These Christmas popcorn recipes are great for Christmas party foods, fun Christmas movie night party, kids’ holiday treat ideas, or easy DIY Christmas food gifts if you want to do coated candy popcorns homemade gifts this holiday season or need easy Christmas treats to sell at a bake sale!
Easy DIY Christmas Popcorn Recipes
I made red Christmas popcorn with white sprinkles and white Christmas popcorn with blue sprinkles (just because that seemed like festive food gift colors to me). But, you can change up your chocolate popcorn colors to
How Do You Make Coated Christmas Popcorn?
For a our colored Christmas popcorn we used:
- Red candy melts
- White sprinkles
- White candy melts
- Blue sprinkles
- Popped popcorn kernels
- Vegetable oil or coconut oil (if not using microwaved popcorn in a microwave bag and making popcorn on stove top)
- Salt
- Butter (optional)
- Additional Christmas Candies (optional) (I think these would be super cute!)
Get the full free printable recipe for Christmas popcorn below!
Christmas Popcorn Recipe Tip
I like to pop popcorn the old-fashioned stovetop popcorn way like this. (That’s how I grew up popping popcorn with my mom.) I think when popcorn kernels are popped in oil in a pot on the stove it gives the candied popcorn so much more flavor.
(You can butter your popcorn or leave it unbuttered for this recipe.)
You can also use microwave popcorn, but I don’t recommend using air popped popcorn. I just think it doesn’t have the same deep flavor as popping corn in oil.
However, we have used countertop popcorn poppers like this and this popcorn recipe turned out great. (We use ours quite a bit!)
- MORE POPCORN RECIPES TO TRY:
- State Fair Kettle Corn Recipe
- Simple Toffee Popcorn Recipe
*This homemade peanut brittle also makes a great DIY food gift to go with the popcorn!
How To Make Colored Christmas Popcorn
I think this coated popcorn tastes just like the gourmet popcorn you get in candy stores or the popcorn stores at the airport!
We only use Wilton chocolate melts because, after trying other brands or off brands, we always have the best luck with them.
- RECIPE TIP: After coating the popcorn with melted chocolates, spread the popcorn on a greased pan or wax paper and allow the popcorn coating to set, especially if you are going to be packaging it for holiday gifts. I love these little popcorn cones for gifting. Tie Christmas ribbons around the top for a more festive look. You can also add green and red M&Ms to your popcorn gift for a snack mix gift!
If you want flavored popcorn, you can use a tiny bit of candy flavorings like this.
Christmas Popcorn Recipes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels about 12 cups popped popcorn
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil if popping on the stove or in a popcorn maker
- 2 12-ounce packages Wilton red-colored chocolate melts*
- 2 12-ounce packages Wilton white-colored chocolate melts*
- Red sprinkles, blue sprinkles, white sprinkles or other Christmas candy (optional)
Instructions
- Spread 2 large sections of foil or parchment paper on the counter (enough to spread out each color of the popcorn to dry). Lightly spray with cooking oil to help prevent popcorn from sticking.
- Pop popcorn. Separate popped popcorn into two different large mixing bowls (or the number of bowls for the number off different colors you have - we had 2 for red popcorn and white popcorn). Set aside.
- Place white melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 second intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds until chocolate is completely melted. Be careful not to overheat.**
- Immediately pour melted chocolates over one bowl of popcorn. Carefully stir until all popcorn kernels are evenly covered completely.
- Turn popcorn onto the prepared foil or parchment paper. Carefully spread the popcorn into a single layer.
- Sprinkle white popcorn with blue sprinkles. (OPTIONAL, or any other candies or sprinkles you're using.) Allow to set and dry.
- Repeat steps 3-6 with red chocolate melts and white sprinkles.
- Allow popcorn to cool completely and harden, approximately 20 minutes or until no longer sticky.
- Once popcorn is no longer sticky, you can place it in your gifting containers or eat. Store in an airtight container for 1+ week.
Notes
Nutrition
ALSO GREAT FOR DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Try This Candy Grinch Poo Recipe
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
I hope you enjoy the Christmas popcorn recipes!