Candy Corn Popcorn
As soon as I mentioned doing a candy corn popcorn recipe for the blog, the Pilot was hooked.
“Hey… so… um, when do you think you’ll be making that recipe?”
“Which one?”
“That one you mentioned the other day… it sounds really good.”
I think he was hoping I’d make it while he was home instead of at work, but it finally happened during a naptime cooking blitz. During naptime, I’ll quickly clean up around the house, find something to eat, work/blog, paint my nails, and/or lay on the couch with Bell and watch Kardashians. (I used to keep it on during the day but now I’m starting to realize Liv understands everything.) It’s a party, really.
And then sometimes, I get a little crazy in the kitchen.
I do things like melt down my favorite Halloween candy and Paula Deen-ify it.
I debated posting this recipe, because I like my blog to be a resource for quick, effective workouts and healthy recipes (with shenanigans and adventures thrown in there, too). As far as “healthy” foods go, this one is pretty low on the totem pole. But then again, indulging IS healthy- sometimes all a certain food can nurture is the soul, and that’s ok. It’s important to enjoy your favorite things in moderation and candy corn… well, it’s one of my favorite things.
I could make some kind of lame claim here like “it has whole grains from the popcorn!” but lets be real.
Just make some and enjoy, with eyes closed and whatever sound effects you desire 😉 If you’re feeling generous, save some to share with the hubby.
Candy Corn Popcorn
Like caramel corn’s eccentric and way cooler cousin
The most annoying part of this recipe is popping the popcorn. I always have a minor panic attack as I remember the great popcorn fire of 2010 (I set a bag on fire at my mom’s house and screamed bloody murder while my stepdad took care of it). You can use your preferred method or try the one I’ve put in the recipe.
Candy Corn Popcorn
Ingredients
- 3/8 cup popcorn kernels (doesn’t have to be exact, but I pop 3 rounds of 1/8 cup popcorn in the microwave)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3/4 cups candy corn
- 1 heaping tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: extra candy corn and chocolate chips to sprinkle in
Instructions
- Heat a medium-sized pot over medium heat and add the butter.
- Pop the popcorn–add 1/8 cup popcorn to a paper bag, fold the top over twice and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Take the popcorn out when you can count to two between pops.
- Pour popcorn in a large bowl and do the next round of popping (three times total).
- While the popcorn is popping, add the candy corn, vanilla, brown sugar and sea salt to the butter and stir to combine as it melts.
- Next, pour the liquid candy corn buttery magma on top of the popcorn in the bowl.
- Spray a spatula or wooden spoon with cooking spray and gently stir to coat well.
- Pour the coated popcorn onto a greased cookie sheet and allow to cool for 30 minutes of so until set.
- Sprinkle with extra candy corn and chocolate chips if desired.
Waiting 30 minutes for it to set basically requires willpower of steel, but it’s worth it for the crunch (but if you’re like me, you’ll like it warm and ooey just as much).
Enjoy! <3
More:
-And since we’re in the spirit of foods that are low on the nutrients, high on the love, check out this dump cake recipe– the Pilot’s bday is coming up, so I’m excited to make him a birthday cake
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YUM!!!! I am definitely making this and am so glad you posted it. 🙂
I need to try this. Thanks so much for posting. I remember being younger and melting candy corn into my oatmeal to make it sweeter and this immediately reminded me of that. Yum.
Haha I definitely won’t be making this since candy corn has gelatin, but that looks delicious! I used to love candy corn.
Rumor has it that the Jelly Belly brand does not contain gelatin. I’m trying to confirm this though.
I guess they use beeswax instead.
This might be the perfect combination of sweet and salty!!! Nice work!
This is such a brilliant idea! Love this!!!
this looks amazing! So happy you posted it! Sometimes we all need a little treat!!!
So cool, I make this also along with “puppy chow” for holiday treats, but I learned the hard way you need to use a wooden or metal spoon, as caramelized sugar gets super hot and you will end up with melted plastic bits in your slurry if you use a traditional plastic spoon (though silicone probably wouldn’t melt).
I LOVE candy corn, so I will have to give this a try! YUMMM. 🙂
I made homemade butterfinger bars last year with melted candy corn…that syrup is literally a hot mess 🙂 but so versatile! Love the popcorn idea!
This sounds intriguing! Think I will try to make this for a Halloween party. Thanks for the recipe!
I am a huge fan of plain airpopped popcorn and I swear by this bowl. I’ve had to purchase three of these for friends and the boyfriend after they fell in love too.
http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-60120-Microwaver-Popcorn/dp/B00004W4UP/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349973131&sr=1-1&keywords=popcorn+microwave+bowl
Also, this recipe…nom.
this looks SO GOOD! i love candy corn – especially the pumpkins. those are the best!
I can’t wait to try this, my latest obsession is candy corn +cashews. I love the salty and sweet.
I never would have thought to place those 2 things together…but candy corn is awesome! I really want to try this recipe this weekend. It can be made specially for my birthday / Halloween ^_^
ACK! Healthy or not, I am a HUGE fan of candy corn. But, I refuse to eat it any other time of year (they have Easter and Christmas “candy corn”…just not the same!) I also love the pumpkins…
But, this looks fabulous. And I will definitely try it! 🙂
I think if I weren’t married already, Eric would propose to me all over again with this recipe. HE LOVES candy corn! [I am not a fan] I should make this for him 😉
Haha! I think you can classify candy corn popcorn as “shenanigans!” 🙂 My sorority in college had a signature snack of candy corn, peanuts, and m&m’s that was pretty much to die for- this recipe reminds me of that!
