Save A festive, crowd-pleasing snack of sweet popcorn clusters, topped with a burst of colorful red and green sprinkles—perfect for last-minute parties or holiday gatherings.
I remember making these popcorn piles every holiday season to delight my family and guests with their festive look and sweet flavor.
Ingredients
- Popcorn: 6 cups freshly popped popcorn (about 1/4 cup unpopped kernels or 1 microwavable bag, plain or lightly salted)
- Coating: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Topping: 2 tablespoons red sprinkles 2 tablespoons green sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Step 2:
- Place popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels.
- Step 3:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes).
- Step 4:
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Step 5:
- Immediately pour the hot mixture over the popcorn. Using a silicone spatula, gently toss to coat all popcorn evenly.
- Step 6:
- Working quickly (the mixture sets fast), scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet, forming small piles or clusters.
- Step 7:
- While still sticky, generously sprinkle red and green sprinkles over each pile.
- Step 8:
- Allow to cool and set for 10 minutes before serving.
Save This recipe always brings back warm memories of holiday gatherings with family and friends sharing these sweet treats.
Required Tools
Large mixing bowl Small saucepan Silicone spatula Baking sheet Parchment paper
Allergen Information
Contains: Milk (butter) May contain traces of soy or gluten if using flavored popcorn or sprinkles—check labels for allergens.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 95 Total Fat: 2 g Carbohydrates: 19 g Protein: 1 g per pile
Save These popcorn piles are a simple yet festive treat that’s perfect for any celebration.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I prevent unpopped kernels from ending up in the piles?
After popping, sift through the popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels before coating to ensure a smooth texture and avoid hard bites.
- → Can I replace the corn syrup with another sweetener?
Yes, honey works well as a substitute, adding a rich flavor while maintaining the sticky coating needed to bind the popcorn clusters.
- → How long do the popcorn piles stay fresh?
Store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days to maintain freshness and crunch.
- → Is it possible to add nuts or other mix-ins?
Absolutely! Adding chopped nuts or mini pretzels before coating adds extra crunch and flavor variety.
- → What is the best way to evenly coat the popcorn with the syrup?
Pour the hot syrup over popcorn and gently toss using a silicone spatula to ensure all pieces are evenly coated before forming piles.
- → Can I use different sprinkle colors for other occasions?
Yes, swap the red and green sprinkles with any color combination to suit different celebrations or themes.