Gaudete popcorn

Celebration can look like anything from champagne and silk to picnic blankets and watermelon, but at its heart celebration is always about the same thing: rejoicing. On Gaudete Sunday (aka pink candle Sunday of Advent), we start cranking up the celebration. We hang our stockings and add the rest of our Christmas ornaments to our purple and pink Advent tree. We set out Mary and Joseph with the waiting shepherds and wise men in our nativity set. And of course, we celebrate by eating something that's pure joy.

• Related: 6 ways to celebrate Advent

Gaudete popcorn is an ideal Gaudete Sunday treat. There's just something happy about popcorn. Who doesn't love popcorn? Thus, who doesn't love popcorn draped in caramel and chocolate and exploding with colorful sprinkles? It's unexpected but approachable, humble but special, familiar yet made totally, delightfully new. I told you, perfect for the growing joy of deep Advent.

Gaudete popcorn has no real recipe per se, but steps and principles that you can tinker with and adapt with your own magic. Add whatever you think sounds great—maybe white chocolate mini chips or toasted pecans?—but don't overcomplicate it. Pure joy always feels easy.

Ingredients

The amounts are totally relative to your taste and desire.

• popcorn kernels for popping (we use this fantastic gadget)

• chocolate (I like a caramel-filled chocolate, but any kind will do; we've used chocolate chips, random pieces of candy bars, whatever we had on hand)

• heavy cream (you could also use half and half or butter)

• sprinkles

• spray oil or butter

• salt

Instructions

1. First, pop the popcorn and spray it with the oil or butter, then toss in a large bowl with a light shake of salt.

2. Meanwhile, melt whatever chocolate you're using with enough cream to make it a syrupy consistency. Stir constantly over low heat so it doesn't burn, about five minutes.

3. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn in the bowl. As you drizzle, rotate the bowl and stir lightly to distribute the chocolate, but be careful not to overwork it and break down the popcorn.

4. Pour sprinkles generously over the whole bowl and gently toss a bit to distribute.

5. Rejoice.

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