Peanut Butter Popcorn

Christmas is coming!  Just 7 days left to get everything ready.  This is a busy time of year, but I love it!  One of the things I love is making and giving away homemade treats.  This week I'm planning on spending a lot of time in the kitchen.  We have some holiday recipes that we make each year.  It just wouldn't be Christmas without them, but we also like to try a few new recipes, too.

This is a new recipe that we tried this year.  I want to share it with you because first of all, it is sooooo delicious!  And it would make a great treat for giving away or for taking to holiday parties.  Once you taste it,  you'll find lots of other reasons to make Peanut Butter Popcorn all year long. :)

Ingredients (printable recipe)
1/2 cup unpopped corn 
1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts (it's still delicious without the peanuts, too)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Pop corn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large bowl or a 9X13 pan and stir in peanuts. Keep warm in a 250 degree oven.

In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup.  Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Do not boil too long or your popcorn will be rock hard. Remove from heat.   

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Sources The Girl Who Ate Everything and Crafty Dr. Mom

We like popping popcorn on the stove top with a Whirley Pop. 

Having an extra large bowl is nice for this recipe.

After mixing the popcorn, I poured it onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper to help it cool faster. Then, I put some of the popcorn in holiday bags to give away.

The Results...  
I've made this a couple of times both with and without the peanuts.  Both ways are delicious.  Next time, I want to drizzle some melted chocolate on top and turn it into Chocolate/Peanut Butter Popcorn.  Doesn't that sound amazing! 

Our family loves this popcorn.  I should warn you that it is very addicting.  We plan on making more this week for a family movie night.  Peanut Butter Popcorn makes your favorite holiday movies even sweeter. :)  We give this recipe 5 stars and 6 thumbs up!

Update...
I made this again and drizzled melted chocolate on top.  After mixing the Peanut Butter Popcorn, I poured it onto 2 baking sheets lined with wax paper.  Then, I chopped about 1 1/2 cups of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Candy Making Bar and followed the microwave instructions on the box.  I drizzled the melted chocolate on top of the popcorn and let it set-up.  Peanut Butter Popcorn is delicious, but Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn is even better!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn. It's hard to resist!

I share recipes at these linky parties.