Hot Pepper Bacon Popcorn with a Lindt Chocolate Drizzle.
I can’t even waaaait to tell you about this popcorn.
So here’s the deal. You may have noticed that I’ve been completely FANATICAL about popcorn since having Max. It’s been such a super simple snack, one that I can actually add different flavors to in minutes and isn’t completely terrible for me. Like the three weeks that I survived on Cheez- It’s? Um no.
I mean, it’s a whole grain! It’s practically a vegetable. A salad. It’s vegan!
I’ve been popping my own popcorn on the stove for years – it’s something my dad did multiple times a week when I was growing up. While he just stuck (and still sticks) to popping in light oil and adding salt, I… have to get a little trashier. The gorgeous peppers below? They are going to infuse your oil. Oh yes.
But first – we gotta talk chocolate.
When I learned that the next Lindt HELLO flavor was Sweet Popcorn? I nearly lost my marbles. I knew there was a new flavor coming out after my trip there in October, but I had no idea it would be this crazy combo.
I was a bit skeptical because I wasn’t sure how it could possibly work. Wouldn’t the popcorn get soggy? Would it just stick to my teeth? My favorite bar (well, up until now) has been the HELLO cookies and cream because it’s like actual chocolate CHIP cookies and cream. Remember when I made the hot chocolate? I adore it. Sweet Popcorn couldn’t beat that. No way.
When I received a few bars from Lindt, I stashed them away in the pantry so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat them – I needed them for recipe purposes.
Ha. HAHAHAHA.
They totally taunted me from inside the cupboard. I could hear them calling me GRAB ME! EAT ME! Voices in my head?
Ugh. Soooo. Before I even got said recipe done those were inhaled. Major fail. Shared slightly, but inhaled nonetheless. Some even slathered in peanut butter (omg do it). Which meant I went and raided Target for more bars. The worst (best?) part is that they have them in this stick form too. Like one big bite sized stick? GAH. It can be devoured before you even are out of the Target parking lot. Not that I know anything about that.
I can’t even leave the store without grabbing one now.
The first bite of this bar was heaven. I could not BELIEVE the buttery popcorn flavor. It was like I’m back in middle school again pouring a box of buncha crunch on my popcorn while seeing Titantic for the third time. (#leoforlife) The smoothest milk chocolate-y creamy filling with pieces of popcorn – but not chewy popcorn.
Poppy popcorn! But not exploding popping. You know?
The ideal crispiness. Crunchy and salty and all my movie snacks tucked into one nostalgic bar. Love it so much that I hate it.
Since I’m working with Lindt on their HELLO line this year, I wanted to make a recipe inspired by this bar as opposed to just chopping it up and sticking it inside a cookie or something.
Back in the day when I worked at the gym, one of the members used to bring in this homemade hot pepper popcorn. I have no idea how he made it – I am assuming he popped it in pepper oil like I did here? – but he would package it up in those long plastic bags that you see at country fairs and what not. We would all fight over it. It was SO good. And this is coming from someone who is a total wimp and doesn’t go for many spicy foods.
I have wanted to make popcorn like that forever. And this was my perfect excuse.
These little kernels here are popped in jalapeño-infused oil AND bacon grease, covered in a sprinkle of crunchy bacon (after a little butter – duh) and then a chocolate drizzle. Spicy, smoky, sweet is the name of the game. You could also do hot pepper popcorn with parmesan! Um yes please.
I fried up my favorite smokehouse bacon and used some of the grease for the popcorn. I’ve drizzled both milk and dark chocolate on top now (this 85% bar is awesome if you’re afraid of sweetness) but I really love to eat it with a square or two (or six) of the Sweet Popcorn bar. The flavor is insaaaane.
See? Just look at the bar. It wants to smooch you.
Hot Pepper Bacon Popcorn with a Chocolate Drizzle
Ingredients
- 2 jalapeno peppers, sliced
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup corn kernels, I really love Trader Joe’s organic
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces chocolate, melted – I suggest using one of the Lindt Sweet Popcorn bars, a Milk Classic bar or an 85% Dark bar!
Instructions
- A few hours or a day or so ahead of time (or even longer) – slice your peppers and place them in a jar. Cover them with the canola oil and cover the jar with plastic wrap.
- When you’re ready to make the popcorn, heat a large heavy-bottomed or stainless pot over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel to drain. You want about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease for the popcorn, so if there is a lot more than that, remove it from the pot. (I store mine in a jar in the fridge!)
