Afternoon Sugar Rush: How to Make Double Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn

Double Caramel Marshmallow PopcornThe day is winding down, and so is your energy. But that’s nothing a double shot of caramel can’t fix! For the ultimate sugar rush, whip up a wickedly delicious batch of this Double Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn recipe. It’s got twice the sweet flavor, and it’s twice as easy to make as any other dessert. So go ahead and give that afternoon slump a one-two punch!

Batch of Double Caramel Marshmallow PopcornWhat You’ll Need

2 canisters The Popcorn Factory caramel popcorn
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups brown sugar
23 large marshmallows

Directions

  1. Pour the caramel popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Melt the butter in a pot over low heat.
  3. Add the corn syrup, vanilla extract, brown sugar and marshmallows to the pot and turn the heat to medium. Stir the ingredients until the marshmallows completely melt and the mixture takes on a smooth, thick caramel texture.
  4. Carefully pour the caramel marshmallow mixture over the caramel popcorn and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.
  5. Let the popcorn cool for a few minutes, and then serve in a bowl or store in an airtight container.

What other popcorn flavors do you turn to for a midday pick-me-up? Tell us about your favorite!

National Popcorn Day Recipe: Tuxedo Chocolate Chip Cookie Popcorn (Plus Fun Family Activities!)

Tuxedo Chocolate Chip Cookie PopcornHear ye, hear ye: We’re overjoyed to announce that January 19 is National Popcorn Day! To help you celebrate the world’s yummiest and most fun snack, we’ve gathered a list of exciting National Popcorn Day activities for you to enjoy with your kids. Plus, we’ve even put together a spankin’ new recipe just for you: Our Tuxedo Chocolate Chip Cookie Popcorn is perfectly dressed for the occasion. So get ready; this is going to be one pop-tastic holiday for the whole family!

National Popcorn Day Activities for the Family

  • Help your kids carefully string together some popcorn to create garland. Hang up your delish décor anywhere in your house, or turn it into an outdoor bird feeder by covering it with birdseed.
  • Test your kids’ knowledge with a pop quiz! Search the Web for some little-known popcorn facts, and then use them to create a flash card game. At the end of the game, each contestant gets a special popcorn treat as a prize.
  • Go to the library and take out some popcorn-themed books that your kids can read while they munch on their favorite snack.
  • Print out a bunch of popcorn coloring sheets and let your kids show off their inner pop-casso. Help them proudly display their artwork on the fridge or in a handmade Popsicle stick frame. (Tip: Decorate the frame with glitter and popcorn!)
  • Or, make a different kind of pop art: Grab some construction paper and glue, plus a few fun popcorn flavors and colors. Help your kids glue the popcorn to the construction paper to create a masterpiece.
  • To end your holiday on a very sweet note, try our special National Popcorn Day recipe below!

Recipe: Tuxedo Chocolate Chip Cookie Popcorn

What You’ll Need

8 chocolate chip cookies with white and milk chocolate chunks
8 cups Peanut Brittle Popcorn*
2 cups semisweet or milk chocolate chips
½ cup white chocolate chips

*Peanut Brittle Popcorn adds a hint of saltiness that perfectly complements the chocolately flavor of the cookies. But if anyone in your family is allergic to peanuts, use another sweet Popcorn Factory flavor instead, like caramel or kettle corn.

Directions

  1. Pour the Peanut Brittle Popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Crumble the cookies into tiny bite-sized pieces and add them to the bowl of popcorn. Then, add the white chocolate chips and lightly stir the mixture until the popcorn, cookies and chocolate are well-blended.
  3. Place the semisweet or milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave until it is melted, making sure to stir the chocolate every 30 seconds.
  4. Once the chocolate has melted, pour it over your popcorn mixture and gently stir it to get an even coating.
  5. Pour the popcorn mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread it out into a thin layer. Cool it in the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until the melted chocolate has completely hardened.
  6. When it’s ready, break apart your Tuxedo Chocolate Chip Cookie Popcorn into big chunks and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

How will you and your family celebrate National Popcorn Day?

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Recipe: Pink Popcorn Ribbons!

