This Candied Puff Corn is a delicious sweet and salty treat! Sometimes called Christmas Crack, it’s a super easy, affordable treat for gift-giving!
Y’all, this Candied Puff Corn is like an addiction. I know why some folks call it Christmas Crack. It’s a super easy, no-bake holiday treat that satisfies my sweet and salty craving quite like no other.
Essentially, you coat butter flavored puff corn in vanilla or white chocolate candy coating. That’s it. Super simple. Crazy easy. And stupid delicious.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can add some colorful sprinkles or even stir in some add-ins like M&Ms, pretzels, cereal, and the list goes on…
What’s really great about this, too, is how affordable it is. Typically, the puff corn runs about $2 per bag, and my local Walmart has the candy coating for less than $5. This makes it such a fun, inexpensive, and delicious sweet and salty snack to gift to neighbors and friends!
What is puff corn?
Whether it’s spelled puff corn or puffcorn, it’s like a little bit of magic in the snack world! Imagine a kernel of corn decided to dress up in its puffiest puffer jacket – that’s puff corn for you. Unlike popcorn, which pops from the inside out when heated, puff corn is oven baked and made from cornmeal that’s been heated and pressurized to “puff” up into light, airy pieces.
It’s a real treat, especially for those who aren’t fans of the pesky hulls and hard kernels you sometimes get with traditional popcorn. Plus, puff corn is incredibly versatile. You can find it plain or flavored in the chip aisle of your grocery store.
Now, here’s the best part – puff corn is a canvas for culinary creativity. Think of it as a base for a snack mix, drizzle it with chocolate for a sweet twist, or incorporate it into your favorite savory snack recipes.
What ingredients do I need to make Candied Puff Corn?
It’s really very simple. You only need two ingredients – and three if you’re feeling fancy!
Puff Corn – I typically use the Chester’s brand and strongly urge you to use the butter flavor. I think that, combined with the vanilla coating, is the best flavor combination. You’ll find it in a bag in the snack section of your grocery store, right by the chips and traditional popcorn.
Vanilla Candy Coating – I tested this with a variety of different coatings: melted white chocolate chips, vanilla almond bark, vanilla candy wafers, and vanilla candy coating, and I found the vanilla candy coating to be the best. It had the best flavor and texture. Honestly, any of it works just fine, but that’s my preference. (Though the chocolate chips will need to be tempered.) I know it can be a little confusing with so many options out there, but I included a photo above to show you exactly what I bought and used in this recipe. Another popular brand of this candy coating is CANDIQUIK®.
Sprinkles – Since I was making this as holiday gifts, I used some red, green, and white sugar sprinkles, but you could 100% let your imagination run wild with this part.
Now Get Creative!
Once you’ve got the basic formula down, you can get creative with it. Swap the vanilla candy coating for chocolate. Mix in some other things like M&Ms, pretzels, cereal, etc. You could even add some flavored oils to the candy coating to give them different flavors. I was thinking birthday cake, lemon, or even strawberry. Just be sure you’re using oils and not flavorings or extracts. Those will cause your chocolate to seize up.
Recipe Card
Candied Puff Corn (Christmas Crack)
Ingredients
- 2 (3.5-ounce) bags butter flavored puff corn ((I used Chester's Puffcorn))
- 1 (16-ounce) box vanilla flavored candy coating
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Add the puff corn to a very large pan or bowl. Spread two large sheets of wax paper out onto the counter.
- Melt the candy coating in the microwave according to the package instructions. Drizzle it over the puff corn. Quickly stir to combine and coat the puff corn. Spread the mixture out on the wax paper in a single layer. Add colorful sprinkles, if desired. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
LESLIE ELIZABETH COUTURIER
I’ve been making this for years! without the sprinkles we call it snowman poop!
So fun!
Velma (Deanie) Southard
Made this! Husband took one bite and said “Get this out of the house!” This is dangerous! I took it to a meeting of mostly men, they were taking pictures of it and the recipe! What a great recipe and a gift idea💜
Ha! I feel the same way about this stuff! It’s so easy, but SO delicious!
Chris Saunders
Stacey, I made a batch of Christmas Crack using your recipe and have to say it is dangerously delicious. I am having a difficult time walking away from the supply. It will never make to Christmas. My family loves it too. Thanks for an easy recipe!
Ha! I understand the struggle! So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Chris!
Claudine
This is absolutely dangerously habit forming! I could’ve eaten the whole thing by myself, but had to grudgingly share it with the family LOL!
HA! I feel the same way!