- Take 3 to 4 tablespoons of the hot pepper oil from the jar and add it to the bacon grease. Increase the heat to medium-high (occasionally even increasing it to high), and add the corn kernels. Gently shake the pot until the kernels begin popping, then cover the pot. Continue to gently shake until all is popped to prevent kernels from burning. Once the kernels are all popped, immediately place the popcorn in a large bowl. Cover it with the melted butter and salt, tossing extremely well to coat. Toss in half of the bacon and drizzle on some the melted chocolate, tossing again. If you want to serve this in cute bags or boxes, I suggest layering on the bacon and chocolate (like I did above in the bag). Finish off by adding the remaining bacon and chocolate drizzle on top. Spicy – sweet – smoky!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
This bag is my new best friend.
[this post is part of a partnership I’m doing with Lindt in 2015. I’ll be sharing a few more recipes over the course of the year and you can read more about my trip here!]
43 Comments on “Hot Pepper Bacon Popcorn with a Lindt Chocolate Drizzle.”
Wow! I love making popcorn on the stove. This looks insanely perfect for a weekend movie night.
Interesting to say the least! :-)
This looks awesome, but I will admit i was the teensiest bit disappointed when I realized I’d misread it as Dr. Pepper Bacon Popcorn. Can that be a thing too??
HAHAHAH!
This looks like the best thing ever! I love salty + sweet, and adding a little kick can only make it better.
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This might just be one of the best trashy recipes ever! What a perfect March Madness treat!
That bar is pretty darn cute and I love how you pulled together a play on it. Melted popcorn chocolate bar over popcorn. Love it!
Yes! Popcorn is one of my favorites too, because my dad would make it almost every night and he only ate it with salt too.. I’ve been making it with nutritional yeast, garlic powder and dill. I can’t stop, it’s so good. I also might add butter.. shh.
LOVE, love, love these photos!!!! <3
God you get me! This sounds delicious. I may or may not be getting ready to head to Target right now, just so I can get one of those Lindt bars. You have also inspired me to add bacon to my Milk Dud popcorn recipe!
This just sounds so wrong! But I am happy to announce that I do not care! ha! :)
x Motte
http://mottesblog.blogspot.com/
I never would have tried that chocolate but now I want a bar, and some of this popcorn too. Yum!! I also just want to say that I love how you go about partnerships with brands. It’s so original and obviously all you, and honest without being in your face. Thanks for that!
Popcorn with a chocolate drizzle? Oh yeahhh!
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Lindt is a dream partner. Live the dream, missy. Live the dream
So sad we don’t have the HELLO Lindt in Canada. But! We do have popcorn, chocolate and BACON!! Hurrah! Happy times again.
OMG, I absolutely love everything about this amazing popcorn recipe! Let the movies begin!
Spicy popcorn drizzled with chocolate? That sounds like the best snack ever! I love it. Can’t wait to make this one!
I just bought someone that sweet popcorn candy bar…actually I bought a bouquet (I attached them all to sticks) of all of the flavors, both sticks and bars as an after performance congrats instead of flowers (which I think were far more appealing to a high school boy)…but the popcorn one sounded so interesting…However, we didn’t get any for us…my fault…I was the mom in Target saying no because we were already drowning in baked goods in our house..but.now? Now I have to go try one! And the popcorn recipe? Another reason to save the bacon grease…
Popcorn never looked so good! So yummy!!!
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I’m not sure I would be able to stop myself from eating a whole bag and then reaching for another. And you did the perfect amount of chocolatey drizzle- just enough so you can taste it, but not so it smothers the delicious popcorn. Come to mama.
I MUST get my hands on some of that chocolate soon. It looks incredible!
OMG does it get any better, spicy + chocolate + bacon?! LOOOOOVE! MUST try this!
Yes I also believe that Popcorn is a veggie and that means it belongs in a salad bar. Maybe this is already a salad on its own. Popcorn=veggie, peppers=veggie, Bacon=meat, Chocolate=dressing, yepser this recipe is a salad. How smart are you !!
this looks ridiculously fantastic!
Mind blown!! I need to try this!
I’m going nuts over this popcorn. I want it, I need it!
I would be all over this. I love the jalopeno oil trick!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lindt has some really great flavors out right now! Love them this recipe!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
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I make my popcorn spicy by mixing some ghost pepper sauce with the melting butter. I’ll have to try infusing the oil. I like the bacon and chocolate touch too.