[Chocolate-Peppermint Popcorn is vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg free, soy-free, nut-free and yeast-free. Suitable for Stage 2 and beyond on an anti-candida diet.]
Some people think, “Santa Claus.” Some people think, “cranberries.” Some people think, “tofurkey.” Me? When I think of the holiday season, I think: “chocolate + peppermint.”
Of course, there’s no doubt that chocolate is my favorite food on the planet. (If we’re heading off the planet, well, then maybe it’s Klingon gach). But pair that sepia confection with sweet, fragrant peppermint, and my palate may just fall into paroxysms of delight.
This recipe is my anti-candida friendly version of a product I spied the other day while shopping for groceries: a bag of white chocolate-peppermint popcorn. As soon as I saw it, I knew instantly that I’d attempt a healthified version the moment I got home. I’ve been using my air-popper and this organic popcorn to ensure we’re not ingesting GMOs in our snack. You could use any kind of popped corn, or try the corn-free option in this recipe (scroll to the bottom for the recipe).
My first batch was, in fact, made exclusively with “white chocolate,” but I quickly realized that, without the crushed candy canes sprinkled over top, my treat seemed rather anemic looking (sort of like Kristen Stewart without makeup on). The solution? Dual drizzles of both dark and white chocolate!
This recipe is so easy to make, you might prefer to keep the process a secret so that everyone thinks you slaved for hours. That way, you can talk about how exhausted you are after concocting this gourmet treat (which is why you’ll be “too tired” to help clear up later–heh heh).
[In process–drizzled with chocolate and coconut butter, ready for the fridge.]
This popcorn is also really easy to eat, which makes it the perfect snack to set out in a big bowl on the counter throughout the holidays. Then you can pluck a handful as you pass by the kitchen to go sip nog by the fireplace, munch while you watch It’s A Wonderful Life, take along when you sneak upstairs to wrap gifts, or nibble when you head back to the kitchen to roast that tofurkey. Either way, it’s a delectable, festive snack.
Stay tuned: next time, I serve up TWO fantabulous appetizers for your holiday festivities!
Super Easy Chocolate-Peppermint Popcorn (with Corn-Free option)
Popcorn is the quintessential snack food, and here it gets a holiday makeover dressed in dark and “white chocolate” with a peppermint infusion. Be sure to use organic corn to avoid any GMOs. If you prefer not to use corn at all, try out the method for a corn-free option in this recipe.
10 cups (2.5 L) popped organic popcorn
2 ounces (55 g) unsweetened good-quality chocolate, melted (see note)
30-40 drops pure vanilla or peppermint stevia, to your taste (see note)
1/3 cup (80 ml) coconut butter (not oil), gently melted
20-25 drops peppermint stevia, to your taste
Cover two large cookie sheets with parchment. Lay the popcorn on the sheets in a single layer (or as close as you can get).
In a small bowl, combine the chocolate with the vanilla stevia. In another small bowl, mix together the coconut butter and peppermint stevia.
Carefully drizzle the chocolate stevia across the top of the popcorn in thin, relatively parellel, lines. Next, drizzle the coconut butter in the opposite direction. Transfer the sheets to the refrigerator or freezer for the chocolate to set.
Once the chocolate is set, break apart the popcorn into bite-sized segments. Store in a covered container at room temperature. Will keep up to 3 days. Makes 10 cups.
NOTE 1: I found that the popcorn began to lose its crispness after a day or so. Storing it in the fridge helped to prevent this from happening.
NOTE 2: If you are able to eat some sugar and want to simplify the preparation, use 2 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips instead of the unsweetened chocolate and vanilla stevia. Not ACD-compliant, obviously.
Suitable for: ACD Stage 2 and beyond, sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg free, soy-free, nut free, yeast-free, vegan.
[Mum, you know that Elsie and I love popcorn, too, right? So why’d you have to go ruin it with that contra-canine chocolate??]
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Ah that sounds like a wonderful treat! I’d definitely snack on this during a movie night 🙂
I agree, Baby June! Or pretty much any night. 🙂
“Contra-canine chocolate”! Love it! Poor pitiful deprived pups. 😉 This recipe looks divine, Ricki! That last photo of it in the snowman bowl is calling my name. 🙂
xo,
Shirley
Those Girls are pretty wacky, right? 😉 And don’t worry, Shirley, those dogs are anything but deprived (despite their pitiful expressions!). Glad you like the popcorn, too. And the bowl was there in every photo–just didn’t reveal the snowman until I munched a bit more of it! 😀
I just made some (with a few modifications) and it is fabulous! Thanks for what is sure to be a gone-in-sixty-seconds dessert this holiday!
So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! We’ve been scooping it up pretty quickly over here, too. 😉 Have a great holiday!