Change everything you thought about Candy Corn—that bane of many a Halloweener has been given a new life as part of this Candy Corn Popcorn recipe, which mixes the candy with actual popcorn.
Candy Corn has got a bad rap. While I was indeed one of those kids who turned my nose up at the ubiquitous “treat” on Halloween, as an adult, I just think it’s misunderstood. It wasn’t until I thought years later to pair it up unironically with actual popcorn that I breathed new life into Candy Corn. Once I realized the potential of mixing candy with popcorn, I couldn’t stop. I added M&Ms, mini-marshmallows, and sprinkles. The result is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.
Snacks that combine sweet and salty, as this one does, have been around for ages. They cater to those of us who just can’t make up their minds when staring in the pantry at the shelves of goodies. Chocolate? Chips? Pretzels? Gummies? With Candy-Corn Popcorn, we don’t have to choose! I’ve done other popcorn recipes—Salted Caramel Popcorn, Taco Popcorn, Cheese Popcorn—each with their own flavor profiles, but this recipe is more than just a topping, it’s several ingredients!
So if you’ve sworn off Candy Corn, you may want to reconsider. Make this recipe and after one mouthful, you’ll realize you misjudged these li’l yellow and orange guys all these years and that maybe an apology is in order! If you are curious about the history of popcorn and its varieties, you might find our article on popcorn history and fun facts quite interesting.
How Should I Make The Popcorn?
Yes, let’s start with the basics. You have a number of options. First, you can microwave it. This is the easiest option, though I don’t recommend it. Microwaved popcorn contains a lot of other ingredients—most of them not great for you. Considering you’ll be adding your own toppings, there’s no point letting Orville Redenbacher add his own. You could explore making microwave caramel corn if convenience is your priority. You can also do stovetop popcorn or air-fryer popcorn, which is my fave. For a different method, you could try Instant Pot popcorn. Last is the air popper, which I recommend below in the tips section, because it produces dry kernels without oil, which means the topping will stick better.
Top Tips For Perfect Candy-Corn Popcorn
- Use an air popper. Because it doesn’t require any oil, it will produce dry kernels, which the mix will stick to better. If you’re interested in other methods, you might want to check out how to make perfect stovetop popcorn or explore using an air fryer.
- Don’t tarry! (That’s Shakespearean for ‘Stir the popcorn and marshmallow mix quickly!’) It doesn’t take long for that mix to harden, so once you add it to the popcorn, you have a narrow window of opportunity to spread it throughout. For a twist on popcorn recipes with different flavors, consider trying out sesame caramel popcorn.
- Use quality popcorn. Large kernels usually make large and fluffy popcorn that doesn’t taste stale.
- Remove the unpopped kernels, the number of which depends on how you made your popcorn.
- Clean as you go. That mix turns sticky in a jiffy; you don’t want splashes of it all over your kitchen.
What purpose does the marshmallow serve?
The melted marshmallow acts as a binding agent that sticks to the popcorn. It also ups the sweetness of the snack.
Variations of Popcorn You Should Try
Microwave Caramel Corn: A simple way to turn your savory snack into a sweet one.
Taco Popcorn: Forget sweet ‘n’ savory, this recipe goes for spicy ‘n’ savory.
Cheese Popcorn: Cheese powder and real cheese(!) work together for a popcorn snack that will leave you with orange fingers.
How to Store Candy-Corn Popcorn
Once the popcorn has cooled completely, store in an airtight container, Zip-Loc bags or small brown paper bags, and keep in a cool, dry place. Avoid the fridge, as the moisture will make your popcorn soggy. It should stay fresh for up to a week.
Candy Corn Popcorn
Ingredients
- 6 cups popped popcorn
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 1 cup white mini-marshmallows
- ½ cup candy corn
- ¼ cup orange and yellow M&Ms
- 2 tbsp yellow and orange sprinkles
Instructions
- In a small pot melt the butter. Add the mini-marshmallows. Stir to coat the marshmallows with the butter. Continue stirring until the marshmallows are completely melted.
- Pour the melted marshmallows over the popcorn. Stir to coat all of the popcorn with the marshmallow mix.
- Sprinkle with the candy corn, M&Ms, and sprinkles and serve.
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