White Chocolate Candy Cane Popcorn is a three ingredient, no-bake holiday treat. It's quick and easy plus it makes a nice edible gift, if you can bag some up before it disappears. Add a hand written gift tag and share it with teachers, friends and neighbours.
Gluten free eaters need lots of easy ideas for food in every category and every occasion throughout the year. Whether it's a late night treat for yourself, or something to take and share, this is an idea for popcorn lovers.
Don't keep it only for the Christmas holiday. Create your own versions by skipping the candy canes, trying different kinds of chocolate, adding nuts and on and on.
Gift Ideas for Gluten Free Kitchens
Whether you're new to gluten free or not, all kitchens need tools and gadgets so check out both of these posts for some great gift ideas.
Ingredients
This popcorn sounds like a naturally gluten free recipe but not all candy canes are safe for celiacs. Check the ingredients and when you find gluten free ones stock up.
- popped popcorn
- white chocolate
- gluten free candy canes
If you can't find safe candy canes substitute any hard peppermint candies but don't change the name. At Christmas anything you make with the word candy canes in the name just sounds like fun!
Tips for Fun in the Kitchen
Gluten free kids need to learn to have fun in the kitchen but we can create our own fun too. You need to convince kids that the prep is a fun activity (and believe that yourself).
Unwrapping candy canes, smashing them, popping the popcorn and melting the chocolate can be fun or annoying. You get to decide.
Unlike Tik Toc videos where people peel a hard boiled egg perfectly, in three seconds, that's not what happens in most kitchens. So put on some music or start a conversation because unwrapping candy canes is no breeze.
Now smashing candy canes is fun, especially for young kids! Use durable freezer bags that are thicker than regular sandwich bags since the bag will get holes from the sharp edges of the candy canes.
Place the bag on a cutting board, cover it with a towel and smash away using the smooth side of a kitchen mallet or a hammer. Be sure to stop before it's all dust.
I like bits of crushed candy cane large enough to show the colours. You will have some candy cane dust that can go in the popcorn, be sprinkled on whipped cream or used to make a fancy rim on a holiday drink.
How To Melt Chocolate in the Microwave
Melting chocolate in the microwave is quick and easy. Burning it is also easy so follow these steps to avoid that mistake.
- Place the chocolate in a bowl just large enough to hold the chocolate.
- Microwave the chocolate on high for one minute. Stir well watching closely to see if the last bits melt.
- If not completely melted microwave for 30 seconds and stir again.
- Repeat in 30 second increments, stirring well each time until the chocolate is smooth.
Kitchen Tools and a Gift Idea
Make popcorn in a hot air popper or a pot on the stove. If you've got a popcorn lover on your list give a big bag of this White Chocolate Candy Cane Popcorn, the recipe, a bag of popcorn and a hot air popper.
- Old-fashioned hot air popcorn maker.
- Silicone Popcorn Popper for the microwave that's collapsable!
- Vintage Table Top Kettle Popcorn Maker.
- A kitchen mallet to crush candy canes.
- A mold for making Chocolate Bombs because you're crushing candy canes already, you probably have marshmallows and wouldn't making bombs be fun!
If you tried this White Chocolate Candy Cane Popcorn, as an activity or an edible gift, I'd love to hear about your adventure in the comments below.
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White Chocolate Candy Cane Popcorn
Ingredients
- 12 cups plain popped popcorn
- 12 oz white chocolate chips or squares (340g)
- ½ cup crushed gluten free candy canes
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Put popcorn in a large bowl or deep pan with sides.
- Put chocolate in a bowl just large enough to hold it. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir well. Microwave another 30 seconds, stirring well until smooth.
- Pour chocolate evenly over popcorn. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top and gently mix to combine.
- Turn out onto prepared baking sheets and allow to harden, about 30 minutes.
- Break cooled popcorn into chunks and serve in a large glass bowl decorated with additional candy canes or wrap in clear bags and give generously. Friends and teachers love to receive this in clear bags, tied with ribbon and a handwritten gift tag.
Cinde
I've made this for teachers many times and it is always a hit!