Y’all. I know that popcorn is technically a snack, but I am here to sell you on the idea of these breakfast popcorn treats. I mean, who doesn’t want maple bacon popcorn for breakfast? It’s almost like having pancakes. Plus I added some coffee flavor into the mix.
I think you’re going to like these marshmallow popcorn treats a lot! I do suggest you eat them as a snack, but I won’t raise an eyebrow if you call this breakfast popcorn and munch away happily while watching cartoons.
Maybe make some beaten coffee to sip along with it. Heaven!
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What To Do with Leftover Popcorn
First, let me just go on record as saying that I have no idea what leftover popcorn is. I mean, I’ve never met any. Not at my house.
But if for some reason you end up with leftovers (how? How?!), I’m sure you want some creative ways to use it. Well, here you go:
- infuse heavy cream with it and use the cream to make popcorn whipped cream or popcorn ice cream (pour popcorn into cream. Heat to warm. Let sit out until room temp then refrigerate overnight. Blend. Strain.)
- make a quickie trail mix with chocolate pieces, pretzels, dried fruit, etc
- make popcorn marshmallow treats! At their simplest, you’d do this just like you’d make Krispie treats, subbing out the Rice Krispies for your leftover (again, what?!) popcorn
Maple Bacon Popcorn Treats
Making these treats isn’t really much more difficult than making Krispie treats. Here’s how I did it:
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NOTE: Since I had just made coffee marshmallows for my hot chocolate custard post, I used them to make these mallow treats. You can just as easily use store bought marshmallows and add the instant coffee separately.
- Cook bacon to crispy and crumble.
- Melt marshmallows (homemade or store bought) together with butter, maple syrup, and espresso powder.
- Add the bacon and stir to combine.
- Fold in the popcorn.
- Press into buttered pan and let cool to firm up.
- Slice and enjoy.
Variations on a Theme
I encourage you to make these treats your own. Here are some ideas for you:
- Not a fan of bacon? Leave it out.
- Don’t like maple? You can leave that out too. Or sub in honey or sorghum syrup.
- Stir in some chocolate chips.
- Dried cranberries would be really good in these guys, I think.
- Substitute some chopped toasted nuts for the bacon–or use both bacon and nuts
- Use a mix of leftover popcorn and corn-based breakfast cereal
More Breakfast Treats
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I am a fan of savory breakfast. Give me a fried egg sandwich or scrambled eggs with homemade ketchup. Or biscuits and gravy any day.
But occasionally, it’s fun to have an indulgent breakfast, one that feels a bit more like dessert. I mean, if you’re down for breakfast popcorn treats, I figure you might also be into some Hawaiian Roll French Toast Muffins or even some Deep Fried French Toast.
Or how about Moravian Sugar Cake Bread Pudding, Apple Cider Donut Bread Pudding, or if you’re feeling super decadent, chocolate donut bread pudding?
Because as far as I’m concerned bread pudding and French toast casserole are the same thing, making either one equally appropriate for breakfast or dessert.
A Note About Measurements
Don't let its small price and small size fool you. The Escali Primo is an accurate and easy-to-use food scale that I have used for years. It's easy to store, easy to use, has a tare function, and easily switches between grams and ounces/pounds for accurate measurements.
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And you know I’ll especially be a fan if you decide to go your own way and make your own variation. I’d love to see!
Thanks, and enjoy!
Breakfast Popcorn Treats (Marshmallow Popcorn Treats)
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 300 grams marshmallows
- 2 oz butter
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup crisp crumbled bacon
- 10 cups popped popcorn
Instructions
- Butter or spray a 9"x13" pan. Set aside.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the marshmallows and butter together with the maple syrup over low to medium-low heat. Do not let it boil.
- Stir in the espresso powder and salt, then stir in the crisp bacon so it is evenly dispersed.
- Fold in the popcorn, making sure to evenly coat all the corn.
- Scrape the popcorn into the prepared pan and, using buttered hands or a piece of parchment paper, pack the popcorn evenly into the pan.
- Cool and cut into squares with a serrated knife.
- Enjoy the same day or store, tightly covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Did You Make Any Changes?
Notes
Nutrition
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Hear me out… golden grahams, mini marshmallows, and mini chocolate chips… you can make popcorn smores bars… honestly, my inner fat kid would still add the bacon haha. I’m always looking for ways to get my smores in, and popcorn (especially from the movie theater) seems like it would go well!
Ooh, I think you have a winner there, Janille!!
Where o where is the maple syrup in the directions?? It’s in the ingredients!!
Sorry about that. I’ve updated the instructions to reflect adding the maple syrup when melting the marshmallow and butter together.
You are positively diabolical, Jenni.
So if I wanted these loose like Cracker Jack instead of cut into squares, do you think any changes would be needed, or simply spread the final mixture out onto parchment sheets?
Hmmm… It will never get hard because it’s mallow and sticky, and it never gets up to a high enough temperature to allow it to set up hard. You could spread it really thinly in a pan and cut it into small pieces, but it will always be chewy because of the nature of marshmallow. I sure would like to come up with a great homemade Cracker Jack, though…
This makes me wanna make treats with everything in my baking cupboard. The possibilities are endless! Except 2.0 usually ransacks the cupboard when I’m at work…