This Christmas Popcorn should come with a warning. It’s dangerously addictive, and will be the likely cause of many sugar crash sofa naps during this holiday season!
It’s my caramel corn with a Christmas twist – traditional festive spices and a sprinkle of almonds. It makes for great Christmas candy snacks as well as food gifts that’s easy to make in bulk, economical and lasts for 2 – 3 weeks.
Christmas Popcorn
While everybody likes a good Caramel Popcorn, it really is just flat out sweet, and that’s it (but I still love you, Caramel Popcorn, don’t worry).
On the other hand, this caramel popcorn is far beyond just sweet. It’s loaded with warm Christmas spices and is studded with nutty almond for extra crunch. It is insanely, completely and ridiculously addictive!
What you need for Christmas Popcorn
Here’s what you need to make this:
Popcorn kernels – Just plain popping kernels
Holiday spices – I’ve use a mix reminiscent of Gingerbread Men, but you could even just use cinnamon alone and it would still be wonderful!
Corn syrup (or glucose) – This is required to ensure the caramel doesn’t crystallise, ie. when instead of turning into liquid, you end up with sugar grains. You can make caramel without it, but it’s a bit temperamental so corn syrup helps makes it a sure thing.
Corn syrup is not sold in Australian grocery stores but that’s not a problem. Just use glucose instead. It’s just a thicker form of corn syrup which works just as well. I get corn syrup online from USA Foods because I make caramel popcorn regularly for bribing gifting!
Other substitutions: golden syrup is best for the dry crisp coating. Honey also works but it does add extra flavour.
Baking soda / bi-carb soda – An important ingredient which makes the caramel foam up and lighten a bit so you get a more even, thin coverage on the popcorn surface (rather than thick globs that get stuck in your teeth);
Brown sugar – Better than white, for extra caramel flavours;
Salt – Just a touch, to balance out all the sweetness; and
Almonds – Because I think of nuts when I think of Christmas candy! Switch it out with literally any other nut you want – or seeds like pepitas, sunflower seeds or anything else that will hold up in the oven.
How to make Christmas Popcorn Candy
1. The Popcorn
You can either air pop the popcorn using a popcorn machine – in which case no oil is required – or cook it on the stove.
PRO TIP: While air popped popcorn is fat-free, it is not as crispy as stove popped popcorn!
2.Christmas Caramel for Popcorn
Plonk ➔ Simmer ➔ whisk!
Combine the sugar, butter and corn syrup in a saucepan;
Once it starts foaming, simmer for 4 minutes without stirring;
Take it off the stove, then add the spices and baking soda; and …
Foam it! Whisk vigorously and you’ll notice that the caramel increases in volume slightly and becomes a bit foamy. It looks a bit like candy honeycomb. This is due to the baking soda and is key to achieving a thin even coverage of caramel over all the popcorn. Without the baking soda, you end up with thick globs of caramel that gets stuck in your teeth when you eat the popcorn.
3. Bake to crisp it!
Pour the caramel over the popcorn;
Toss well to coat, add the almonds and keep tossing. You won’t be able to get an even coating at this stage because the caramel will harden too quickly. But don’t worry, we’ll fix this during the oven tossing stage!
Bake & toss! Spread the popcorn across two lined baking trays, then bake in a low 110°C/230°F oven for 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes or so. Baking makes the caramel melt again so it can continue spreading over the popcorn in a more even coating as you continue to toss it. It also dries the popcorn and caramel coating so the caramel coating is brittle and crisp instead of sticky and chewy;
Cool on the trays then break it up into small or large chunks before storing in airtight containers or bags.
What to do with Christmas Popcorn Candy
This particular type of Caramel Popcorn is new to my stable of recipes so I haven’t used it to its full potential yet! But here’s what I envisage:
BribingGifting – Who doesn’t love a homemade edible gift?? (Bonus that it’s super-duper economical, easy to make in bulk and has a shelf life of 2 – 3 weeks!)Nibbly-style dessert – If your family is anything like mine, we inevitably go all out on the mains and tap out before dessert, leaving us too full to eat a full size, proper dessert. So snack-size sweet treats like this are ideal. I am forever scarred by the giant gingerbread house I made once which took me hours to construct, only to be completely rejected by the entire family because everyone was so full after dinner. Only the chimney got eaten. Reluctantly, at that!! I was
seriously peevedshattered, and vowed never again to make an enormous effort for Christmas dinner dessert; andCandy – Certainly with the amount of sugar in this, it totally qualifies as a candy! And it has the shelf life of candy too (2 -3 weeks).
Of course, it also makes for an excellent secret stash of treats, just for yourself. Shh! I won’t tell if you don’t… 😉 – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Christmas Popcorn Candy
Ingredients
For the popcorn
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (not required if air popping with a popcorn maker)
- 1/3 cup popping corn (10 cups popcorn, Note 1 for lighter caramel coverage)
- 2/3 cup slivered almonds
For the caramel
- 100g / 7 tbsp butter , unsalted
- 1 cup brown sugar , packed
- 1/2 cup (170g) corn syrup , light (substitute glucose, Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Christmas Spices
- 3 tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 tsp ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp allspice powder (or more cinnamon)
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves (or more cinnamon)
Instructions
Popcorn
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add a few pieces of popcorn and wait until it pops, then quickly remove.
