Chocolate and cherry candied popcorn

There’s something about popcorn that gets everyone in the party mood, whether at a fair, the circus, the movies or in front of the telly at home. Colourful, tasty and definitely fun, this popcorn will go down a treat with both young and old.

Making Popcorn

We’re a fan of making popcorn the old-fashioned way – in a pan on the stove.

Ingredients:
2-3 tablespoons oil (use a high heat oil such as coconut oil)
½ cup popcorn kernels
Heavy bottomed saucepan with lid

To make popcorn the old-fashioned way:
Place oil in bottom of pan and warm slightly. Add popcorn kernels and mix around in the oil. Place lid on saucepan and shake from time to time as the kernels start popping. In between shaking leave the lid on but slightly ajar to let steam escape. As with microwave popcorn, when the interval between popping reduces, it’s time to remove the saucepan from the heat. Set aside for a couple of minutes in case any kernels continue to pop. Then pour into a bowl ready to flavour.

Chocolate covered popcorn

Ingredients:
5-6 cups popped corn, plain and unsalted
1 ½ cups chocolate chips

To make:

1. Line an oven dish or large shallow pan with baking paper and lightly spray with cooking oil.

2. Melt chocolate in double boiler/microwave according to manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Put popcorn in separate bowl and drizzle melted chocolate over the popcorn, stirring until corn is well covered. Spread the chocolate-covered popcorn in shallow pan, separating where possible.

4. Allow to cool, then break apart before serving.

Cherry candied popcorn

Ingredients:
5-6 cups popped corn, plain and unsalted
1 cup sugar
½ cup milk
1 tablespoon corn syrup
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon cherry flavour
1 drop red food colouring

To make:

1. Line an oven dish or large shallow pan with baking paper and lightly spray with cooking oil.

2. Combine sugar, milk, corn syrup and salt in a pan and bring to boil over a medium heat, stirring occasionally.

3. Continue to boil until a candy thermometer reaches 115 degrees C (240 degrees F), about 2-3 minutes.

4. When temperature is reached, remove from heat and add the cherry flavouring and food colouring.

5. Put popcorn in bowl and pour over syrup, mixing until corn is well covered.

6. Spread popcorn onto prepared baking paper and separate where possible.

7. Cool and break apart before serving.