Popcorn pops recipe

Our mummy blogger Anneliese says: 'I know that cake pops are a favoured treat for children, especially at party time. However, I have heard horror stories from fellow mums. The cake pop mixture wasn't sticky enough, or it was too sticky and, heaven forbid, the cake pop falls from the stick and becomes lost in a deep 'puddle' of chocolate. This was enough to make my blood run cold, so I decided to think up an easier and more reliable sweet treat which would look good on a stick. I liked the idea of trying popcorn. I submerged some popcorn in sticky melted marshmallows and, hey presto, a simple party treat and no dramas. My little boy had so much fun helping me to make these cute pops and we all enjoyed eating them!'

Ingredients

• 12g unsalted butter
• 45g mini marshmallows
• 35g popped popcorn
• 50g white chocolate
• Sprinkles

You will also need:

• 10 cake pop/lollipop sticks

Method

1. First of all locate a microwavable mixing bowl. Ask your little helper to weigh the small amount of butter.
2. The next step is to add the mini marshmallows. Watch your little angel like a hawk at this point. I turned away to grab the wooden spoon. When I looked back, I saw that my 3-year-old had lost all self control. He was shovelling marshmallows into his mouth as if the world was about to end. I took away the bag (and quickly scoffed a few while he wasn't looking!).
3. Now that your bowl contains both the butter and marshmallows, it's time to carefully to heat in the microwave. Do this in 10-second bursts and give the mixture a stir each time. It won't take long until the mixture melts.
4. Quickly add the 35g of popped popcorn. The popcorn is as light as a feather, so you will need far more than you might think.
5. Mix the popcorn into the sweet and very sticky mixture.
6. From experience, it is now best to leave the mixture alone for a minute or two. It is incredibly sticky, so it is worth letting the marshmallow set a little before ploughing straight in with your hands.
7. While you wait you can prepare the decoration. Simply melt the white chocolate in a little bowl on short blasts in the microwave. Leave to one side, along with the sprinkles, while you construct your popcorn pops.
8. After a couple of minutes both you and your helper can roll the sticky marshmallow mixture into pops. You should be able to make 10 popcorn pops. It's very easy to squeeze the popcorn into shape with your hands. Your child should really enjoy this part!
9. Another great job for your little one is pushing the cake pop/lollipop sticks into the popcorn pops. It's so easy to push the sticks in, so just watch that they don't go straight through and out the other side of the pops.
10. Instead of dipping the pops in the melted white chocolate and running the risk of them falling from the sticks, we found it easier simply to spoon over the chocolate. We only wanted to have a little chocolate over the top of each pop, so it was the simplest and quickest way.
11. Now watch with horror as your child eagerly throws sprinkles over the popcorn pops in wild abandon. Keep smiling!
12. Stand the popcorn pops in a glass or jam jar and leave the chocolate to set (if you can wait that long).