Healthy Popcorn Bars - Delightful by Gabriella

Ingredients

4 cups popcorn only salt added (like SkinnyPop)
½ cup drippy almond butter another nut butter would work here too!
⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
¼ tsp ground cinamon optional!
1 tsp vanilla extract optional!
½ cup melted chocolate optional (but not really;)
½ tbsp oil like coconut or olive to smooth the chocolate (also optional)

Instructions

First, measure out the 4 cups of popcorn. Using you hands smash the popcorn into small pieces. This is a very therapeutic exercise.
Next, in a small saucepan add the almond butter, honey, and cinnamon is using. Mix everything together and place on medium low heat for about 5-7 minutes. Stir frequently until it is bubbling. The mixture might seem thick, but we are "melting" these ingredients so our popcorn sticks nicely to them!
After your stove mixture is bubbly, add 1 tsp of vanilla extract if using. Take it off the heat. Then, pour the almond butter syrup mixture over the crumbled popcorn. Mix thoroughly until every kernel is coated!
Next, add the popcorn mixture to a 8x8 inch parchment lined dish. Press firmly until an even layer of popcorn goodness forms. I like to place the mixture in the freezer as I work on the "optional" next step.
Finally, melt the chocolate (I use stevia-sweetened, dairy- free, dark chocolate) with the oil to thin in a microwaveable dish in 30 second increments. Once the chocolate is smooth, pour it over the bars and distribute evenly. I also like to add some extra popcorn on top for decoration.
And lastly, the worst part. You will need to freeze these bars for about an hour before you cut into them. I know, it's horrible to be patient. You could eat them right away, they just might fall apart.
Once your bars have been in the freezer for an hour, slice and enjoy! I keep mine refrigerated, covered in their dish for throughout-the-week sweet treats! Serve them to your family, friends, and kids!