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.
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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?
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How to Make Christmas Popcorn
- 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).
- Step 2: In a saucepan, add the butter and golden syrup and melt.
- Step 3: Take off the heat and stir in the cocoa powder, orange zest, cinnamon and ginger.
- Step 4: Pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix well.
Christmas Popcorn Variations
The great thing about this is that you can use this Christmas 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 spicy 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 red and green M&M's, mini marshmallows and cranberries to it - kids love that. We have even put Christmas 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.
Dannii's Top 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
More Christmas Treats
If you've tried this Christmas gourmet 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
Christmas Popcorn
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
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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.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
Now this is what I'm talking about! I love snacking on popcorn and this is such an unusual twist. Love the flavor combo!
Julie Weddell says
What is "golden syrup"?
Dannii says
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.
Kushigalu says
What a great recipe to try this Christmas. So delicious.
Natalie says
Perfect treat for Christmas. So healthy too. I'm definitely making this.
Tammy says
What a fun snack treat to make for the holidays! I love popcorn...perfect for all my favorite Christmas shows :D
Anita says
This will be so perfect for Christmas, especially if we decide to watch movies after Christmas dinner. :)
Erica Schwarz says
My family loved this! Thanks for the great recipe.
Anjali says
This recipe is absolutely perfect for the holiday season!! I made this for my whole family and it was a huge hit!
Irena says
Do you use fresh ginger or groud?
Can i use maple syrup insead of the golden one?
Dannii says
Ground ginger. You can try maple syrup, but it isn't as sticky as golden syrup.