Yummy Snowy White Popcorn
This recipe for Snowy White Popcorn has been a Christmas tradition in our family for many decades. My mom makes this white popcorn for every Christmas event that she can. It’s quite festive and a holiday crowd-pleaser. So, I am happy to share her recipe now with you.
However, let’s get something straight right off the bat. . .
I’m putting on my ranty panties about this because people just get it wrong all the time. This recipe uses white vanilla chips. . .NOT white “chocolate” chips. Why? Because there is no such thing as white chocolate!! Don’t believe me? Just ask the Hershey people. . .
(While in Hershey, PA, I got the opportunity to take the Master Chocolatier’s Class at the Hershey Factory. They informed us that because there is NO cocoa bean in the “white” chips or blocks, they are NOT chocolate. I rest my case! 😉)
Now, on to the recipe. . .
Ingredients:
- 1 Pkg. Hershey’s White Vanilla Baking Chips
- 1 Bag Orville Redenbacher Tender White Popcorn (no butter)
- Salt
- Mix-ins – dried cranberries, M&Ms, crushed candy canes, or any other yummy mix-in you can think of! You won’t need all of them, just one.
- Red & green sugar sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
Pop the popcorn in the microwave and spread it out on a foil-covered cookie sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Put the vanilla chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt them – about 1 1/2 minutes should do it (depending on your microwave – experiment a bit if needed).
Carefully scoop the popcorn into the bowl on top of the melted vanilla chips (make sure you don’t get any unpopped kernels). Add in any mix-ins that you would like at this point – dried cranberries, M&Ms, crushed candy canes, etc. Mix well to coat.
Spread the coated popcorn evenly out on the cookie sheet to cool. Sprinkle with the red and green sugar sprinkles if you want to give your popcorn a little extra bit of holiday cheer!
Holiday Treats
This little treat is easy to make ahead and take to all your Christmas functions. People love popcorn (even the Littles!) and the little extra “treats” in the popcorn give it even more of an appeal. Pair it with some great Skinny Hot Cocoa and you’ve got quite an awesome cold-weather combo for any get-together!
You can also use a cute little decorative food container and give this tasty white popcorn out to neighbors and friends as fun holiday gifts!
Cookies & Milk for Everyone!
I love the look of this festive popcorn for the holidays, and will file it to make later, as it is the middle of July, now. But I must differ with you on the white chocolate question. There are many white baking chips on the market, and not many white chocolate ones, because the FDA requires that food labeled “white chocolate” have at least 20% cocoa butter, the main ingredient in cocoa beans. It is, therefore, considered chocolate if it meets this standard. The difference in taste between white chips and white chocolate chips is noticable. Hershey does not make white chocolate chips, but other brands do, including Kroger’s Private Selection brand, which lists cocoa butter as it’s second ingredient, after sugar. They’re yummy.
Go ahead and differ! I love to hear others’ opinions. The only thing I will say is that the FDA doesn’t always get things quite right. . .at least they try, but. . . I judge my chocolate by smell and taste. If it has that oh so cocoa-y smell and tastes like chocolate, then great! I’m all over that. If it smells and tastes like vanilla, then my husband gets it. He’s the vanilla lover in the family. LOL! I’m definitely, what you might call, a chocolate purist. Thanks for the push back, Laura. I love a good debate!
Thanks for inspiring me. I just retired and this provoked an excitement of plans to do things with the grandkids before Christmas while the parents are so busy. Love your posts
Yay, Judy! I hope you have a great time with your grandkids! Enjoy every moment with them!
Help my 9 year old is so much fun!!!