- Add remaining popcorn, elevate off stove to shake and spread corn out evenly. Cover with a lid. Once the popcorn starts popping in earnest, shake the pot gently once.
- Remove from heat when the popping almost stops (when you can count to 3 between pops) and transfer to a (very!) large bowl. You need 10 cups of popcorn.
Caramel:
- Preheat oven to 110°C/230°F.
- Melt butter in a saucepaan over medium heat.
- Add sugar, corn syrup (or glucose) and salt. Stir until just combined.
- When it starts to bubble, simmer for 4 minutes – DO NOT STIR!
- Remove from heat then quickly whisk in Christmas Spices, vanilla and baking soda. Whisk vigorously for 10 seconds, then when you stop whisking, the caramel will foam and increase in volume.
- Quickly pour straight over popcorn, toss to coat.
- Sprinkle over the almonds, and toss again until caramel cools and starts to harden.
Baking to crisp:
- Spread popcorn across 2 baking trays.
- Bake for 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes or so. Caramel will remelt for the first 2-3 tosses – tossing further coats popcorn more evenly with caramel. (If using glucose instead of corn syrup, bake further 15 minutes).
- Remove from oven, leave to cool. Gently break into pieces then transfer to airtight container for storage. Stays crisp 2 – 3 weeks!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
I’d be pretty happy if I found a Dozer under MY Christmas Tree…..
So delicious it lasted less than 2 days! Making another batch now
I really didn’t want to make this…sooooo glad I did! It was a great gift and the ‘leftovers’ were demolished by the hubby. Thanks Nagi
We made “Christmas Carol in a Box” gifts this year and wanted a fun snack to include that would be reminiscent of a Christmas pudding. Your Christmas Popcorn Candy made a perfect “Christmas Pudding Popcorn.” It’s so good, we had to make extra because none of us could stop eating it. Definitely a keeper!
I can’t stop eating it!! It’s soo good.
I did half a cup of popcorn, and only one teaspoon of ginger because I was afraid it would be too much. I’m glad I only did one as it is perfect! Tastes like gingerbread popcorn and I’m hooked. Will be making little baggies of it to throw in the Christmas stockings and gifts for the neighbours. I can’t imagine they won’t love it. Thanks Nagi!
Hi Nagi, thanks for the Christmas gift ideas. Can I substitute the Corn Syrup/Glucose component with Agave?
Yes yes yes!!!
What can I do to make this dairy free?
I make Caramel Corn all year long Its great for picnics Birthday Parties (All 16 of the grands and the three older Great Grands insist on it!) 4th of July watching the fireworks, BBQs and tailgating. No Reason to wait for Christmas
This is a brilliant recipe! I have made it several times. I like extra nuttiness, so my favourite combination is 1 cup each of chopped macadamia and cashew nuts. I have also adapted this recipe base using lightly salted packaged cooked pork rinds (a.k.a. pork crackling in Australia) with maple syrup, pumpkin pie spices, and a touch of Tajin chilli and lime seasoning. The result is a delicious sweet, and spicy treat with a touch of saltiness. I was inspired by Nagi’s “Man Candy” recipe which my family love but I needed something that didn’t require refrigeration for my Christmas gift baskets. Everyone loved it! Thanks again, Nagi.
PS. The Man Candy recipe is here: https://www.recipetineats.com/man-candy-candied-bacon-nuts/
Also, I use a combination of walnuts and pecans with the pork rind version, as in Nagi’s Man Candy.
Absolutely amazing!!! I started on my second batch before the first was done after tasting a sample! I LOVE the slightest kick from the ginger – it is SO good. Thank you 😊
So delicious! I was making this to put into little gift bags for Christmas Day, but we all loved it so much it didn’t even touch the bags! Second batch it is! Make this – you will love it!
HoHo what a jolly good recipe! I hav made a batch to gift all my nursing co-workers.
Hi Nagi. We have nut allergies – can we leave out the almonds or substitute something for it? Looks amazing!
I would suggest skipping this recipe if you have nut allergies. Try the ‘normal’ caramel popcorn instead.
OMGOODNESS!! I just finished making this and it is SO good!!! It’s supposed to be for a party and I can’t stay out of it! Thank you for another winner! Merry Christmas!
This is absolutely beautiful. I love it. Everyone i have gifted it to loves it. Thank You Nagi!!! X
You are very welcome! N x
I’m making for the second time today this was a real treat at Christmas everybody raved about it, a great mix of salty and sweet with toasty spices it makes the house smell like a spiced candle!
That’s awesome Georgie!! N X
Plonk, Simmer, whisk, Love it. Dozer has fitted perfectly. You know I just love popcorn, Thank you.
OMG. Made this for Christmas gifts along with some cookies but this Christmas Popcorn was the star! And soooo addictive too. It was so tasty that it makes me wonder why no one has ever thought to add spices to caramel popcorn before? You are amazing Nagi. Happy New Year to you and Dozer!
Hi Nagi, I haven’t actually tried this recipe yet but want to thank you for the wonderful tip of stabilizing sugar syrup with glucose – I had to make heaps of Italian meringue buttercream for a wedding cake and I added a teaspoon of glucose each batch and had not a single crystal! Thank you!
Made this yesterday. Split the batch in half as DD doesn’t like nuts so did hers without. The house smelled fantastic while it was baking. Tastes so good. A keeper for sure.