Tips for Making Perfect Chocolate and Candy Popcorn

Attempting to Make Hershey's Chocolate Popcorn

Making chocolate covered popcorn at home can be a fun activity, but getting the recipe just right takes some trial and error. In a recent video, Don Hershey attempts to perfect a recipe for Hershey's chocolate popcorn so his viewers don't have to struggle with the process.

Gathering the Ingredients

To make Hershey's chocolate popcorn, you first need to gather a few key ingredients:

• Popcorn kernels
• Vegetable oil
• Hershey's chocolate bars
• Sprinkles (optional)

Don starts by popping a batch of popcorn kernels in vegetable oil on the stovetop. He then melts down several Hershey's milk chocolate bars in the microwave. The key is getting the chocolate to just the right consistency - thin enough to drizzle but not so thin that it won't coat the popcorn.

Coating Methods

Once the chocolate and popcorn are ready, it's time to coat the popcorn. Don tries out a few different methods to find what works best:

1. Drizzling the chocolate over the popcorn in a bowl and tossing to coat
2. Putting the popcorn and chocolate in a brown paper bag and shaking it to distribute
3. Dumping the popcorn in the melted chocolate and stirring until fully coated

He discovers pros and cons to each approach. The bowl allows him to control the drizzle and sprinkle on toppings, but doesn't coat evenly. The paper bag approach is super simple but some kernels don't get coated. Stirring everything together gets an even coat but makes a big sticky mess!

The Best Method

After multiple tests, Don determines the best method is to:

1. Melt chocolate in a double boiler instead of the microwave for smooth consistency
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Spread the popped popcorn out in an even layer
4. Spoon and drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over every inch
5. Let cool completely so chocolate hardens
6. Break into clusters and enjoy!

This technique prevents uneven chocolate coverage and makes for easy cleanup. Don also suggests sprinkling on festive rainbow sprinkles or crushed candy canes if desired.

Lessons Learned

While making chocolate popcorn is fun, Don discovers that getting the recipe right is trickier than it seems. Key takeaways from his trial and error include:

• Use high quality chocolate like Hershey's - cheaper chocolate won't melt or drizzle as smoothly
• Pop the popcorn perfectly without any burnt kernels
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler for best consistency
• Spread out the popcorn first before drizzling on chocolate
• Let the chocolate cool and harden fully before breaking into pieces

Tips for Making Perfect Reese's Popcorn

What if you want to make another popular flavor - Reese's peanut butter chocolate popcorn? Don has some tips to share. The key is layering peanut butter and chocolate for that ideal Reese's taste.

Ingredients

For a batch of Reese's popcorn you'll need:

• Popped popcorn
• Hershey's chocolate bars
• Peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
• Butter
• Powdered sugar

Steps

Follow these steps for popcorn that mimics the flavors of a Reese's peanut butter cup:

1. Pop the corn and divide into two separate bowls
2. Melt butter and mix into one bowl of popcorn, then dust with powdered sugar
3. In the second bowl, drizzle melted peanut butter over the popcorn and toss to coat evenly
4. Finally, drizzle melted chocolate over the peanut butter coated popcorn
5. Let the chocolate set before mixing the two bowls together
6. Mix well so you get both sweet and peanut butter flavors in each bite
7. Sprinkle on some extra chocolate, peanut butter chips, or candy pieces if desired

With this layering process, the flavors really emulate the experience of biting into a Reese's peanut butter cup!

Get Creative with Chocolate Popcorn

Now that you know the basics for making chocolate popcorn, get creative with your own flavors!

Flavor Ideas

Try out spice mixes like:

• Cinnamon chocolate
• Peppermint crunch
• Cayenne chipotle caramel

Or go the candy route with additions like:

• Chopped Oreos
• Sprinkles
• Crushed pretzels
• Toffee chips
• Dried fruit
• Shredded coconut

Keeping it Simple

You could also keep it simple and elegant with just a few high end ingredients like:

• Dark chocolate
• Sea salt
• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Espresso powder

The possibilities are endless for gourmet chocolate popcorn recipes!

Gifting and Serving Ideas

Homemade chocolate popcorn also makes for perfect holiday gifts, birthday treats, or hostess presents. Creative ways to package and serve it include:

• Cute bags or boxes tied with ribbon
• Mini cupcake liners in a glass jar
• Clear candy bags tied with burlap
• Labeled paper cones

So go ahead - have fun with flavors, toppings, and packaging! Just follow Don's tips for making the basic chocolate popcorn first.

FAQs

What kind of chocolate works best for chocolate popcorn?

High quality chocolate like Hershey's chocolate bars work best. Cheaper chocolate may not melt smoothly or adhere to the popcorn as well.

How do I get an even chocolate coating on my popcorn?

It's best to spread the popped popcorn out in an even layer first before drizzling the melted chocolate over top. Spooning the chocolate evenly over every inch results in the most uniform coating.

What's the trick to getting a perfect Reese's peanut butter chocolate flavor?

Coat separate batches of popcorn with melted peanut butter and melted chocolate, let them cool and harden, then mix together for the ideal Reese's popcorn mix.

Can I add other flavors and toppings to chocolate popcorn?

Absolutely! Get creative with spices, candies, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, peppermint, and more. Just make sure any add-ins are distributed evenly for flavor in every bite.