Peppermint Stick White Chocolate Popcorn

Peppermint is the classic Christmas flavor, isn’t it?  Just the smell and sight of candy canes gets me in the Christmas spirit.  Combining peppermint, with my favorite snack of popcorn….and of course some sweet white chocolate, you can create this easy and festive Christmas snack to give as a gift, or munch on while wrapping Christmas gifts!  I like to give baked goods to friends and neighbors over the Christmas season, and I always have the ingredients for the Peppermint Stick White Chocolate Popcorn on hand.  Especially when my kids have candy canes from everywhere we go at Christmas!  This Peppermint Stick White Chocolate Popcorn is a nice alternative to cookies and dessert bars around the holiday season.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 16 oz  bag of white chocolate chips
3-4 candy canes finely crushed
10-12 cups popped popcorn
1 teaspoon vegetable or canola oil

Directions:
1.  Pop the popcorn and lay out on wax paper on the counter top.
2.  Crush the candy canes finely.  I used a food processor for this.
3.  In a medium size microwave safe container, add the white chocolate chips and the 1 teaspoon of oil.  Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds, until the chocolate is smooth and ready to drizzle.  Add half of your crushed candy canes to the melted chocolate and drizzle over the popcorn.  Use the remaining crushed candy canes to dust extra peppermint flavor over the popcorn.
4.  Let it “dry” on the counter 2-4 hours before serving.

You can bring this sweet treat to your cookie exchange, as treat for the kids to take to school, or even to give to neighbors!  It is SO easy, and a fun treat over Christmas.  Do you like to give baked goods for Christmas gifts?  If so, what alternatives to cookies do you like to give?  Have a Merry Christmas!