Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch
Delight your taste buds with this vibrant Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch! Combining the light and airy texture of popcorn with the rich creaminess of white chocolate and a playful hint of strawberry cake mix, this fun dessert is perfect for parties, movie nights, or just a sweet treat. Coated in a dazzling pink sugar mixture, this playful snack not only looks fantastic but will take you on a journey of flavors that everyone will love. Share this delightful concoction with family and friends and watch as it disappears within moments!
8
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
white sugar
1 cup
butter
1 tablespoon (softened)
water
2 tablespoons
pink food coloring
to taste
unpopped popcorn
1 cup (popped using an air popper)
powdered sugar
1 cup
strawberry cake mix
1 cup
Rice Chex
5 cups
white chocolate
5 ounces (melted)
pink candy melts
5 ounces (melted)
Instructions
1
Begin by popping 1 cup of popcorn in an air popper. Remove any unpopped kernels and set aside.
2
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of white sugar, 1 tablespoon softened butter, 2 tablespoons of water, and pink food coloring. Boil the mixture for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
3
Once the syrup is cool, slowly drizzle it over the popped popcorn while tossing to ensure an even coating.
4
Spread the coated popcorn onto a baking sheet to dry. For quicker drying, place the sheet in a 200°F oven for about 10 minutes, checking frequently to avoid burning. Once dry, set aside.
5
In a 1-gallon zip-lock bag, combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 1/2 cup of strawberry cake mix. Repeat for another bag.
6
In a medium mixing bowl, add 2.5 cups of Rice Chex cereal.
7
Melt 5 ounces of white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring until smooth. Carefully pour the melted chocolate over the Rice Chex and gently stir to coat evenly without breaking the cereal.
8
Transfer the coated cereal into one of the sugar mix bags. Seal the bag and shake until all pieces are evenly coated.
9
Repeat the process with the remaining Rice Chex and 5 ounces of melted pink candy melts, using the second mix bag.
10
In a large mixing bowl, combine the white chocolate coated Rice Chex, pink-coated Rice Chex, and the dried pink popcorn, mixing gently to blend all the components.
11
Serve in a festive bowl and enjoy your Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch?
Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch is a vibrant dessert snack that combines air-popped popcorn and Rice Chex cereal coated in white chocolate, pink candy melts, and a strawberry cake mix sugar coating.
How many servings does this recipe produce?
This recipe makes approximately 8 servings, making it perfect for small gatherings or family movie nights.
What type of popcorn should I use?
The recipe calls for 1 cup of unpopped popcorn, which should be prepared using an air popper for a light and airy texture.
How is the pink syrup for the popcorn made?
The syrup is made by boiling 1 cup of white sugar, 1 tablespoon of softened butter, 2 tablespoons of water, and pink food coloring for about 3 minutes.
How long should the syrup cool before drizzling?
After boiling the syrup, let it cool for about 10 minutes before drizzling it over the popped popcorn.
What temperature should I use to dry the coated popcorn?
If you want to speed up the drying process, place the coated popcorn on a baking sheet in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
How long does the popcorn need to stay in the oven?
The popcorn should be dried in the oven for about 10 minutes, but check it frequently to ensure it does not burn.
What cereal is used in Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch?
The recipe uses 5 cups of Rice Chex cereal as the crunchy base for the chocolate coating.
What makes up the dry sugar coating for the cereal?
The dry coating is a mixture of 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 cup strawberry cake mix.
How much white chocolate do I need?
You will need 5 ounces of melted white chocolate to coat half of the Rice Chex cereal.
What are pink candy melts used for?
Five ounces of pink candy melts are melted and used to coat the second half of the Rice Chex cereal for a vibrant pink color.
How do I coat the cereal without breaking it?
Gently stir the melted chocolate or candy melts over the Rice Chex in a mixing bowl to ensure an even coating without crushing the pieces.
What is the best way to apply the sugar mixture to the cereal?
Place the chocolate-coated cereal into a 1-gallon zip-lock bag containing the sugar and cake mix, seal it, and shake until evenly coated.
Do I need to repeat the sugar coating process?
Yes, you should prepare two separate bags of the sugar and cake mix to coat the white chocolate batch and the pink candy melt batch separately.
How do I combine the final snack mix?
In a large mixing bowl, gently toss together the white chocolate coated cereal, the pink coated cereal, and the dried pink popcorn.
Is this considered a no-bake recipe?
While it is primarily a no-bake treat, the oven is used briefly at a low temperature to help the popcorn coating dry faster.
Can I use store-bought popped popcorn?
Yes, you can use pre-popped popcorn, but make sure it is plain or lightly salted so it doesn't clash with the sweet berry flavors.
What flavors are present in this snack?
The snack features a mix of creamy white chocolate, sweet strawberry from the cake mix, and a sugary glaze on the popcorn.
What kind of food coloring should I use?
The recipe suggests pink food coloring to achieve a vibrant look, but you can adjust the amount to your preferred shade.
Is this a good recipe for kids?
Absolutely! Kids will love the bright pink color and the sweet, crunchy texture of this fun snack.
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
While strawberry provides the 'Berry Bliss' theme, you could experiment with vanilla or lemon cake mix for different flavor profiles.
How should I serve Berry Bliss Popcorn Crunch?
Serve the mixture in a large festive bowl so guests can easily grab handfuls of the colorful treat.
What should I do with unpopped kernels?
It is important to remove any unpopped kernels after popping the corn to ensure the snack is safe and easy to eat.
Can I use butter-flavored popcorn?
It is best to use plain air-popped popcorn so the pink sugar syrup adheres properly and the strawberry flavor remains the star.
What is the purpose of the butter in the syrup?
The softened butter adds a bit of richness and helps give the sugar syrup a smoother consistency.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this a day in advance; just store it in an airtight container to keep the popcorn and cereal crunchy.
Is Rice Chex the only cereal I can use?
Rice Chex is recommended for its light texture and ability to hold the coating, but Corn Chex or similar cereals could also work.
How do I melt the white chocolate safely?
Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in short intervals, stirring frequently to prevent it from scorching.
Why do I need to dry the popcorn?
Drying the popcorn ensures the sugar coating hardens and isn't sticky when you mix it with the chocolate-coated cereal.
What makes this snack 'festive'?
The combination of bright pink popcorn and cereal with white chocolate creates a visually striking treat that fits any celebration.