Valentine Popcorn Clusters

Difficulty: Beginner

So I set about trying to create a treat for Valentine’s Day. I gathered some ingredients and came up with a plan. Sometimes I get ideas in my head and I think it will totally work. Usually my ideas do work. Let me be completely honest with you guys, my idea didn’t work. Not even a little.

What I imagined in my head was not even close to what was displayed in front of me as an almost finished product. Don’t worry, all was not lost. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes a new treat was born. Wow, that sounds so dramatic. I love it!

What is this culinary disaster turned delectable success? Well it is sort of a hybrid snack. A cross between rice krispies treats, puppy chow/trash and popcorn balls. The reason it works as a Valentine’s Day treat is because I drizzled pink white chocolate over it and it contains chocolate, ha! It’s a stretch I know, but it could easily be adapted to work for lots of other holidays by changing the colors.

Let me tell you this stuff is majorly addicting, so make a batch and I challenge you to only eat one piece. Seriously I don’t know how there was enough left for me to take a picture, because I just kept eating it. I may regret it tomorrow when I step on the scale, but for now I’m totally happy with my decision to binge on this tasty treat. My mouth is watering as I think about it!

Enough chit chat, let’s get to it.

6 ½ Cups Popcorn (prepared)

2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

½ Cup Peanut Butter

1 ½-2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1 Bag Mini Marshmallows (10 oz.)

3 TBSP Butter

Pink Gel Food Color

In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat melt butter. Once the butter is melted add marshmallows and start melting, stirring often. Then add chocolate chips and peanut butter and continue stirring until completely melted. Mixture will be somewhat thick and pliable. Add popcorn to a large mixing bowl and pour mixture over. Toss popcorn with mixture until combined. Then press into a 9×13 pan and let cool on the counter or in the refrigerator. Meanwhile add 1 cup powdered sugar to a gallon zip top bag. Once the popcorn mixture is completely cooled turn out onto a large cookie sheet or cutting board and break into pieces. Add pieces to the gallon bag and top with ½ cup to a cup of powdered sugar. Zip the bag closed and toss to coat with powdered sugar. Once coated dump into a mesh sieve or colander and shake over the sink to remove excess sugar. Once the extra sugar is gone spread pieces out onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments stirring after each 30 seconds. Once chocolate is smooth add a small amount of pink food gel and mix until a solid pink color. Use a spoon to drizzle the pink chocolate over the popcorn clusters or add to a piping bag and pipe over. Once the white chocolate is hardened you can package it up to give away or eat it all yourself. About 12 servings.

Once the butter is melted add marshmallows and start melting, stirring often.

Spray spoon with non stick spray to prevent the melted marshmallow from sticking

add chocolate chips and peanut butter and continue stirring until completely melted Add popcorn to a large mixing bowl and pour mixture over.

Add 1 cup powdered sugar to a gallon zip top bag. Add pieces to the gallon bag and top with ½ cup to a cup of powdered sugar.

Once coated dump into a mesh sieve or colander and shake over the sink to remove excess sugar. spread pieces out onto a baking sheet in a single layer.