Save to Pins 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.
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
- Coating: 1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey
- Coating: 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Coating: 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Coating: 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Topping: 2 tablespoons red sprinkles
- Topping: 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 to Pins 
Save to Pins Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I prevent unpopped kernels?
Remove any unpopped kernels from the batch before coating to avoid unpleasant bites and ensure even mixing.
- → Can I substitute corn syrup in the coating?
Yes, honey can be used as a natural alternative to corn syrup for the sweet coating on the popcorn piles.
- → What is the best way to shape the popcorn clusters?
Use a heaping tablespoon to scoop the coated popcorn onto parchment paper, shaping small piles quickly before the coating sets.
- → How should I store the popcorn piles?
Keep the clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to maintain freshness and crunch.
- → Can I add extra ingredients for texture?
Absolutely. Chopped nuts or mini pretzels can be mixed in before coating to add extra crunch and flavor complexity.