Easy Movie Night Boxes with Popcorn Bars, Hot Cocoa, and Meat Sticks

Here’s another fun gift idea! One of my many holiday traditions that I look forward to every year is watching all of my favorite Christmas movies. I especially enjoy sipping hot beverages like hot cocoa, eating popcorn, and nibbling on other snacks, which is why I know others would enjoy a homemade movie night box filled with goodies. For this box, I made marshmallow popcorn bars using Orville Redenbacher Popcorn, Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, and Slim Jim Meat Sticks purchased at Target.

Also available at Target, located in their dollar bin area, are gift boxes in various sizes, perfect to package all the treats.

To begin, let’s make some marshmallow popcorn balls. You’ve likely all made the crispy cereal rice version before, and all I’m doing here is substituting the cereal with popcorn and peppermint crunch bits.

Side note: I love the pop up bowl design of the bags. Although I mostly make stove top popcorn, when I do use bags I always empty it into a bowl since it’s rather obnoxious to eat otherwise.

The popcorn balls come together fairly quickly. Begin by lining a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment. Grease the popcorn.

1. Assemble ingredients: 1-2 bag popcorn, 1 bag mini marshmallows, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup peppermint white chocolate chips, 1/3 cup white chocolate, 1 tsp shortening, red food coloring.

Pop the popcorn (you may need to use a second bag). Measure out 9 cups, removing any unpopped kernels.

2. Once all the ingredients have been assembled, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and lower the heat to medium-low. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.

3. Remove from heat. Carefully stir in the popcorn, folding to coat with the melted marshmallows. Add the peppermint chips and stir into popcorn. They will probably melt, but that’s okay.

4. Place popcorn in prepared baking dish and pack down lightly. Let cool.

5. Melt white chocolate with shortening in a small dish over low heat until smooth. Add however much red food coloring you want to achieve desired color. Drizzle over popcorn bars; let stand until firm.

6. Using overhanging parchment paper, remove popcorn bars and slice into 12-16 squares using a large chef’s knife. Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap.

Package the box by lining with a sheet of tissue paper (optional). Place wrapped popcorn bars on the bottom, then add a couple packets of hot cocoa mix, meat sticks, and another packet of popcorn. (You can never have too much popcorn.)

That’s about all it takes to put together a festive movie night snack box! Out of all the items, you can put together at least two boxes, making it an affordable gift. To personalize it, add a treat you know the recipient enjoys.

Source: http://www.runningfoodie.com/2013/12/easy-movie-night-boxes-with-popcorn.html