Monica's favorite gear for
making Popcorn Party Mix
Gourmet quality with bulk pricing.
A blend of spices that has many uses for fall cooking. It's adds seasonal flavors to this popcorn.
This good quality corn syrup that adds sweetness as it coats the popcorn.
This Grade B syrup adds rich flavor and sweetness to the popcorn.
I use the larger 13x18 baking sheet in this set for making my popcorn party mixes. It's so convenient to be able to cover and store it until serving time.

Autumn Pumpkin Spice Popcorn Party Mix

Pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup & nuts flavor this seasonal snack


Autumn Spice Popcorn Party Mix

By Monica              makes 9 cups
Pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup & nuts flavor this seasonal popcorn snack.  Perfect for fall entertaining, Halloween, & game day snacks. Also makes great party favors, classroom treats, and gifts.  From TheYummyLife.com

This festive mix is so easy to make. Perfect for fall parties & football games. Bag it up for fun party favors, classroom treats, or gifts.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 8 cups unsalted* popped corn, unpopped kernels removed
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon salt*
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE & SPRINKLES (optional):
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips; dark, milk or white chocolate
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil
  • orange decorating sprinkles

Directions
Toast pecans and pumpkin seeds by spreading out on baking sheet and baking at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray (or insert ungreased silicone mat); set aside.

In 5 quart pan on stove top, combine sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Over medium-high heat, bring to a rolling boil (the entire surface is bubbling, and the bubbles can't be stirred away) and continue to boil for 3-4 minutes (255-60 degrees on candy thermometer), stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Working quickly, add popcorn to cooked syrup mixture & stir; sprinkle in half of nuts, stir, then sprinkle in remaining nuts and stir until evenly mixed with syrup mixture.

Quickly transfer popcorn mixture to prepared baking sheet, continue to work quickly to spread out hot popcorn mixture on baking sheet. Redistribute nuts, if necessary, before mixture hardens. Let cool completely.

To add optional chocolate drizzles, melt chocolate chips and canola oil in microwave at full power; stop and stir every 20 seconds just until chips completely melt; do not over cook the chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. If desired, scatter colored decorating sprinkles on melted chocolate. Cool until chocolate is set.

Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

*If using salted popcorn or nuts, omit or reduce additional salt.

Today's post is on one of my favorite topics: popcorn party mixes. They are so versatile, and it's hard to find anyone who doesn't love popcorn. I like to make different kinds of popcorn mixes to fit different seasons and occasions. That means it's time for a popcorn mix for autumn.

This easy recipe combines autumn flavors and nuts with maple syrup to make a delicious seasonal treat that is great for fall parties of all kinds. You can also bag it up and give it for party favors, hostess gifts, and classroom treats.

This is one basic recipe that you can make 3 ways: (1) a sweet, nutty popcorn mix; (2) the same mix drizzled with chocolate; or (3) the chocolaty mix decorated with colorful sprinkles. 

 

Step-by-step photos for making
Autumn Spice Popcorn Party Mix

 

Step 1. Assemble the ingredients: pecans, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), maple syrup, corn syrup, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, salt, sugar, butter, popcorn. Optional: chocolate chips & sprinkles.

You can buy pumpkin pie spice or make your own. (here's my recipe)

view on Amazon:  organic light corn syrup, organic maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, organic popcorn

IMG_5577.jpg

Step 2. Prepare 8 cups of popped popcorn, preferably without salt, oil or butter. I like to pop mine in the microwave.

Step 3. Spread the pecans and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and toast in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Step 4. Combine the toasted nuts with the popped corn and set aside.

view on Amazon:  my favorite baking sheet set with lids

IMG_5582.jpg

Step 5. Over medium-high heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, butter, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Stir it frequently while it heats up. Once it reaches a rolling boil (that means the entire surface is bubbling, and the bubbles can't be stirred away), continue to boil for 3-4 minutes until 255-260 degrees on a candy thermometer; stirring constantly during the last minute.

Autumn Spice Popcorn Mix1.jpg

Step 6. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla.

Step 7. Quickly add popcorn. Stir until popcorn is evenly coated. Sprinkle in half of nuts, stir, then sprinkle in remaining nuts and stir until evenly mixed with syrup mixture. (Adding nuts in batches helps prevent clumping.)

Autumn Spice Popcorn Mix2.jpg

Step 8. Spread hot mixture out evenly on a large baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray. While it's still hot and pliable, you may need to break up and redistribute some of the nuts that have clustered together.

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If you won't be adding chocolate drizzles, you can stop right here. Let the mixture cool completely, and then break it into pieces.

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The autumn flavors of pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup are a yummy combo! 

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The nuts add flavor and crunch.

IMG_5639zoom.jpg

If you want to add some chocolate drizzles to your popcorn mix, complete Steps 1-8 above, and proceed with these steps...

Step 9. Add a little canola oil to chocolate chips and microwave at full power; stop and stir every 20 minutes just until chips completely melt; careful not to over-cook the chocolate. 

Autumn Spice Popcorn Mix3.jpg

Step 10. Use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate on the coated popcorn/nut mixture.

IMG_5615.jpg

IMG_5618.jpg

Step 11. For a decorative touch, you can scatter the melted chocolate with decorative sprinkles. Orange sprinkles are perfect for an autumn mix.

IMG_5626.jpg

Done! Let the chocolate harden before breaking the popcorn mix into pieces.

IMG_5666.jpg

Cupcake liners are a fun, convenient, and tidy way to serve this at a party.

IMG_5662.jpg

If you are an anything-is-better-with-chocolate type person, then you'll love this mix with the chocolate drizzles. It's a great combination of flavors and textures.

IMG_5665zoom.jpg

So you choose. With or without chocolate, it's a tasty treat. This mix has a texture similar to popcorn balls--crisp with a bit of chew.

popcorn mix

If you like popcorn party mixes as much as I do, you might also be interested in my recipes for Pretty-in-Pink Party Popcorn MixGame Day Party Popcorn Mix, and Green Popcorn & Pretzel Party Mix.

Make it a Yummy day!

Monica


Link directly to this recipe
Autumn Spice Popcorn Party Mix
By Monica              Servings: makes 9 cups
Ingredients
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 8 cups unsalted* popped corn, unpopped kernels removed
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon salt*
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE & SPRINKLES (optional):
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips; dark, milk or white chocolate
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil
  • orange decorating sprinkles
Directions
Toast pecans and pumpkin seeds by spreading out on baking sheet and baking at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray (or insert ungreased silicone mat); set aside.

In 5 quart pan on stove top, combine sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Over medium-high heat, bring to a rolling boil (the entire surface is bubbling, and the bubbles can't be stirred away) and continue to boil for 3-4 minutes (255-60 degrees on candy thermometer), stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Working quickly, add popcorn to cooked syrup mixture & stir; sprinkle in half of nuts, stir, then sprinkle in remaining nuts and stir until evenly mixed with syrup mixture.

Quickly transfer popcorn mixture to prepared baking sheet, continue to work quickly to spread out hot popcorn mixture on baking sheet. Redistribute nuts, if necessary, before mixture hardens. Let cool completely.

To add optional chocolate drizzles, melt chocolate chips and canola oil in microwave at full power; stop and stir every 20 seconds just until chips completely melt; do not over cook the chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. If desired, scatter colored decorating sprinkles on melted chocolate. Cool until chocolate is set.

Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

*If using salted popcorn or nuts, omit or reduce additional salt.

This post was updated 10/21/16. It was originally a guest post on Celebrations.com.



Posted on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011








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