it when you are ready to eat it.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

    December 10, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    5 stars
    Now this is what I'm talking about! I love snacking on popcorn and this is such an unusual twist. Love the flavor combo!

    Reply
  2. Julie Weddell says

    December 04, 2019 at 8:21 pm

    What is "golden syrup"?

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      December 05, 2019 at 2:55 pm

      Golden syrup or light treacle is a thick amber-coloured form of inverted sugar syrup made in the process of refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into sugar, or by treatment of a sugar solution with acid. It is used in a variety of baking recipes and desserts.

      Reply
  3. Kushigalu says

    December 04, 2019 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    What a great recipe to try this Christmas. So delicious.

    Reply
  4. Natalie says

    December 03, 2019 at 7:27 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect treat for Christmas. So healthy too. I'm definitely making this.

    Reply
  5. Tammy says

    December 03, 2019 at 7:08 pm

    5 stars
    What a fun snack treat to make for the holidays! I love popcorn...perfect for all my favorite Christmas shows :D

    Reply
  6. Anita says

    December 03, 2019 at 6:59 pm

    5 stars
    This will be so perfect for Christmas, especially if we decide to watch movies after Christmas dinner. :)

    Reply
  7. Tatiana says

    December 03, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love chocolate popcorn! The photos look soooo yummy! Great idea to make a christmas version of it, I'm totally gonna try it.

    Reply
  8. Safira says

    December 03, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    Great idea and so festive. Can't wait to try it. Love the flavours.

    Reply
  9. Erica Schwarz says

    December 03, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    5 stars
    My family loved this! Thanks for the great recipe.

    Reply
  10. Anjali says

    December 03, 2019 at 8:59 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is absolutely perfect for the holiday season!! I made this for my whole family and it was a huge hit!

    Reply
    • Irena says

      December 21, 2020 at 11:44 pm

      Do you use fresh ginger or groud?
      Can i use maple syrup insead of the golden one?

      Reply
      • Dannii says

        December 22, 2020 at 8:06 am

        Ground ginger. You can try maple syrup, but it isn't as sticky as golden syrup.

        Reply
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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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