Tis the season to be jolly! And if by being jolly you mean eating approximately 10,000 calories daily of Christmas cookies and assorted holiday desserts, then I am your poster girl for jolly. Ooof.
So as I sit here munching on the latkes my roommate’s mother sent over, it occurs to me that you probably have some sort of New Year’s plans. Maybe you’re going to a big fancy party. Or maybe you’re hosting one (good luck and godspeed)! Or maybe you’re just going to sit on your couch under a warm fuzzy blanket, watch the ball drop behind Ryan Seacrest’s increasingly surgically altered profile, and fall asleep at 12:03. In any event, you’re gonna need something to nosh on, no?
That’s what I thought.
This popcorn is honest-to-goodness addicting. I made a batch for a holiday cookie swap I hosted for some of my high school friends (yes, they knew me in my formative [read: most awkward] years and still associate with me), and it was a huge hit. I scraped the bowl as I was making it, ate muuuuch more than a few “test” handfuls, and kept sneaking bites when I went back to the kitchen to refill my snack bowls. You have been warned.
(Oh, and if you’re curious, I made a batch of these bad boys for the swap. Death by chocolate!)
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn
Ingredients:
- 1 package microwave popcorn, plain or natural flavored (not buttered)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, plus 1/4 cup
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1. Pop popcorn as directed on package. Pour into a bowl, separating any unpopped kernels. Allow popcorn to cool for 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips. If microwaving, heat chips on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate! Once it seizes up, it will be very difficult to drizzle over the popcorn. My chips only took about a minute to heat enough to melt–make sure you stir for quite a while, since the heat continues to work its way throughout the chips for several seconds after they’re removed from the microwave.
3. Pour white chocolate over the popcorn and stir to combine.
4. Heat 1/2 cup of peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour over chocolate-y popcorn and stir again.
5. Spread a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet or flat counter space and arrange popcorn in a layer on top of it.
6. Melt the remaining 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips and drizzle on top of the popcorn mixture. Place wax paper in the fridge to set popcorn, about 30 minutes.
I’m so grateful to all of the wonderful people out there who helped my little blog grow as much as it did in 2011, and I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!
I’m not the biggest fan of popcorn. It’s not that I don’t like it really, I just would rather have something else most of the time. But holy crap this is covered in peanut butter and white chocolate? Now I want nothing else.
I’m completely the same way with popcorn–I always opt for other snacks, even at the movies. But when you slather it up in chocolate pb deliciousness, I literally cannot say no. It must be the salty-sweet thing!
Oh man this looks great! I love that you added peanut butter with the white chocolate, what a great combo!
Definitely a winning combination! Sometimes white chocolate on its own can be too sweet for me…but um, everything’s better with peanut butter. Duh.
Yep, looks so much better than the store bought coated popcorn. It would be a great thing to have to nosh on New Year’s Eve night. Yum!
Seriously! And so easy to make, too–not worth paying for the store-bought stuff.
I’ve been on a serious white chocolate kick this holiday season, but never thought to pair it with peanut butter. I could get seriously addicted to this popcorn!
I cannot be held responsible for any addictions that may ensue…
Chocolate and peanut butter! You cant get any better than that! Thanks for sharing.
Nope, they were made for each other! Destined for unity! Thanks for reading.
Your blog is fantastic! This is a perfect treat for New Years or it is tempting me to try it right now.
Aw, thanks Maris.
It is quite a tempting snack…one I can’t keep in too close proximity! Willpower is something I do not have; alas.
Oh, gosh, this sounds amazing! I’m a huge fan of popcorn…especially the sweetened versions
I would give it two thumbs up, but I’m too busy filling my face with more handfuls of popcorn.
“Poster-girl for jolly” – HA! This looks to die for!
Haha, thanks Anna.
Gotta keep the jolliness going!
I love any kind of popcorn, and so does my 6 year old. We could polish this off in no time flat!
Definitely a kid-friendly finger food! Perhaps for a family movie night?
Omy goodness- no doubt that is addicting!! Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year to you too, Lori! I hope it was happy and delicious.
This popcorn looks so delicious. I love salty snacks with a hint of sweetness.
This is my first time visiting your blog and I like the recipes to you post. I will be back soon!
Thank you, Rona!! I hope you come back very soon.
Oh my god, I am drooling. White chocolate and peanut butter over popcorn sounds utterly addicting. I used to like popcorn, when it was super hot, so I could dump in a bag of M&M’s. So good. Can’t wait to try this and thank you for participating in the Holiday Recipe Club
Oh man that is a great idea–I’ve never thought to dump M&Ms or other candy in the popcorn bag while it’s still hot! (And this begs the question, how did a chocoholic like me not think of that??)
Thank you for organizing! I hope we can put together another one soon.
This would not be safe in my presence!
I had to hide it in my fridge. Behind the eggs and milk. Except for clearly I know where it is, so this isn’t really working…
wow, this looks fantastic! I actually have a popcorn machine, so I see this in my future…
Lucky girl with a popcorn machine!! I totally support your making many batches of this.
I love candied popcorn. This flavour looks awesome. chocolate and peanut butter can work with almost anything!!!
So true! It’s a no-fail combo.
Goodness gracious…this is totally up my alley!
Perfect for salty and sweet lovers alike!
Wish I would have seen this earlier so I could have made it for one of the fifteen holiday parties I went to…guess I’ll have to make it and and eat it all myself!
Awww man…not having to share? What a bummer! Heehee.
I’m not a fan of plain popcorn but when it’s coated with good stuff, I’m all for it!
My thoughts exactly–gimme that caramel corn, chocolate popcorn…keep the regular kind!
Oh man, that sounds absolutely incredible. It’s the peanut butter that really puts it over the edge in my book! I bet it’d be great with dark chocolate, too.
I’d totally love to try this with dark chocolate–I bet it’d be fabulous as well.
I love popcorn to begin with…but now…wow.
Right?? It’s like a whole different level of snacking!!
SO funny! I just posted a recipe for Peanut Butter Covered Kettle Corn! Gotta love snack food! http://bakealittle.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/peanut-butter-covered-kettle-corn/
This looks absolutely delicious! Thanks for the idea…and the Sugar Rush!
Congrats on being included in this Sweet Sixteen Collection. I followed the trail to find you…and yummy! I’m glad I did! Thanks for sharing. I’ll be back!