Chocolate Covered Popcorn

This Chocolate Covered Popcorn recipe is a great treat to serve the next time you need an easy snack for home movie night, a large crowd or even as a party favor for guests! Made with simple ingredients like melted chocolate chips and homemade popcorn it’s the perfect balance of a sweet treat & salty snack. You can easily use microwave popcorn to make the process even simpler!

There’s no better way to satisfy both a sweet tooth & love for salty flavor than with this deliciously easy recipe for chocolate-covered popcorn! Make it for your next movie night along with these other sweet & savory homemade popcorn flavors for a snack spread that truly can’t be beat.

If you’re a chocolate lover you might also enjoy pairing this chocolate covered popcorn with a comforting cup of Protein Hot Chocolate. Or maybe you’re more into cocktails, in which case this Black Walnut Old Fashioned would be the perfect boozy drink pairing for this irresistible snack.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It is easy. This chocolate covered popcorn recipe using chocolate chips could not be simpler to make. Since it uses just two main ingredients that you likely already have on hand at home, you’ll have a sweet & salty snack whipped up in no time at all!
• It is a healthy dessert. Popcorn is a light & healthy snack turned dessert thanks to the addition of melted chocolate.
• It makes a great homemade gift. If you’ve got a long list of gifts to give during the holiday season, this yummy popcorn is the perfect option! You can even customize it to make it more festive by adding things like peanut butter chips or candy canes.

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Chocolate Covered Popcorn Ingredients & Tested Substitutions

• Popcorn Kernels. I prefer using unpopped kernels and making stovetop popcorn, however you can easily use your favorite microwave popcorn if you choose.
• Chocolate Chips. Personally I think dark chocolate is the best chocolate to use, however you can also use milk chocolate chips or ever chocolate candy melts as well. You can also use white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips to mix things up a bit.
• Flaky Sea Salt. I prefer to use sea salt flakes because I love a good salty snack, but you can also use pink himalayan salt or regular sea salt.
• Optional Ingredients: If you want to make more of a chocolate drizzle, you can add 1 tbsp of coconut oil to the melted chocolate. This helps to make the chocolate a bit more liquified & easier to drizzle. If you’re making your own popcorn, you may want to add 1 tbsp of butter to the unpopped kernels, though this isn’t necessary.
• Optional Add-Ins: Adding candy canes is the best way to make this a wonderful holiday treat! You can also add pretzel pieces, m&m candies, peanut butter chips, white chips or butterscotch chips. The options are endless!

Chocolate Covered Popcorn Equipment Needed

• If you’re making your own plain popcorn from unpopped kernels you will need a stovetop popcorn maker or a microwave popcorn popper. I personally own both of the linked options & think they’re both high quality, easy to use popcorn makers. I do use the microwave popcorn popper a bit more though, simply because it’s a little easier & faster to use.
• Pot or microwave-safe bowl for melting chocolate.
• Wooden spoon & silicone spatula
• Popcorn bowls

Step by Step Instructions for Making Chocolate Covered Popcorn with Chocolate Chips

1. Pop the popcorn. If you’re using the stovetop popcorn maker method, add the unpopped popcorn kernels to the pot along with 1 tbsp of butter if desired. Pop according to the instructions on your popcorn maker. If you’re using microwave popcorn, pop according to package instructions.
2. Melt the chocolate. I find the easiest method to melting the chocolate chips is simply to add them to a pot over medium-high heat & mix gently using a silicone spatula until the chocolate is smooth & just melted. Be sure to remove the pot from the heat immediately to avoid burning. You can also do this in a microwave safe bowl in 10 second intervals in the microwave, heating and mixing until chocolate is smooth & melted. Adding 1 tbsp of coconut oil to the chocolate will help it to drizzle more easily, but is not required.

3. Coat the popcorn with chocolate. In a large mixing bowl or popcorn bowl, add the popped popcorn. Pour warm chocolate over the popped popcorn and mix using the same silicone spatula you used to melt the chocolate until popcorn is fully coated with chocolate. Alternatively, you can drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn if you don’t want it to be fully covered in chocolate.

4. Salt the popcorn. Sprinkle the chocolate covered popcorn with flaky sea salt. Using your spatula, turn the popcorn so the kernels from the bottom are now on top & continue salting. Continue doing this until popcorn is well salted & desired level of saltiness is achieved.

5. Set the chocolate. Set the chocolate by placing the bowl of popcorn in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.

6. Store the popcorn. Chocolate covered popcorn can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or in a cool, dark place such as a pantry for up to 3 days.

FAQs for making this chocolate covered popcorn recipe using chocolate chips

What kind of popcorn is best?

Using unbuttered, unsalted popcorn is best so that you can really appreciate the flavors of the chocolate chips as well as control the levels of saltiness. You can use microwave popcorn or unpopped popcorn kernels prepared on the stovetop.

What kind of chocolate chips should I use?

This is completely up to personal preference. I love dark chocolate chips, but you may enjoy sweet white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or milk chocolate chips. The choice is yours!

Do I need to use coconut oil?

No, you do not need to use coconut oil unless you’d like to drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn rather than completely coating the popcorn in chocolate. Coconut oil does make the chocolate much easier to pour and also helps is set better in the fridge but if you do not have it on hand or are allergic to coconut it is not a necessary ingredient.

How long should the chocolate set?

Once the popcorn has been coated in chocolate, allow it to set in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours. If the popcorn sticks together once the chocolate is set, use a wooden spoon to break the pieces up.

How to store chocolate covered popcorn

Chocolate covered popcorn should be stored in an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge or in a cool, dark place such as a pantry for up to 3 days.

If You Liked This Recipe You Might Also Enjoy:

• Salty Sweet Chocolate Bark
• Homemade Gourmet Popcorn: Taco, Cinnamon Sugar, Italian & Rosemary Porcini Flavors
• Three Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Two Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
• Espresso Brownies

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!