Popcorn Snowman
Description
This adorable Popcorn Snowman is a fun and creative holiday dessert that brings festive cheer to any gathering. Made with a crunchy caramel popcorn base, it is shaped into two balls and decorated with gumdrops, fruit rolls, and raisins to resemble a classic snowman. The sweet and salty flavors of the caramel-coated corn provide a delightful contrast to the chewy candy decorations. Perfect for Christmas parties, holiday cookies swaps, or as a unique centerpiece for your holiday table, this treat is sure to impress guests of all ages. It combines the comfort of homemade candy with the whimsy of seasonal decor, making it a memorable addition to your holiday menu.Ingredients
Directions
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Pop 1 1/2 cups of unpopped popcorn kernels until fully popped.
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Place the popped popcorn in a large open roasting pan and set in a 225&# 194;°F (107ðC) oven to keep warm.
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In a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium heat, combine sugar, light corn syrup, margarine or butter, salt, and water.
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Stir constantly until the sugar completely dissolves.
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Insert a candy thermometer and continue cooking without stirring until the mixture reaches 250ðF (121ðC) (hard ball stage).
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Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly stir in vanilla extract.
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Pour the hot syrup mixture over the warm popcorn, tossing gently to coat evenly.
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Set aside about 2 cups of the coated popcorn mixture for the snowman's hat.
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Wearing clean rubber gloves to protect hands from the hot mixture, shape the remaining popcorn into two balls, one slightly larger than the other.
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On a large plate, place the smaller popcorn ball on top of the larger ball to form the snowman's body.
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Shape the reserved popcorn mixture into a cone-shaped hat and place it on top of the snowman's head.
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In a small bowl, mix confectioner's sugar with 1 1/4 teaspoons of water to form a thick, pasty frosting.
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Cut a snowman's mouth from a fruit roll-up and cut the remaining fruit roll-ups into thin strips.
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Attach the fruit roll-up strips around the snowman's neck for a scarf and on the hat for decoration.
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Using the frosting, attach one green gumdrop to the face for the nose and two purple gumdrops for the eyes.
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Use the frosting to attach remaining green gumdrops around the base of the snowman and on the tip of the hat.
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Attach dark seedless raisins to the snowman's body using the frosting to serve as buttons.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 1651.2kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 26.9g42%
- Saturated Fat 3.8g19%
- Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
- Sodium 288.0mg12%
- Total Carbohydrate 364.8g122%
- Dietary Fiber 46.1g185%
- Sugars 61.4g
- Protein 65.3g131%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Allow the caramel popcorn to cool slightly before shaping to make it easier to handle, but not so long that it hardens completely.
If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can test for the hard ball stage by dropping a small amount of syrup into cold water; it should form a hard ball that holds its shape.
You can substitute vegan margarine for butter to keep this recipe vegan. Ensure your gumdrops and fruit rolls are vegan-friendly if strict adherence is required.
Store the finished Popcorn Snowman at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
For a quicker version, you can use pre-made caramel popcorn, though the homemade syrup provides a better binding texture.
