Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn

Hi, my name is Rachel and I have a popcorn problem. Everyone at work knows that when i'm at home relaxing, I can probably be found with a bowl of this snack in front of me. I'll eat it plain, with spices, lightly buttered, HEAVILY buttered, or even covered in a sweet peanut-buttery coating like this recipe! I love making fresh homemade popcorn because it makes such a large amount and I feel like I get to indulge in a snack that is actually healthy!

I can typically be found working like a mad scientist sprinkling an array of spices on my warm popcorn. Depending on the flavor i'm feeling in the moment, is the concoction I come up with. BUT, every once in a while, we need a bit of sweet with our salty. ENTER, this beauty. I recently threw together this recipe for some guests, and it was literally the most addicting snack I could have put out. Not only is this snack dangerous, it stores well in resealable bags, making the lifetime of this snack just as dangerous as the day it was made!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Yields: 10 cups popped popcorn

Ingredients:

⅓ cup of popcorn kernels

3 tablespoons canola oil

½ cup honey

⅓ cup sugar

½ cup peanut butter

Dash of vanilla

½ cup melted chocolate chips

½ cup chopped peanuts

½ cup chopped mini peanut butter cups or chocolate covered peanuts

Sea salt

Directions

1.If you plan on using pre-popped popcorn move down to step 2. To make homemade popcorn, heat a pot over medium heat with 3 tablespoons canola oil.* To test the temperature of the oil, throw 2 kernels in, and when they pop the oil is ready. Add your ⅓ cup of popcorn kernels to the oil, and cover the pot with your lid. Give the kernels about 30 seconds to begin heating up along with the oil. Crack your lid open a bit, resting the lid in a way that allows you to not have to hold it open. Once the first kernels popping, begin to shake the pot over the heat helping the kernels all pop and not stick/burn on the bottom of the pot. Once you do not hear anymore popping, open lid and pour popcorn out onto a sheet pan.

2. While popcorn cools on your baking sheet, mix the honey and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat for 2 minutes allowing the sugar to dissolve. Remove from the heat and add in your peanut butter to mix together. Add in your dash of vanilla and stir one last time before pouring over your cooled popcorn. Mix popcorn allowing each piece to become covered by the mixture. Begin to sprinkle your peanuts, chocolate candy, and sea salt followed by a drizzling of your melted chocolate. Place the pan in your fridge to harden up before breaking into chunks and enjoying!

*Canola oil is best used for making popcorn because it has a higher smoke point than something like olive oil