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Recipe: 2 Extra-Special Valentine Treats Made with Popcorn

by on Feb 8, 2012

 

Flea Market Find guru Matthew Mead helps us get into the Valentine’s Day spirit with two darling treats made with, of all things, Angie’s Kettle Corn.

First, Honey Caramel Kettle Corn Balls (pictured above).

  • 10 cups Angie’s Caramel Kettle Corn (click here to find a retailer near you)
  • 3/4 cups butter, cut into chunks, plus more for your hands 
  • 3/4  cups honey 
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • wooden sticks of the popsicle variety
  • stickers, cutouts, etc for embellishments
  • cellophane, optional 
  1.  Preheat oven to 325°. Put popcorn in a large roasting pan. Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper.
  2.  In a medium saucepan over medium heat, use a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon to stir together  butter, and honey, until butter is melted. Increase heat and boil honey mixture gently 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla.
  3. Carefully pour honey mixture over popcorn in roasting pan and stir gently to coat. Bake popcorn, stirring every 5 minutes, until deep golden all over, about 25 minutes.
  4. Let popcorn stand 5 minutes, or just until cool enough to handle. Working quickly with lightly buttered hands, press small handfuls of the mixture into 2 inch. balls, occasionally loosening popcorn from bottom of pan with a spatula. If mixture cools too much to be malleable, return it to oven for about 45 seconds to soften.
  5. Put popcorn balls on prepared baking sheet and let cool completely. Place in wooden sticks and embellish with heart stickers from the crafts store.
created at: 02/07/2012

Second, Angie’s Kettle Corn and Cranberry White Chocolate Hearts.

  • 1 lb. white chocolate
  • 1 cup Angie’s Kettle Corn, coarsely ground
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 2 – 3″ cardboard heart shaped candy boxes
  • parchment paper
  1. Line two three inch cardboard heart shaped candy boxes with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler (or in 30-second intervals in the microwave on 50% power, stirring after each). Once the chocolate is melted, remove from the heat and let sit for a few minutes to cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Add the kettle corn  and cranberries and stir to combine.
  3. Spread the chocolate mixture onto the prepared heart box in an even layer (depending on the size of the mold and how thick you would like your finished candy).  Decorate with whole dried cranberries.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until set.
  5. Remove from the mold and wrap in cellophane with a bow to give as a gift. 

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