St. Patrick’s Day Popcorn

Yesterday I needed to make some little “thank you” gifts and since almost everyone likes popcorn AND chocolate, I opted for the chocolate drizzled popcorn that has become so popular. When you put chocolate and popcorn together and achieve that perfect blend of sweet with a little salty…mmm, I’m good! In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I went with a green and gold theme. I bagged the finished popcorn in serving size treat bags, found a cute little St. Paddy’s Day wish that I copied and made into a little card and voila! Some cute, yummy looking “thank you” treats! It tasted pretty good too!

Packaged goodie bags

Here is my version of St. Patrick’s Day Popcorn:

Makes about 16 single serving treat bags

4 bags of white microwave popping corn – regular size bags, not snack size
1 12 oz bag of green colored, vanilla flavored candy melts
1 8 oz bag of salted caramel candy melts
1 small container sprinkles – I found some that looked like tiny gold pieces
1 9.6 oz bag green mint M&M’s
3 3.6 oz boxes of junior caramels
Pretzels twists

Everything you need

Pop your popcorn according to microwave instructions. Spread the popcorn out in thin layers on cookie sheets or in shallow pans.

popped popcorn

Melt the candy melts, one flavor at a time, according to package directions. Dip a couple of dozen pretzels in the candy melt, enough to cover 1/2 of the pretzel, add some sprinkles, and let cool on a plate covered with waxed paper.

pretzels covered in candy melts

Reheat candy melt if necessary and drizzle over all the popcorn, covering as much as possible, add some sprinkles . Let sit until candy melt has hardened.

First layer of candy melts

Gently stir popcorn. Melt the second bag of candy melts and repeat dipping some pretzels, adding sprinkles, and then drizzling the remainder over the popcorn, again adding sprinkles.

second layer of candy melts

Let the pretzels and popcorn sit until the candy melt has hardened. Break into pieces. Add pretzels, caramels and M&M’s. Mix and enjoy!

Finished product

I know that there are many recipes out there for this popular popcorn treat. My suggestion is to be creative and develop a recipe that suites your sweet tooth. You can add as much or as little candy melt to your popcorn as you would like, and in whatever colors or flavors you choose. The add-in’s are limited only by your imagination. Any small candies, chocolates, raisins, nuts, or marshmallows would be good. This is not a hard recipe to make, but it does take a little time to pop the popcorn, melt the candy, dip the pretzels and let the candy melt set up. It’s kind of a fun bonding project to do with your kids or friends, young or old! …and Junior Caramels…my new favorite‼

St. Patrick’s Day Wish was from:
stpatricksdayimages.com