If you like to make something sweet to enjoy for the holidays or to give as a delicious edible gift or take to a holiday party besides Christmas cookies or fruitcake, consider this easy to make Popcorn Cake recipe. I assure you it will be a big hit with both young and old.
In the past I have made Popcorn Cake for Easter using pastel M&M candies.
Everyone in my family loves them so much so I decided to make them as Christmas treats using red and green M&M’s and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut them instead of simply cutting them into squares.
If you have ever made Rice Krispy Treats, making the Popcorn Cakes is pretty much the same, but you use popped popcorn instead of cereal.
There is no baking needed. Once you stir the ingredients together, you press it into a baking pan and let it cool.
Once cool, instead of cutting them into squares, I used a star cookie cutter to make them more festive for the holidays.
Popcorn cake can be sticky as you cut and take them out, if needed use a fork or spatula to help.
Then place them on a pretty plate for all to enjoy. If you want to layer them on a plate or cookie tin, place a piece of waxed or parchment paper between the layers. Here is how I like to wrap them to give as an edible gift.
Popcorn Cake Recipe
Popcorn Cake Recipe
When you are looking to make something sweet to enjoy for the holidays or to take to a bake sale or pot-luck besides brownies, cookies or cupcakes, this easy to make Popcorn Cake recipe will be a hit with both young and old.
Servings: 24 cakes
Calories: 799kcal
Cost: $12.00
- 25 cups popped popcorn – 20 to 25 cups or use store bought bag of popped popcorn – see photo in steps below
- 1-1/2 cups salted peanuts
- 1- 1/2 cups M & M candies in holiday colors
- 1 stick margarine or butter
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows
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Mix together in a large bowl: popped popcorn, peanuts and M & M’s. Set aside.
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Mix together and boil for 2 minutes: margarine or butter, vegetable oil and mini-marshmallows until melted. Stir constantly so mixture doesn’t burn.
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Pour melted mixture over popcorn mix and mix well, making sure M&M’s are mixed evenly throughout mix.
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While mixture is still warm make one of these variations:If making into balls: Rub vegetable oil over hands before forming popcorn cake mixture into any shape so the mixture will not stick to your hands.– Shape into balls and place in cupcake liners.– Shape into balls and then on a sheet of wax paper, flatten with palm of hand to make lollipops – push a lollipop stick into each, let cool. – Press into baking pan and cut as you would cut a brownie.
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When taking them on a plate or container, use wax paper in-between the layers to lessen each cut piece of the popcorn cake from sticking to the others.
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Using a spatula, press mixture into a large baking pan and let cool. Once cool, press a star cookie cutter down into the mix. Then using a fork, pull the shape out and place on plate.
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Repeat process until you have cut as many as you can from the pan. For the leftover popcorn mix in the pan, use your hands to form into balls as described below.
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Enjoy.
I fill a large mixing bowl with popcorn. It is about 25 cups. The amount doesn’t have to be precise. A little more popcorn will be a less gooey mix. I have made it with more and less and it always gets eaten.
Calories: 799kcal | Carbohydrates: 140g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 19g | Calcium: 26mg
More Christmas Edible Treats to Make
Make the Popcorn Treats For Other Holidays
Popcorn Cakes also works well for Easter using pastel colored candy and form them into little spring nests.
You can even make the Popcorn cakes into lolli-“pops” by sticking a lollipop stick into each one after rolling it and pressing it flat with the palm of your hand. Making them this way will look very festive in Easter baskets.
How to Make Popcorn Cake Step-By-Step
- Melt the marshmallows, margarine, and oil in a pot.
2. Let boil for 2 minutes
3. Mix popped corn, peanuts, and M&M’s together in a large bowl.
4. When marshmallow mixture is melted, pour over pop corn mixture.
and mix well.
5. Rub vegetable oil over your hands, then shape the mixture into balls. If you don’t do this the mixture will stick to your hands and you won’t be able to mold into balls. I made mine a bit smaller than a tennis ball. Place on foil, wax or parchment paper.
6. Place each ball in a cupcake liner.
For more tasty recipe ideas head over to my Favorite Recipe Gallery.
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