Peppermint bark popcorn

By barbsjustagirl

Peppermint Bark Popcorn
After I did Monster Munch back in October, I heard from several people that they had eaten something similar, but with Candy canes in it. I was thinking about doing peppermint bark this week, and the thought of combining the two together gave me warm fuzzies.

I think this might be the perfect Christmas treat because,
1. It's yummy.
2. It's e.a.s.y. So easy! And quick too.
3. Just one batch makes enough to fill up lots of goodie bags.
4. It packs well. It's dry and in small pieces, so it's perfect for filling any type of container, or throwing it in a big bowl for a party.
5. Did I mention it's yummy?

Also, I am quite the connoisseur of candy canes, and in my educated opinion, Bob's brand rocks. Seriously, don't use anything else. Especially not Spangler Candy Canes, they're awful. No, Bob's didn't pay me to say that!

(you'll need twice the amout of almond bark shown, I just made a half-batch for pictures)

Ingredients

• 16-20 C popped popcorn (fresh, or about 2 bags microwave popcorn)
• 1 lb Almond Bark
• 1 6oz box candy canes, crushed. (About 1-1 1/2 C total and Bob's are the best!)
• 2 tea. peppermint extract
• 3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
• one *one bag microwave popcorn has about 10 cups in it, so if you're air-popping, do about 20 cups.

Preparation

Step 1

*one bag microwave popcorn has about 10 cups in it, so if you're air-popping, do about 20 cups.

Place popcorn in a very large mixing bowl.

Unwrapping the candy canes to crush them is the most labor intensive step of this easy treat, so you can do that ahead of time if you want too. I put my candy canes in a large zip-lock bag and have a whack with a heavy marble rolling pin.


One they're crushed, dump them into the bowl with the popcorn.


To melt the almond bark, follow the instructions on the package. I just break it up and put it in a glass measuring cup and microwave on 1 min intervals until it's nice and smooth.

When your almond bark is melted, add the peppermint extract. It will seize a little bit (get kind of lumpy) but it's totally fine. Pour over popcorn and candycanes.

Stir it up really well until the candy is evenly distributed. Pour the popcorn out onto a piece of waxed paper, parchment, or foil. Spread it out into an even layer and leave it alone!



While the popcorn is setting, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. I really like dark chocolate to counter-balance the sweetness of the almond bark, but I know there's a lot of dark haters, so do what you want!

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn. You can use a fork, or put it in a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off.


Leave it until the almond bark and the chocolate is hardened. If you need to hurry it up, do this whole process on lined cookie sheets you can pop in the fridge.

When chocolate is hardened, use your hands to break up popcorn into chunks. Toss in a bowl, a jar, a cute package, or in your mouth :)