Recipes for Peanut Butter Cups and Cinnamon Candy Poppers

Celebrate with Popcorn: A Patriotic Snack Extravaganza

By Family Features | Contributor

Get ready to wave the red, white, and blue—it’s time to celebrate America’s birthday with a bang. Beyond the fireworks and festivities, ensure your guests are delighted with one of the nation’s favorite snacks: popcorn.

Whether you’re hosting poolside, indoors in the comfort of air conditioning, or outdoors under a sky lit with fireworks, delicious treats that pay homage to the occasion can showcase your patriotic spirit.

These Peanut Butter Cups are perfect for summer snacking and are simple to make using everyday pantry items. Just melt together peanut butter, butter, and marshmallows, then mix in popcorn, shredded wheat, peanuts, and raisins. Bake them in individual paper liners for easy, portable servings to share with family and friends. Add an extra touch by using liners with American flag designs or decorate with miniature American flag toothpicks.

Spice up your celebrations this year with Cinnamon Candy Poppers—snacks that add a pop to your snack lineup. Reminiscent of the must-have firecrackers at any Fourth of July party, these gooey balls of deliciousness deliver a distinctly patriotic flair.

Peanut Butter Cups

Yield: 24 cups

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 1/2 ounces) miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups freshly popped popcorn
• 6 cups spoon-size shredded wheat
• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 1 cup raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 250°F.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt peanut butter and butter on high for 1 minute.
3. Add marshmallows; microwave on high for 1 minute or until marshmallows swell. Stir to blend.
4. Incorporate the popcorn, shredded wheat, peanuts, and raisins, mixing gently.
5. Line two 12-cup muffin trays with paper liners and distribute the mixture evenly among them.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and store the "cups" in airtight containers.

Cinnamon Candy Poppers

Yield: 24 balls

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 quarts popped popcorn
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 cup cinnamon-flavored candies
• Red and blue confection stars
• Red licorice string

Instructions:

1. Cover a large work surface with plastic wrap and coat with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Lightly spray a large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray and add the popcorn.
3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in marshmallows until the mixture is smooth and combined. Pour this over the popcorn. Add cinnamon candies and stir until everything is well-coated.
4. Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and shape the mixture into 24 balls. Carefully press red and blue stars onto each ball and place a licorice string on top of each one.

For more popcorn-inspired snacks for your summer festivities, visit Popcorn.org.