Popcorn Piles with Sprinkles

A festive, crowd-pleasing snack of sweet popcorn clusters, topped with a burst of colorful red and green sprinkles—perfect for last-minute parties or holiday gatherings.

This recipe immediately became a favorite at our holiday parties because it combines simple ingredients into a fun and festive treat everyone loves.

Ingredients

• Popcorn: 6 cups freshly popped popcorn (about 1/4 cup unpopped kernels or 1 microwavable bag, plain or lightly salted)
• Coating: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Topping: 2 tablespoons red sprinkles, 2 tablespoons green sprinkles

Instructions

Prep ingredients easily by chopping vegetables, slicing meats, and serving dishes neatly during everyday cooking.

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Step 1:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2:

Place popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels.

Step 3:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes).

Step 4:

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Step 5:

Immediately pour the hot mixture over the popcorn. Using a silicone spatula, gently toss to coat all popcorn evenly.

Step 6:

Working quickly (the mixture sets fast), scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet, forming small piles or clusters.

Step 7:

While still sticky, generously sprinkle red and green sprinkles over each pile.

Step 8:

Allow to cool and set for 10 minutes before serving.

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This treat always sparks joy at our family gatherings as everyone loves grabbing a colorful pile and sharing smiles.

Required Tools

Large mixing bowl Small saucepan Silicone spatula Baking sheet Parchment paper

Allergen Information

Contains Milk (butter) May contain traces of soy or gluten if using flavored popcorn or sprinkles—check labels for allergens.

Nutritional Information

Calories 95 Total Fat 2 g Carbohydrates 19 g Protein 1 g per pile

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Keeps spoons and utensils off counters while cooking, catching drips and keeping your stovetop clean.

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This colorful popcorn treat is perfect for any festive occasion and can be customized with different sprinkles.

Ask About This Recipe

→ How do I prevent unpopped kernels?

Remove unpopped kernels before coating to avoid hard bites and ensure even coating on the popcorn clusters.

→ Can I substitute the corn syrup?

Light honey can replace corn syrup, offering a similar sticky texture and natural sweetness in the coating mixture.

→ What is the best way to shape the clusters?

Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of coated popcorn onto parchment-lined baking sheets, forming small piles before sprinkles set.

→ How long does it take for clusters to set?

Allow about 10 minutes for the coated popcorn piles to cool and harden into clusters ready to enjoy.

→ Can I add extra crunch to the popcorn?

Add chopped nuts or mini pretzels to the popped corn before coating for added texture and flavor variation.