Halloween Popcorn

Halloween popcorn is chocolate covered popcorn with candy corn, peanut M&Ms, and mini marshmallows that makes a spooktacular sweet and salty party treat.

Now that it’s October, I can finally accept Halloween is around the corner.

I try really hard not to give into black and orange until October 1 (despite stores everywhere shoving Halloween AND Christmas in your face mid-summer).

Wednesday night I put up all of my Halloween decorations including a brand new wreath for the front door. I got it on clearance last year, so I was excited to finally use it.

I would’ve put my decorations up on October 1 itself, but I was out of town.

One thing I love about holiday baking is all the cute festiveness – sprinkles, cupcake liners, party toppers, holiday specific candies, seasonal flavors.

However, being a one person household can be tough simply because most holiday recipes make enough for large families and parties.

Here’s the thing – I don’t host parties. I’ll attend them but none of my friends really host them either.

Not wanting to miss out on spooky Halloween snacks, I made Halloween Popcorn with candy corn, peanut M&Ms, and mini marshmallows covered in chocolate then decorated with festive sprinkles.

It’s similar to my chocolate covered popcorn but with an October twist.

Although it seems like a lot of sugar, the saltiness from the popcorn and peanuts balances it all out.

My Halloween popcorn mix makes roughly 2-4 servings depending on how much dessert popcorn you want to eat.

But if you are throwing a party or putting them into cute treat bags, you can easily double the recipe.

It’s also much easier to make than popcorn balls. Mix it all together, chill, then you’re on your way to eating a delicious sweet and salty snack while watching your favorite Halloween movies.

Ingredients For Halloween Popcorn

To make your popcorn Halloween treat, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Popcorn: Whether you pop it yourself or use microwave popcorn, make sure it’s generously salted. You’ll need it to balance the sugar.
• Candy corn: Nothing says Halloween like candy corn!
• Peanut M&Ms: I opted for peanut rather than plain because of the saltiness the nuts bring. If you do use plain, add some peanuts or chopped pretzels.
• Mini marshmallows: Adds a different texture plus tastes great with the chocolate.
• Baking chocolate: Look for semisweet or dark chocolate that’s great for melting.

What if I’m allergic to peanuts?

For a peanut free Halloween popcorn mix, substitute regular M&Ms then add 1/2 cup chopped pretzels. You’ll want the saltiness to balance the sugar.

How To Make Halloween Popcorn

Before you start making your candy corn popcorn, have everything measured and ready to go as you’ll want to mix everything together while the chocolate is still hot:

1. Mix together popcorn, candy corn, M&Ms, and marshmallows.
2. Melt the chocolate then pour over your popcorn mixture, stirring quickly to coat.
3. Spread onto a cookie sheet in a single layer then decorate with sprinkles.
4. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Break it into bite-sized pieces then serve.

How To Store Halloween Popcorn

Popcorn is best eaten the same day it’s made, but you can store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

You can refrigerate it if the chocolate starts to melt but the popcorn may lose its freshness faster.

How To Make Stovetop Popcorn

If you’re making popcorn from kernels rather than a microwave bag, it’s really easy to make on the stove! Here’s how to pop popcorn:

1. Add oil and kernels to a large wide pot then shake the pan until coated.
2. Turn on the heat, shaking the pan every so often so the kernels move around a bit. Once you hear popping, add a lid.
3. Turn the heat down to low while the kernels finish popping. Once the sound stops, turn off the heat and let it sit 1 minute for any late poppers.
4. Transfer popcorn to a large bowl, removing any unpopped or hard to eat pieces. Add a generous amount of salt and toss to coat.

More Halloween Treats

Looking for more cute Halloween recipes? Check these out:

• Rice Krispie Pumpkins
• Halloween Truffles
• Apple Cider Sangria (aka Halloween Sangria)
• Halloween Bark from Foxes Love Lemons

First published October 11, 2012