I just told my boss about this and his response was “Two of my vices put together”. And then asked how fast I could make it for him. This will show up on his desk on Monday morning unless my hubby eats all of it that I make over the weekend. I agree that this is classified as “shenanigans” and I am definitely glad you posted it.
I am not a candy corn fan (*gasp*) but I love the spirit of this post. I am finishing a detox now & this is a great reminder that healthy does not equal perfect. 🙂
I actually love that you posted this recipe! Eating healthy is great and all, but there’s always room for treats… They may not nourish our bodies, but they do a whole heck of a lot for our minds, and sometimes that’s even more important.
GINA. OHEMGEE.
Would you be upset if I said this was my favorite recipe of yours, like, ever?
The only problem with this is that my fiance hates candy corn—meaning this entire batch would be consumed by yours truly. WORTH IT.
Popcorn and candy corn are two of my most favorite things ever! I am shocked that I never thought of trying something like this before. I think I love you a little bit for posting this.
That looks INSANE. Oh my lawwddd I don’t think I have the self control to make candy corn popcorn. It would not get shared, it would be ALL. MINE.
I am glad you posted this! First because I love that your blog is full of healthy recipes and exercise, and it is good to see that just like all of us you too enjoy the good things in life!
Second because even though I don’t like candy corn (I know, I am the weird one, haha!), my son loves it and he loves popcorn, so this will be a fun thing to do with him this month. I am sure he will have a blast with this!
Ana
I. Have. No. Words.
I love you.
HECK YES!!!
This looks amazing! Trying my best to resist…
What a great idea! I am not a huge candy corn fan, but I love the color and the concept 😉
What a cool unique idea!
YUMMMMM!
I have candy corn at home too!
OMG I don’t even like popcorn but I’m dying and salivating over this. I want this in my mouth pronto!
SUPER fun and festive-love it!
I might just have to switch up my normally salty/savory popcorn and do some sweet:) I always pop mine in a pot on the stove. Heat up a teeny-tiny amount of oil (I use coconut) in a pot with a lid over medium low heat. I put three kernels in when its heating and once they pop I add the remaining 1/4 to 1/2 cup of kernels and its all popped in a few minutes:) Growing up we had an air popper and I would love to eventually find one like it!
Im so glad you decided to post this! What an aaaamazing idea!
…But then again, indulging IS healthy- sometimes all a certain food can nurture is the soul, and that’s ok…. SO true! Such a good attitude, so many people are pell mell, and end up eating way too much of the food they were craving, instead of a healthy sized indulgence.
* Your awesome quote was meant to be in quotation marks, sorry 🙂
You literally combined my two favorite foods on earth!
Well I’m glad you actually opted to post this because I think the blog world would be a little sad if you hadn’t!! This is a phenom idea. What impresses me the most is that the popcorn doesn’t get soggy. And the vibrance of the orange is just awesome. Who wouldn’t wanna eat it?!? Oh man, I wish I had some right now!!
This is awesome! I always love sending holiday treats to my friends and family, but sometimes it sucks because what I want to make won’t ship well. But this, I could totally put in decorated cellophane baggies. Thanks for the idea!
Um yum!! When I saw the word magma I instantly thought of Austin Powers and laughed out loud.
Love this idea! And love your outlook. To me, never letting yourself eat treats is just as unhealthy as gorging on treats every day. It’s all about balance!
Omg this popcorn looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
let me know if you try it!
That looks extra tasty!
By the way it’s really easy to pop your popcorn on the stove, and that will probably reduce the incidence of “great popcorn fires”– it’s a breeze if you have a glass pot (like Pyrex glass that is for heat) so you can see the kernels popping and figure out both visually and with the sound of the little “pops” when it’s done. Just a tip so you don’t get so nervous with the paper bags. 🙂
I think you’re absolutely spot on! Being healthy is all about balanced eating- the good for you stuff and the not-so-good for you stuff. We can’t live by rules or restrictions, trust me I know!
Looks really good ! When I pop my popcorn I do it in a pot i think it’s healthier than microwaved and every single kernel pops out:) heat about one tablespoon of olive oil/any other oil in a pot (about 30 seconds) then put in corn kernels (approximately half a cup per 1 tbsp. of oil ) cover the pot with the lid, but not tight, you HAVE to leave a space for the air to come out (this is really important otherwise your popcorn will burn and be black and smelly) those steps should be done on high heat . Now you should hear the kernels pop slow and then increasing you can also see them pop and extend SO COOL ! When the popping becomes really slow lower the heat and let it end popping for about 30 seconds and that’s it ! really easy and ALL of the kernels pop ! 🙂
Oh my goodnss. I just made this myself and it is so yummy. It’s better than regular caramel corn by far. Plus, it was so quick and easy. Thank you so much for the idea!
yay, i’m so happy you liked it!!
I just made this! Amazing– I’m going to spread Halloween cheer tomorrow and bring the popcorn to work! Awesome idea!!!!
🙂 !!!
Totally forgot about our neighbor’s party tonight and needed a quick treat to bring. This is perfect! Fast, easy, festive and YUMMY! Cooked up and ready to go.
Initially, my thought was that more magma was needed and that the chocolate chips and additional candy corn only sank to the bottom and were unnecessary.
Yeah, here’s what I did to elevate things (more magma is not needed after all):
8) Sprinkle with 3/4 cup candy corn and 3/4 cup chocolate chips.
9) Place the pan in a 400 degree oven for 3-5 minutes, until the candies just start to melt.
10) Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. You may need to refrigerate the tray if your kitchen is too warm for the chocolate to set.
11) Gently break up any large chunks and try not to eat it all at once.