RECIPE: Our friends at The Popcorn Board, with an easy to remember website popcorn.org, share recipes for festive treats that are fun for holidays and usually, fun to make with kids.
Festive popcorn trees, holiday wreaths, snowmen and jingle balls are easy to make, and have just a few ingredients. The best part of all would be the memories made with children as you are popping some corn and creating some goodies.
Here’s the recipe for the holiday snowmen: The next best thing to building a real snowman, these adorable easy-to-construct popcorn snowmen are sure to be a hit with the kids.
Yields 10 balls, or 5 snowmen (2 balls each)
Ingredients: 10 cups popped popcorn; 1 (1-pound) package large marshmallows; 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine; 1 teaspoon vanilla; Decorations: sprinkles, licorice for the scarf and mouth, gum drops for eyes and nose, cinnamon candies for buttons, etc.
Directions: Melt marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let stand for 5 minutes.Pour over popcorn and stir. Butter hands well and form into balls. Decorate as desired. Maybe give him a tophat with a cookie and a marshmallow.
Jingle balls look just as tasty. Ingredients: 12 cups popped popcorn, 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, 3 cups mini marshmallows, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, Assorted colored sugars.
Directions: Spray large mixing bowl lightly with cooking spray. Add popcorn. Spread plastic wrap on cookie sheet; set aside. In medium saucepan, melt butter and marshmallows; stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in peppermint extract. Pour over popcorn, mixing until well coated. Let cool 2 minutes. Spray hands with cooking spray and form popcorn mixture into 3-inch balls. Gently press colored sugar onto balls. Let sit on prepared cookie sheet until cool and set.