Chocolatey Marshmallow Popcorn Bars with Crushed Potato Chips
Feeds 6 - 9
Where are my sweet and salty fans??? This one is for you guys. I was looking around my kitchen for inspiration one day because I was bored and I saw my jar of popcorn kernels. These have been sitting there for a year... i labeled them and everything with every intention to use them and then, my lazy-ass just never touched them. So i told myself I was going to make something tasty from them. I remembered that you could make popcorn bars quite easily if you had some marshmallows and a microwave, which, luckily, I had. Actually no, i had the microwave part of that equation, i had to go and buy some marshmallows. I also had to buy chocolate and toppings, which, if i'm being honest, i decided on when i was in the store. So bare that in mind when making these, you can literally choose whatever the hell you like to go on and even in these.
I crushed potato chips on these because I was feeling American; that is also why i am calling them chips and not crisps, but i digress, anyway, these don't need much explanation. A monkey could make these. Probably has. Idk if i'd eat them though. Probably would taste too earthy. Please don't be offended if you can't make these though. Monkey's are meant to be super intelligent. I think.
PRO TIPS
A lot of people will probably prefer more chocolate (because the world is full of chocoholics), so if you are one of those unfortunate people (like me) then i would recommend doubling - yes you heard me right - the chocolate in the recipe. I keep it to a small amount in my recipe because it means the bars aren't too sweet or decadent, so the treat doesn't feel as naughty as it could. Seriously though, if you are looking for a decadent treat, have a literal thick layer of chocolate underneath these 🤤instead of a small smear like I do
You can put anything on these, anything at all...maybe not garlic, but, you catch my drift. If you like a specific cookie, crush it up and sprinkle it on. I recommend a balance between salty and sweet because the marshmallows and chocolate provide a good amount of sweetness already. Some fun combos: oreos + pretzels or white chocolate chips + peanuts or even salted caramel + sea salt flakes
Work fast. Work fast. Work fast. I say this 3 times because once the marshmallows are melted you have a matter of minutes before they get very difficult to work with
You can substitute the popcorn for rice krispies and they're probably gonna last longer this way... not that that's a factor, because they'll be gone by days' end anyway
Recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cup of popcorn kernels
3 tbsp of oil (olive/canola/vegetable/coconut/avocado)
2 cups of marshmallows
1 tbsp of cold butter
200g of milk chocolate
1 cup of crushed, salted, potato chips
1 cup of roughly chopped cookie/biscuit of choice (I used Cadbury animal freddos)
Method
On a medium to low heat, heat up your oil
Test three popcorn kernels by putting them in the oil. When the kernels pop the oil is ready. Put all of the kernels in the pot at this point. Take the pot off the heat for 30 seconds to even out the popping. Place the pot back on the heat and cover with a lid.Take the popcorn off the heat when there are little to no pops for over 5 seconds and pour into a big mixing bowl. Set aside whilst preparing other ingredients.
Using a double boiler (a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water) melt down the milk chocolate. Spread two thirds of the chocolate thinly across a buttered baking sheet to create the base of your popcorn bars
Place your marshmallows in the microwave and melt in 30 second intervals (mini marshmallows should only take 30 seconds). Take out and mix in the butter. Quickly mix the melted marshmallows in with the popcorn (use your hands if necessary). Then press the popcorn and marshmallow mixture down on top of the melted chocolate.
Finally drizzle over the remaining chocolate and sprinkle chips, cookies, and any other toppings you want to add.
Place in the fridge for minimum 1 hour
Slice into squares and enjoy!
Stay Salty,
Romy xx