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Easy Halloween Popcorn Mix with Candy Corn Kids Love

halloween popcorn mix with candy corn - featured image
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A quick and easy Halloween popcorn mix featuring candy corn that transforms into chewy, caramel-like pockets when baked. Perfect for parties, movie nights, or a festive treat that kids and adults will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
  • 1 1/2 cups candy corn (about 225g)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick or 113g), melted
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed (50g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken into pieces (optional)
  • 1/2 cup roasted peanuts (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Pop your popcorn. If using an air popper, pop 1/2 cup of kernels to get about 12 cups. If using microwave popcorn, pop one bag and remove any unpopped kernels. Spread the popcorn on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Pick out any unpopped kernels.
  3. Melt the butter mixture. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter. Once melted, add 1/4 cup of packed light brown sugar and whisk until dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. The mixture will foam up.
  4. Toss the popcorn. Pour the butter mixture over the popcorn on the baking sheet. Use a spatula or your hands (if cool enough) to toss everything together until the popcorn is evenly coated.
  5. Add the candy corn. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of candy corn evenly over the coated popcorn. Gently toss once more to distribute.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and stir gently. Return to the oven for another 2-5 minutes if needed. The candy corn should be soft and slightly melted, but still hold its shape.
  7. Cool completely. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the popcorn cool on the sheet for at least 15-20 minutes. Do not skip this step.
  8. Break into clusters. Once completely cool, break the popcorn into bite-sized clusters. Transfer to a serving bowl or store in an airtight container.

Notes

If the popcorn isn’t crunchy enough after cooling, spread it back on the baking sheet and bake for another 5 minutes at 300°F. Let it cool again. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Do not refrigerate. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter. For a vegan version, ensure candy corn is gelatin-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween popcorn, candy corn popcorn, easy Halloween treat, kid-friendly snack, festive popcorn mix

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/easy-halloween-popcorn-mix-with-candy-corn-kids-love/