Caramel Chocolate & Strawberry Cheesecake Popcorn Balls
What's a trip to the movie theater without some popcorn? The only issue is that going to the movies can be pretty expensive. That's why we've come up with the perfect popcorn treat for your next home theater extravaganza, AKA watching a movie in front of your laptop with some friends. And to make movie night even more interesting, we've elevated theater-style popcorn and turned it into a delicious sweet treat. Covered in caramel and white chocolate, these popcorn balls house a creamy surprise in the middle. See for yourself!
You'll Need (for 6):
Caramel Chocolate Popcorn Balls:
- ¾ cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup corn syrup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp butter
- 6 tbsp chocolate spread
Strawberry Cheesecake Popcorn Balls:
- ¾ cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 7 oz white chocolate, chopped (or 1¼ cups white chocolate chips)
- 3 oz strawberries
- 8 oz cream cheese
Here's How:
1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium-high heat, pour in the popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of the pot, and cover the pot with a lid. After about 2 minutes, the kernels should start to pop. As soon as the pops are about 5 seconds apart, remove the pot from the heat.
2. For the Caramel Chocolate recipe, add the brown sugar and corn syrup to a pan over medium heat. Once the brown sugar dissolves and the sugar mixture turns a light golden brown, add the butter and mix well.
3. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and combine well. Fill a small bowl with the caramel popcorn and add 1 tablespoon of chocolate spread to the middle.
4. Repeat the same process in a second small bowl and press it down on the first bowl. Press the bowls together so the popcorn halves form a ball. Remove the bowls.
5. For the Strawberry Cheesecake recipe, finely chop the white chocolate and melt over a water bath. Pour the melted white chocolate over the popcorn and combine well. Puree the strawberries and combine with the cream cheese. Fill two bowls with the popcorn but instead of putting a dollop of chocolate spread into the middle, now add the strawberry cream mixture. Press the two bowls together to form a ball.
This elevated version of movie theater popcorn is sure to leave a great impression on you and all the movie buffs in your life. The next time you make these treats, be creative and use jam, pudding, or peanut butter for the filling. There are no rules. Live your best popcorn life!
While you're here, do check out the recipe for the White Chocolate Popcorn Bowl featured in the bonus video.