Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
When I was recently at a mall in New Orleans, a store filled with popcorn caught my eye. They must have had about 100 different flavors, all sorts of things like birthday cake, pizza, cheesecake, and cotton candy. I didn't buy any for myself, but it did inspire me to think up some new popcorn flavors when I got home. I love making popcorn! Of course the classic organic white popcorn with a little coconut oil and sea salt is a favorite and made often in my Whirly Pop, but sometimes I like to go a little decadent and make it more dessert than savory. Eric is one of the biggest popcorn lovers I know, so I know he is always game to try out the new flavors I make as well. One of my favorite sweet flavors of popcorn is a dark chocolate sea salt, so I thought I would make something dark chocolate but seasonal this time. Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn!
I make my own dark chocolate to coat this popcorn out of a few simple ingredients, but if you are making this and you prefer, you may use premade vegan dark chocolate. I just find that it is more cost effective to make it like this. I tossed the popcorn with my dark chocolate and a hint of mint, and it was amazing! But I decided to make it even better, and drizzle it with some vegan mint white chocolate as well! Let me tell you...once this was cooled and the chocolate was set, it was really hard for me to stop eating it. It is kind of addictive. So, you have been warned! Good stuff!
Trust me, this is way better than any store bought popcorn you will buy, since most of that has things like refined sugars, fake oils, and artificial flavors. None of that here. To be honest, it tastes like Andes Mint popcorn. I was always a fan of those mints growing up. That little addition of the white chocolate was what made them so good. If you are looking for a super delicious Holiday treat that isn't cookies, give this popcorn a go!
Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
Makes 8 cups
Ingredients:
- 8 cups organic popped corn
Dark chocolate coating:
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil (or cacao butter if you prefer) warmed to liquid*
- 2/3 cup cacao powder, or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
White chocolate mint drizzle:
- 1/4 cup raw cacao butter, warmed to liquid*
- 2 Tbsp raw cashew butter
- 1/4 cup coconut butter, warmed to liquid*
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp raw coconut butter, or maple syrup (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp spinach powder (for green color) optional
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Instructions:
- Place popcorn in a large bowl. Whisk together all dark chocolate ingredients and pour them over the popcorn. Toss popcorn with dark chocolate until evenly coated. Spread out on a parchment lined sheet pan, and place in the freezer until the chocolate has set.
- Whisk together the white chocolate ingredients in a bowl or glass measuring cup, and drizzle over the dark chocolate. Place back in the freezer until set, about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
*I like to melt my ingredients in the top of a double boiler.
