Flavored Popcorn for Holiday Gifts and Treats

Cooking With Kids

My nanny friends keep saying they feel guilty that they can’t afford to buy gifts for members of their Nanny Family this holiday season. Although in-home child care providers want to show appreciation to the parents of the children they care for, they should never be expected to buy gifts for their employers or their family members.

An inexpensive gift option is to bake for the family. This year my 8-year-old Nanny Kid and I made flavored popcorn for her family members. She’s so proud of the flavor combinations she came up with. Share your favorite popcorn flavors. Our recipes are below:

What You Will Need:

Popcorn
Canola Oil
Pot and Lid
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Flavors: Chocolate Chips, Mini Marshmallows, Sea Salt, Fresh Parmesan Cheese, Garlic Salt, Fresh Herbs and any other flavor combinations.

Chocolate Drizzle

What to Do:

1. Prepare popcorn as described on bag of popcorn or simply make it the way my mother taught me. I simply eye ball the recipe. First I coat the bottom of large pot with canola oil.
2. Add just enough kernels of popcorn to make a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Don’t add too much popcorn.
3. Swirl the kernels to coat with oil.
4. Add the lid to the pot and turn the heat to medium high.
5. Listen carefully to the popping. Using hot pads occasionally swirl the pot so the kernels don’t burn on the bottom of the pot.
6. After about a minute or two remove the pan from the burner and allow the last kernels to continue to pop, keeping the lid on.
7. Pour the popped corn into a bowl and let it cool. Remove and kernels that didn’t pop from the batch.
8. Spread popcorn on parchment lined baking sheets. Add the flavors you wish. Our recipes are described below:

White Chocolate and Rainbow Sprinkles

1. Slowly melt white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave. Stir the chocolate every 30 seconds. Be sure not to overcook the chocolate.
2. Spoon the chocolate into a Ziplock bag. Seal the bag and cut off a bottom corner and drizzle chocolate onto the popcorn.
3. Immediately sprinkle rainbow sprinkles to the chocolate covered popcorn. Let dry. Then enjoy!

Garlic Parmesan Rosemary

1. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese to the popcorn.
2. Sprinkle on finely cut fresh rosemary.
3. Add garlic salt to taste.
4. I put the baking tray in a warm oven for just a few minutes to help melt the Parmesan cheese to the popcorn.

Chocolate Marshmallow

1. Slowly melt semi sweet chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave. Stir the chocolate every 30 seconds. Be sure not to overcook the chocolate.
2. Spoon the chocolate into a Ziplock bag. Seal the bag and cut off a bottom corner and drizzle chocolate onto the popcorn.
3. Immediately add mini marshmallows to the wet chocolate so it dries into the chocolate on the popcorn.
4. Sprinkle a dash of sea salt on the popcorn if you like the taste. Allow chocolate to dry and then enjoy!