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Easy Halloween Popcorn Mix with Candy Corn

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This easy Halloween popcorn mix with candy corn is sweet, salty, crunchy, and comes together in under 20 minutes. Perfect for parties, movie nights, or last-minute gatherings, it’s a crowd-pleaser that disappears fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 cups plain popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels, or two 3-ounce bags of microwave popcorn, popped and unbuttered)
  • 1 cup pretzel twists or mini pretzels (broken into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 cup candy corn (preferably Brach’s)
  • 1/2 cup candy pumpkins (optional)
  • 1/2 cup salted peanuts or dry-roasted almonds
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. Place the 12 cups of popped popcorn in your largest mixing bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels. Add the broken pretzel pieces, peanuts, and 3/4 cup of the candy corn. Reserve the remaining 1/4 cup of candy corn for later. Gently toss everything together with your hands.
  3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then let it boil for 4 minutes without stirring.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract (it will bubble up). Then add the baking soda and whisk vigorously until the mixture foams and turns lighter in color.
  5. Immediately pour the hot glaze over the popcorn mixture in the bowl. Use a silicone spatula to gently fold the glaze into the popcorn until evenly coated, about 2 minutes.
  6. Transfer the coated popcorn mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring gently every 15 minutes.
  7. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Immediately sprinkle the reserved 1/4 cup of candy corn over the top and gently press them into the warm mixture. Let the popcorn mix cool completely on the baking sheet, about 20-30 minutes.
  8. Once completely cool, break the popcorn mix into bite-sized clusters. Transfer to a serving bowl or store in an airtight container.

Notes

Don’t skip the baking soda; it gives the glaze a light, brittle texture. Watch oven temperature to avoid burning. Work in batches if your bowl is small. This recipe doesn’t work well on humid days. For best crunch, let cool completely before breaking apart.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween popcorn, candy corn popcorn, easy Halloween snack, popcorn mix, sweet and salty popcorn

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