Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears can be divisive, no doubt. However, this chocolate covered cinnamon bear popcorn is the best of both worlds. All of the flavors of the known and (mostly) loved treat, but in easily snackable in popcorn form. It’s a fun and easy treat that’s great for gifting, parties, or just snacking at home, and the bright and festive color makes it perfect for the holiday season, too! Fresh popcorn, creamy melted chocolate, and chewy cinnamon bears for a combo that’s sweet, spicy, and oh-so-addicting. You can throw it together quickly and it stores well, so it’s perfect for making ahead or packaging up to share.
Ingredients Needed
- popped popcorn – you’ll need 16 cups, so that’s about 2 bags of microwave popcorn
- butter
- Karo syrup
- Red Hot candies
- cinnamon oil – I recommend LouAnn Cinnamon Oil. Without it, the popcorn is tasty, but not even a little hot. While I don’t want to burn my mouth, when consuming chocolate covered cinnamon bears, I definitely want a little heat.
- chocolate chips
- shortening
How to Make Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bear Popcorn
- Place popcorn in a large, heat-safe bowl; set aside.
- Preheat oven to 275°F. Line and grease two baking sheets.
- In a saucepan, heat butter, Karo syrup, and Red Hots until boiling, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat and boil for 5 minutes. Stir in cinnamon oil.
- Pour candy mixture over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.
- Spread popcorn onto baking sheets in a single layer.
- Bake for 30 – 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool completely.
- Melt chocolate chips with shortening in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Drizzle chocolate over cooled popcorn, let harden, and then break into pieces.
Storage & Other Tips
- Keep it airtight at room temperature. Store finished popcorn in a sealed container or bag, at room temperature, to keep it crisp and candy-coated for up to 1 week.
- Don’t refrigerate this popcorn. Moisture will soften the coating and diminish the crunch.
- Avoid heat or direct sunlight to prevent melted chocolate or candy.
- Cool completely before drizzling chocolate. This will prevent sogginess.
- If gifting, portion into small baggies, jars, coffee cups, or mason jars. It can be made and stored a day or two in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let the popcorn cool completely to room temperature before drizzling chocolate. If you drizzle while it’s warm or refrigerate too soon, condensation can make it soggy.
Once the chocolate has fully hardened, store the popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, though it’s best if eaten in 1 or 2 days.
Yes! Make the popcorn a day ahead and store it in sealed gift baggies or tins. Just be sure it’s completely cooled and fully set before packaging.
Yes! Spread the popcorn on a baking sheet in a single layer before drizzling. This maximizes surfaces contact and helps the chocolate adhere more consistently. Using a fork to drizzle creates that nice, striped-like pattern.
Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bear Popcorn
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 cups popped popcorn about 2 bags microwave popcorn
- 1 cup butter
- ⅓ cup Karo syrup
- 2 cups Red Hot candies
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon oil more or less to taste
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon shortening
Instructions
- Place the popcorn in a very large, heat-safe bowl and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 275℉. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and grease or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter, Karo syrup, and Red Hots. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring very frequently, and then reduce heat to medium-low and boil for 5 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon oil and then pour over the popcorn, stirring with wooden spoons to evenly coat the popcorn in the candy mixture.
- Divide the popcorn evenly between the two baking sheets and spread in a single layer over each baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- In a microwave-safe jar or measuring cup, add the chocolate chips and the shortening. Heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until the chocolate is smooth and liquidy. Using a fork, drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn and allow to harden. Break into pieces and serve or divide into bags to deliver as gifts.
Notes
- This popcorn will be tasty, but it won’t have much of a bite without the additional cinnamon oil. 1/2 teaspoon adds a nice heat without being overwhelming (much like chocolate covered cinnamon bears), but if you’re very brave, try adding a whole teaspoon.
Questions & Reviews
What is the consistency of the red sugary stuff after it has cooled? Is it soft/gummy at all? I don’t think I would make it if it were really crunchy. I don’t want to break my teeth or others’. I’m thinking it’s like tacky caramel corn (as opposed to the crunchy variety), but wanted to make sure before I make it.
It’s gummy, soft like caramel corn, before you bake it, and it’s crispy (but never full-blown crunchy) after you bake it. If you prefer the soft consistency, feel free to skip the baking step! 🙂
I always buy chocolate covered cinnamon bears when I’m near BYU…it was my favorite studying snack! I HAVE to try this!!!!
Sounds delish. I just made your peppermint bark popcorn for the first time and I figured out a good trick for getting the unpopped kernels out. Put the popcorn in a big bowl and put a cooling rack over the top of it, then invert and give it a little shake. The unpopped kernels fall right out. Way easier (and more sanitary!) than trying to pick through the bowl looking for the old maids.
Awesome tip!!!
Can’t wait to try this! I’m a lover of chocolate and cinnamon. My new favorite is chocolate cinnamon ice cream!
Costco carries chocolate covered cinnamon bears. Big ol’ bags 🙂
My local grocery store here in Minnesota JUST started carrying chocolate covered cinnamon bears. I almost cried from happiness. This popcorn looks amazing!
We too can never visit BYU without getting bag of cinnamon bear, chocolate covered or otherwise. I love the popcorn in a mug though. I have 16 red mugs that I don’t want so I thought about giving them away for Christmas. Now I know what to put in them!!
How I love chocolate covered cinnamon bears! We were in Utah over thanksgiving and bought a large bag from the bulk section and pigged out! I can buy them here but they are expensive and in small packages. Have you ever tried cinnamon bears dipped in chocolate fondue? Yum!
Cinnamon Bears are literally one of my favorite things in the entire world. They are so chewy!!! I need to try this popcorn. Forget gifting it — it’s all mine!!
I miss chocolate covered gummy bears the most… I never got into the cinnamon bears… But that candy counter at the WILK and the bulk bin of candy that used to exist in Helaman Halls… We were BFFs!