Popcorn RibbonIt’s officially National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! All throughout October, charities across the country will be spreading the word about the battle against breast cancer and raising money for a cure. Millions of men and women will be donning pink as a reminder that breast cancer can be defeated with regular breast exams, mammograms and other early-detection screenings. Plus, hundreds of organizations will be helping patients and survivors understand their diagnosis, choose the best treatment and get emotional support.

The Popcorn Factory Pink Kettle CornTo do our part in the national movement against breast cancer, The Popcorn Factory has launched a brand-new snack: pink kettle corn! You too can help support the campaign by giving this delicious gift to the women you care about most. Every time you buy a container, we’ll donate a portion of the proceeds to charity! There are dozens of ways you can use pink popcorn to send your message: Mail it to your friend as an invitation to get a screening together, or serve the sweet and savory treat at your next fundraising event. Throwing a pink-themed party? You can get crafty and whip up these easy-to-make pink popcorn ribbons:


IngredientsPopcorn Ribbon

20 cups pink kettle corn
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine
2 5/8 cups sugar
1 cup marshmallows
2 teaspoons water

Directions

  1. Place pink kettle corn into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Combine corn syrup, margarine, sugar, marshmallows and water in a saucepan. Heat on medium until the mixture starts to boil.
  3. Once the syrup has boiled, pour it over the pink popcorn and stir until the popcorn is completely covered in syrup.
  4. After the popcorn has slightly cooled, butter your hands and mold the popcorn into the shape of a pink Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. Rest the ribbons on wax paper.
  5. Melt a bar of white chocolate in the microwave. Once the chocolate has melted, add two drops of red food coloring. Stir the chocolate until it turns pink.
  6. Lightly drizzle the melted pink chocolate onto the ribbons.
  7. Let the ribbons cool at room temperature until they harden.
  8. Once they’ve cooled, remove them from the wax paper and serve them on your prettiest platter!

How will you chip in to help women learn more about breast cancer? Are you starting your own charity or fundraiser to help find a cure? Do you want to inspire women by sharing your own experiences as a breast cancer survivor? We want to hear your inspiring stories!

National Popcorn Month – Drizzled Caramel Popcorn Cookie (3 winners!)

Drizzled Caramel Popcorn
Drizzled Caramel Popcorn

It’s National Popcorn Month, and The Popcorn Factory® is celebrating by sharing some of our best kept popcorn party planning secrets with you each week in October!  Popcorn has long been a staple for all celebrations – from sporting events to gift-giving and movie watching, but popcorn is also a great way to spice up your cooking.

As part of the celebration for National Popcorn Month, we are giving away 3 of the The Popcorn Factory® Drizzled Caramel Clear Favorites (Item# S3551CD) that are featured in the special recipe below! Just post about a paragraph or so below telling us some of your favorite memories with  popcorn at Halloween time. We’ll pick 3 random people (using random.org) and send them a box of the  The Popcorn Factory® Drizzled Caramel Clear Favorites.

 

Current Party Status:  
Winner #1) #27  Sara Lambert on October 12th, 2010 @ 9:52 p.m
Winner  #2) #12 Written By Barbara on October 11th, 2010 @ 7:28 p.m
Winner #3) #6 Written By Anne M. on October 11th, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m 
 
Don’t forget to try out the Drizzled Caramel Popcorn Cookie recipe below! 
 

Drizzled Caramel Popcorn Cookie

3 eggs

1 c. sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

¼ tsp. salt

6 tbs. unsalted butter

5 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

23 oz. The Popcorn Factory® Drizzled Caramel Clear Favorites (Item# S3551CD)

 

1)      Beat together eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour and salt in large mixing bowl.

2)      Melt semi-sweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate and unsalted butter in a double boiler, stirring consistently, until smooth.  Remove from heat.

3)      Pour melted chocolate mixture into dry ingredients mixture in large bowl.

4)      Using an electric or hand mixer, beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.

5)      Stir in popcorn until well distributed in batter.

6)      Drop in 1 ½” balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

7)      Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

8)   Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

 

Makes 2 ½ dozen cookies.