My oldest and I decided to try to make some Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls. Your hands will get messy but they are worth it. I even had some fun and made Espresso Almond Butter Popcorn Bars. With so many fun flavors of peanut butter and almond butter out there and the things you can add in the possibilities are endless! What combo will you make?
Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls
Makes 12 balls, slightly smaller than baseball size
1/3c peanut butter or almond butter (used Peanut Butter & Co Smooth Operator)
1/2c raw agave
12-14c popcorn (used 12c Skinny Pop Popcorn)
1/3 mini chocolate chips, optional
Espresso Almond Butter Popcorn Bars
Makes 12-16 bars, 9×13 pan
1/3c peanut butter or almond butter (used Wild Friends Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter)
1/2c raw agave
12-14c popcorn (used 7oz bag Angie’s Kettle Corn)
1/3 mini chocolate chips, optional
Heat peanut butter and agave in a sauce pan, set to medium, stirring constantly until it just starts to bubble. Turn off the peanut butter mixture and let cool for a couple of minutes. Pour popcorn, start with 12 cups (not heaping) or whole 7 ounce bag, and pour peanut butter mixture over top and stir until combined. Add a cup or two more popcorn if needed. We sprinkled our chocolate chips on top but you can stir in your chocolate chips or add-ins of choice as well. If you are making balls grab handfuls with plastic gloves, plastic wrap, or you can use a plastic baggie to pack the balls together. You will want to make sure they are packed well so they stay together. The balls we made were slightly smaller than a baseball. If you are making bars line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and spread mixture into the pan. With a spatula smooth out and press into the pan making sure you press them together well. Cover and place bars in the freezer for 10 minutes or about 20 in the refrigerator. Cut bars, we cut ours into 12 big bars. Store both balls and bars covered and in the refrigerator. If they are exposed to air the popcorn will get stale, nobody wants stale popcorn. Enjoy!
We also made these not heating the agave and peanut butter and it worked but they stayed together better outside of the refrigerator when we heated the mixture. Still make sure to store in the refrigerator so they don’t get stale.
