Save to Pinterest A festive, crowd-pleasing snack of sweet popcorn clusters, topped with a burst of colorful red and green sprinkles—perfect for last-minute parties or holiday gatherings.
This recipe quickly became a holiday favorite in my family because it combines simple ingredients with festive flair and crunch.
Ingredients
- Popcorn: 6 cups freshly popped popcorn (about 1/4 cup unpopped kernels or 1 microwavable bag, plain or lightly salted)
- Coating: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Topping: 2 tablespoons red sprinkles, 2 tablespoons green sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Step 2:
- Place popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels.
- Step 3:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes).
- Step 4:
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Step 5:
- Immediately pour the hot mixture over the popcorn. Using a silicone spatula, gently toss to coat all popcorn evenly.
- Step 6:
- Working quickly (the mixture sets fast), scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet, forming small piles or clusters.
- Step 7:
- While still sticky, generously sprinkle red and green sprinkles over each pile.
- Step 8:
- Allow to cool and set for 10 minutes before serving.
Save to Pinterest My family loves gathering around the kitchen as the popcorn clusters cool, eagerly anticipating this festive treat.
Required Tools
Large mixing bowl, small saucepan, silicone spatula, baking sheet, parchment paper
Allergen Information
Contains milk (butter). May contain traces of soy or gluten if using flavored popcorn or sprinkles—check labels for allergens.
Nutritional Information
Per pile: 95 calories, 2 g total fat, 19 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein.
Save to Pinterest This easy snack adds festive fun to any party and can be customized with your favorite sprinkles or toppings.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I prevent unpopped kernels in the snack?
Remove any unpopped kernels before coating to avoid hard pieces and ensure a pleasant texture.
- → Can I substitute the corn syrup with honey?
Yes, honey works well as a natural sweetener and helps create the sticky coating for the popcorn clusters.
- → What is the best way to coat the popcorn evenly?
Pour the hot mixture over popcorn and gently fold with a silicone spatula quickly to ensure even coverage before shaping piles.
- → How long should the popcorn piles set before serving?
Allow the piles to cool and set for about 10 minutes so the coating firms up and sprinkles adhere nicely.
- → Can I customize the topping colors for different occasions?
Absolutely, swap out red and green sprinkles for other colors to suit any festive theme or celebration.