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This sweet and salty Peanut Butter Chocolate Popcorn Bark is packed with roasted nuts, freshly popped popcorn, and cereal that is coated with peanut butter and honey. Then to make it more irresistible it’s drizzled with two kinds of chocolate! This no-bake snack is also easily made gluten free.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Popcorn Bark Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
I’m all about a salty-sweet snack, and this one satisfies that craving for sure. This easy chocolate popcorn recipe comes together in minutes and can be made gluten free if needed. The combination of crunchy, salted nuts, creamy white chocolate, and not-too-sweet semisweet chips makes this popcorn bark stand out from the rest. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- Easy ingredients. Popcorn, nuts, peanut butter, and a little chocolate, what could be better? All of the ingredients in this recipe are quickly available at your local grocery store.
- No-bake. I love a no-bake dessert! This simple snack mix is packed with salty-sweet flavors that make it irresistible – and you won’t need an oven to put it together.
- Gluten Free. It’s beyond easy to make this recipe gluten-free if you need it to be. Simply use a gluten free cereal in the mix. You can learn about what cereals are gluten free in this post.
What You’ll Need
I’ve included an overview of the ingredients in this recipe below. Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Popcorn: You’ll need plain, popped popcorn, either homemade or from a bag.
- Cereal: Use rice, corn, or cinnamon Chex for a gluten free option or Golden Grahams (note that Golden Grahams are not gluten-free) cereal. I love the hint of spice in the cinnamon variety of the Chex.
- Peanuts: I use roasted and salted peanuts for the best flavor.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter.
- Honey: Maple syrup or agave can be substituted.
- White Chocolate Chips
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips
How to Make Peanut Butter Popcorn Bark
Here’s how to make this wonderful popcorn bark. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Mix. Line a baking sheet and mix together the popcorn, cereal, and nuts in a bowl.
- Make peanut butter coating. Microwave the peanut butter and honey together, then stir.
- Combine. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn mix.
- Mix. Stir until the popcorn mix is evenly coated.
- Assemble. Spread the mixture evenly out on the baking sheet.
- Melt. In the microwave, melt the white chocolate chips and semisweet chocolate chips separately.
- Drizzle. Then drizzle the melted chocolates over the popcorn and cereal mixture. Refrigerate until set.
Popcorn Bark Variations
The variations you can make to this recipe are almost endless! I’ve outlined a few suggestions below, including some delightful add-ins to try:
- Nuts: You can add more nuts or substitute for the peanuts. I love roasted and salted almonds, chopped up and stirred into the mix.
- Make it vegan: Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave and use vegan white chocolate and dark chocolate chips.
- Crunchy peanut butter: For more crunch, you can use crunchy peanut butter rather than smooth peanut butter.
- Almond butter: Swap the peanut butter for almond butter.
- Add dried fruit: Dried fruit such as cranberries, chopped apricots, or raisins (regular or golden) would add a hint of fruity sweetness to the bark.
- Mini marshmallows: Throw in 1 cup (or more if desired) mini marshmallows to the popcorn bark!
- Make it nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter and add seeds such as pumpkin or sesame seeds or a combination to make this popcorn bark nut-free.
Tips for Success
Make this easy no-bake snack turn out perfectly:
- Line your pan. Cleanup is much easier if you line your pan with wax paper or, my personal preference, a silicone baking mat.
- Use fresh popcorn. If you can make a batch of homemade popcorn, that will taste the best in this recipe! If you need to use a bag of pre-made popcorn, just make sure that it’s fresh.
- Try Cinnamon Chex. While plain Corn or Rice Chex will do, the hits of warm spice adds a little something extra to complement the combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and honey.
- Chill thoroughly. For the best texture, make sure to let the popcorn bark sit in the fridge long enough so that it gets nice and firm. Don’t break up the bark until it’s firmed up completely, otherwise it may fall apart.
Proper Storage
Here’s how to store your popcorn bark:
- Counter – Place the popcorn bark in an airtight container and keep it on the counter for up to 3 days.
- Fridge – Store the popcorn bark in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Popcorn Bark
This sweet-salty Peanut Butter Chocolate Popcorn Bark is packed with roasted nuts, freshly popped popcorn, and two kinds of chocolate!
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups plain popped popcorn
- 4 cups Rice, Corn, or Cinnamon Chex or Golden Grahams (note Golden Grahams are not gluten free) cereal
- 1 cup roasted and salted peanuts
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet or wax paper.
- In a large bowl, toss together the popcorn and Golden Grahams (and peanuts, if using)
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave the peanut butter and honey on high for 30 seconds, then stir until blended. Microwave for an additional 15 seconds, if needed.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn and cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Spread into an even layer on the prepared pan.
- Melt the white chocolate chips and semisweet chocolate chips in separate small bowls in the microwave at 50% power in 15-30 second intervals, stirring until smooth, or over a double boiler and drizzle over the popcorn and cereal mixture on the pan.
- Refrigerate until set and firm (it will still be sticky). Break into chunks and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Chocolate Popcorn Bark
Amount Per Serving
Calories 442
Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 288mg12%
Potassium 402mg11%
Carbohydrates 54g18%
Fiber 7g28%
Sugar 27g30%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 280IU6%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 101mg10%
Iron 9mg50%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Did you make this?
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Doesn’t that look amazing, love it, plus thanks for including us in your post!!
I would polish off a bowl of this in 3…2….*crunch*
Wow, I’d take to to a movie any day 😉 I think the chocolate would be my favorite part
Haha! Yeah, I picked out my fair share of chocolate!
Nice! I love this snack mix combination. My family ignores baseball until the world series and even then they only half-heartedly keep track of what team is winning. Now, put this mix in front of them during football and it would be all over! I am definitely going to revisit this come tailgating season!!
Gorgeous! I’m sure they are as tasty as they look, too.
Oh My Gosh! I’m a huge Yankee fan too! I never miss a game! I’m sorry to see Derek Jeter leave the team too. I agree with you, it just won’t be the same. There have been a lot of guys coming and going the past few years. However, the game must go on, Right? The popcorn bark looks yummy! I’m going to make it for the next game. I love sweet & salty! Pinned it !!! I love your Blog!
Thanks for coming by! ALways love a fellow Yankeee fan 🙂
Oh my god this looks like it’d be so addicting! YUM!
Purdy sure I would not share this. With ANYONE! Seriously. YUM!