food

Popcorn Christmas Tree

'Tis the season for outrageous desserts like this delicious candy-coated popcorn tree.

food

Popcorn Christmas Tree

'Tis the season for outrageous desserts like this delicious candy-coated popcorn tree.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • green food coloring
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 4 quarts popped popcorn (16 cups)
  • Holiday candies
  • cheese star

Steps

  1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and salt. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, fully dissolving the sugar.
  2. Add the food coloring, do not stir, and allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes without stirring, until it reaches 250F. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract and baking soda.
  3. Quickly pour the mixture onto the popcorn and gently stir to coat the popcorn.
  4. Place the popcorn on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and stir until it has cooled just enough to touch without burning your hands. Shape the popcorn into a Christmas tree shape.
  5. Stick holiday candies onto the tree as decorations and top with a cheese star and enjoy!