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Patriotic Candy Corn Popcorn

Make this colorful Patriotic Candy Corn Popcorn for your Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or summer BBQ! Sweet, crunchy, and loaded with patriotic M&M's and chocolate-covered pretzels, it's the perfect party snack that's easy to make ahead.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Popcorn

Ingredients

  • 16 cups popped popcorn
  • 1½ cups unsalted butter
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup light corn syrup
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon blue food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon white food coloring available at Hobby Lobby
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups Patriotic M&M's
  • 1 bag patriotic chocolate-covered pretzels Sam's Club

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

  • Preheat your oven to 250°F.
  • Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Spread the popped popcorn evenly between both baking sheets.

Step 2: Make the Candy Coating

  • Place three medium saucepans on the stove over medium heat.
  • Into each saucepan, add:
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Allow the butter to melt completely.
  • Stir everything together until combined.
  • Bring each saucepan to a boil while stirring constantly.
  • Once boiling, stop stirring and allow the mixture to boil for 4 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Colors

  • Remove each saucepan from the heat.
  • Color one batch red, one batch white, and one batch blue.
  • Stir until each mixture is smooth and evenly colored.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon baking soda to each saucepan and stir quickly.
  • The mixture will foam and nearly double in size. This is exactly what you want!

Step 4: Coat the Popcorn

  • Pour the colored candy mixtures over the popcorn.
  • Using a large spatula, gently stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.
  • Don't worry if some pieces overlap—everything will get coated during baking.

Step 5: Bake

  • Place both baking sheets into the oven.
  • Bake for 1 hour, stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes.
  • This helps dry the coating while keeping every piece crisp and crunchy.

Step 6: Cool & Finish

  • Remove the popcorn from the oven.
  • Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Once slightly cooled, gently stir in:
  • 2 cups Patriotic M&M's
  • Patriotic chocolate-covered pretzels
  • Break apart any large clusters if desired.
  • Serve immediately or store for later.