Do you love easy kids recipes? Food for children needs to be delicious and fun. I was looking through my pantry for something we could add to regular popcorn to take it up a notch. You'd be surprised how quick and easy it is to make some "fancy popcorn." This would be great served at a party or as a hostess gift. I didn't come up with the name "Birthday Cake Popcorn" until we made it and tasted it. It was just so yummy and colorful that it reminded me of birthday cake. See if you don't agree.
Ingredients:
- Popcorn (I used light microwave popcorn, but you can pop your own)
- Chocolate and vanilla candy melts
- Mini marshmallows
- 2 Squeeze bottles
- Colorful Sprinkles
- Large bowl
The one warning I will give you about making this birthday cake popcorn, is to make sure your popcorn is free from loose kernels The chocolate can make them stick to the other pieces of popcorn. They are hard to spot and you don't want to bite down on them.
How to make birthday cake popcorn
I used the Wilton decorating squeeze bottles but you can just drizzle on the melted chocolate with a spoon. I found conflicting reports about whether you could actually melt the candy melts in these bottles. I chose not to. I melted the candy in a glass cup instead and poured them into the bottles. I really like the look of the chocolate using the bottles rather than drizzling with a spoon. The end result looks more like something you'd find in a store.
So whichever method you chose, start by melting the chocolate and vanilla candy melts separately. The amount of candy melts you use will depend on how big a batch of popcorn you are making and how chocolate-y you want it.
Next, add some mini marshmallows. We really didn't measure these out unless you count 3 child sized handfuls as measuring.
After you add the marshmallows shake up the bowl so that they can become mixed with the popcorn. Then squeeze the melted vanilla and chocolate candy melts all over the popcorn. You will want to stop every once in a while to shake up the popcorn so that the chocolate gets evenly distributed.
Next, shake on some sprinkles and let the whole thing sit until the chocolate hardens. Ours took about 30 minutes.
This birthday cake popcorn was SO good and simple to prepare. The kids had a blast making it, from squeezing the bottles to shaking sprinkles, there was lots to keep them busy.
FAQs For Birthday Cake Popcorn
Plain, air-popped popcorn or lightly salted microwave popcorn works best. Just avoid anything too buttery or flavored so the candy coating sticks well.
Yes! You can make it a day in advance. Just store it in an airtight container at room temperature to keep it fresh and crunchy.
Keep any leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If it starts to soften, a quick toast in the oven can help crisp it up again.
📖 Recipe
Birthday Cake Popcorn
Equipment
- 2 Squeeze bottles
Ingredients
- 1 bag Microwave Butter Popcorn I used microwave popcorn but you can pop your own in an air popper.
- Chocolate and vanilla candy melts
- Mini marshmallows
- Colorful Sprinkles
Instructions
- start by melting the chocolate and vanilla candy melts separately. The amount of candy melts you use will depend on how big a batch of popcorn you are making and how chocolate-y you want it.
- Pour the melted chocolate into the squeeze bottles.
- Next, add some mini marshmallows. We really didn't measure these out unless you count 3 child sized handfuls as measuring.
- After you add the marshmallows shake up the bowl so that they can become mixed with the popcorn. Then squeeze the melted vanilla and chocolate candy melts all over the popcorn. You will want to stop every once in a while to shake up the popcorn so that the chocolate gets evenly distributed.
- Next, shake on some sprinkles and let the whole thing sit until the chocolate hardens. Ours took about 30 minutes.
Melinda says
amazing! i might even have the candy melts for this! please come by tomorrow (late tonight) for #kidsinthekitchen
2 Big, 2 Little says
My girls would love to make and eat this popcorn. I can't wait to try it with them.
Thanks for linking up to the Kid's Co-op. I'm featuring your popcorn on my post for this week's Co-op.
Mackenzie says
This sounds awesome and such a fun treat for kids! Love it! I read a little about you as well and am so glad that you are joining us! We have a lot in common and I am loving your blog; so many great ideas! Teacher minds think alike! 🙂 Can't wait to get to you know you better!
You are a Featured Favorite this week on Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes! Thanks so much for sharing with us last week! We can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!
Have a great weekend!
Mackenzie 🙂
Carrie says
How fun and delicious looking! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Katie's Nesting Spot says
Thank you for sharing your yummy sounding popcorn with us. It's all things my daughter loves and we're planning to make it the next time we have a play date. I've featured your post in this week's newest A Crafty Soiree, which will be up at midnight EST. Please come by and see and share some more of your crafty goodness with us!