Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Honey Harvest Popcorn Clusters


This month's Fantastical Foodfight celebrates National Honey Month!  With so many wonderful foods coming to harvest at this time of year, doesn't it make good sense to feast a bit on the delightful honey produced by the lovely little pollinators that make everything else possible?

Of course it does!  So this month, I made an indulgent little snack full of autumn flavors that showcases the delicious taste of honey - choose local if you can and support our beekeepers.

As you'll see in the recipe, this includes a little maple syrup along with the honey - this was a matter of necessity being the mother of invention, because I didn't have quite enough honey left for the recipe. I'm leaving it in the instructions, though, because the maple syrup added a nice rich bit of depth to these clusters that really played well with the ingredients.

The trail mix I used was a store brand blend that consisted of cranberries and dried cherries along with pumpkin seeds, pecans, cashews and pistachios.  You can select your own favorite trail mix blend, but do avoid those that have chocolate bits or other meltable additions - they'll just melt all over the place when you bake it and burn.

Honey Harvest Popcorn Clusters
Makes about 10 cups (accounting for the bits you'll nibble while you make this)

10 cups popped popcorn
12 oz. trail mix
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine popcorn and trail mix in a large bowl (you'll want enough room to toss honey coating in with the popcorn).  Set aside.

Prepare a large sheetpan by covering with a layer of parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 325F.

In a saucepan, combine butter, honey, syrup and salt.  Cook on medium low until butter has melted, stirring constantly.  Then raise heat and boil for one minute, stirring.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour honey mixture over the popcorn blend, and toss to combine. All popcorn should be coated and there shouldn't be any unincorporated honey in the bowl.

Turn popcorn onto parchment papered sheet pan and spread out.

Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and toasty.  Every 10 minutes, stir and turn over so that it browns evenly and doesn't burn.

Remove from oven.  Prepare a 2nd pan with parchment paper and divide popcorn clusters between the two pans so that they can cool and dry out without sticking together too much.

Once completely cooled and set, store in an airtight dry  container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Riiiiight - this is no way going to last two weeks.


Take a peek at what other honey-based recipes bloggers are sharing! Sweet!


28 comments:

  1. Yummy!! I'm going to have to try this for my kiddos!!

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  2. Oh my gosh. This is getting made in this household very soon.

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  3. The perfect fall snack! The only problem would be how to stop snacking on it before it was all gone in one sitting! Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck - Colleen

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  4. I will definitely be trying this. I'm a total popcorn nut, and so are my grandsons!

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  5. This looks super! SO yummy and a great use for honey.

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  6. Popcorn makes a cheap and delicious treat. Making this over the weekend. Found you on Blogges Spotlight #82.and pinned.

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  7. Popcorn is my biggest addiction!! This looks yummy!

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  8. Mmmm... I would love to have some of these right now, some of this popcorn and a movie are in order this weekend!Thank you for sharing this recipe with us at FF!

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  9. Oh I can see these being very dangerous to have on hand. I'm sure I'd eat the whole batch!! :) Thanks for joining in!

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  10. This is a perfect snack to munch on! Thanks for sharing and happy Fiesta Friday!

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  11. To me this is the best recipe of the lot. I love when a recipe includes pop corns! :-) who doesnt! sure thing it wont last more than a day...

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  12. I love this recipe- My kids and I would devour it in about an hour!

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  13. Looks yummy! Thanks for linking up at the Friday Frenzy Link Party! Pinned!

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  14. I wish I could take them right now... my kids would love these!

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  15. I love that this doesn't have any corn syrup in it! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger's Pit Stop! Roseann from www.thisautoimmunelife.com

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  16. Looks like a cozy snack for a crisp autumn evening!

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  17. What a great idea for a popcorn treat! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

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  18. This recipe sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing your popcorn snack with us at #overthemoon link party.

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  19. Oh this sounds super yummy! Can't wait to try making it! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  20. You had me at popcorn and this looks wow and maybe even healthy wow. ;)
    Dropped by from #BloggersPitStop and always hungry, I mean, happy I did. :)

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  21. Thanks for sharing at The Blogger's Pit Stop! Roseann from www.thisautoimmunelife.com

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  22. Yum! This sounds good, thank you for sharing with us at #MMBH!
    XO
    -Dean
    www.mrsaokaworkinprogress.com

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  23. This looks like a tasty Autumn Snack

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  24. Wow, this looks delicious! Thanks for sharing and for joining my link party!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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  25. Nice for autumn, its like a super high end poppy cock. Yum.

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  26. I have all the ingredients except for the trail mix but I do have nuts, raisins and granola that I can mix together and use as a sub!! I think I'll make this tonight. I'm bringing back my Monday link party @ DIY Home Sweet Home (first one will be Oct. 16th) and I would love for you to stop by and link up your popcorn recipe! http://diyhshp.blogspot.com

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  27. Wow! This looks terrific! So appropriate for the autumn season when cozy gathering begins and snacks for watching Halloween or Thanksgiving movies are needed! Pinned!

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