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Unicorn Popcorn – Party in a bowl

When you need a fun colorful treat for a birthday or a celebration, make unicorn popcorn. Easy unicorn popcorn recipe is a party in a bowl!

We made this adorable finger-food treat for our granddaughter’s birthday party. She loved all of the pretty colors and sprinkles, and everyone loved munching on this delicious treat.

unicorn popcorn in a bowl on the counter with individual servings in pink and white striped single serving popcorn bags in front of a white tiled wall.

How to Make Unicorn Popcorn

Ingredients

Popcorn. Keep it super simple and buy a bag of pre-popped popcorn at the grocery store.

Candy Melts. You can get whatever colors you like for Unicorn popcorn, but the colors used for our photos are blue, yellow, and green. I prefer the Wilton brand.

Pink Mist Spray. This is a can of edible paint from Wilton for added decoration.

Coconut Oil or Vegetable Oil. A little oil added to each of the different colors will allow for smoother melting.

Sprinkles. Choose colors to coordinate with your candy melts and add sparkle to your unicorn popcorn recipe.

Ingredients for the unicorn popcorn recipe.

Making the Popcorn

  1. Pop some popcorn in an air popper or use any unbuttered popcorn.
  2. Spread the popcorn out on cookie sheets and spray with the pink mist spray. Allow it to dry for a couple of minutes and then stir it up and spray it again. We like some of the white to show through.
  3. Melt each of the different colors of candy melts in separate bowls and add a bit of oil.
  4. Drizzle half of the candy melts over the popcorn, add sprinkles before the candy melts dry, and then allow it all to dry for a couple of minutes.
  5. Reheat the candy melts if necessary and carefully turn the popcorn so you don’t knock off all of the candy melts. Apply it to the other side.
  6. Allow the popcorn candy to dry completely before serving.

Complete instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make unicorn popcorn. Steps demonstrated include spraying the popcorn pink, piping the chocolate.

Tips for Unicorn Popcorn

You can use air-popped popcorn or just buy a bag at your grocery store. I like the easy button so that’s what we do. Why make it difficult?

We don’t recommend using a  buttered popcorn variety. You want the candy melts to stick to the popcorn plus it’s less mess.

We recommend the lightly salted and not the unsalted or full salt popcorn.

Sprinkle on the candies as you apply the candy melts so they will stick. Once the candy melts dry the nonpareils, sprinkles, or M&Ms will not stick. If you’re brave, have your kids add the sprinkles as you add the candy melts.

We lightly sprayed our pans so the candy melts wouldn’t stick to the pan. You could use parchment paper or a silicone mat. Parchment paper has been a game-changer for me because it makes clean-up a breeze.

We lightly break up the popcorn before putting it in a bowl. Everyone loves there own little clumps so it makes the perfect finger-food appetizer, snack or party-food.

bowl of candied popcorn.

What are Candy Melts?

Candy melts are not chocolate. They’re a mixture of sugar and vegetable oil.

Make sure you buy a new bag. Old candy melts tend to create problems when melting. If your candy melts are clumping as you melt them, it’s definitely time for a new bag.

How to Melt Candy Melts

Always use a completely dry bowl or pan. Liquids and candy melts do not mix! 

Do not cover the candy melts while heating. The moisture from the steam will cause them to seize up.

We recommend melting the candy melts at 50% power for 30-second intervals in the microwave or slowly in a double boiler. If you try and melt it at full power, it can tend to seize up which is a complete mess.

If the candy melts become too thick or seizes up (dry clumpy mess) due to overcooking, you can try adding 1 teaspoon of solid shortening for every 12 to 16 ounces of candy melts to save the unicorn popcorn recipe.

tray of colorful popcorn with candy melt drizzle.

Popcorn Variations

  • If you don’t need a unicorn popcorn snack just yet, use other colors of color mist spray for a boy’s birthday, or how about red, white, and blue for the 4th of July? You can pick the edible paint color and the color and type of the sprinkles to fit your theme of choice.
  • Use colored M&M®’s or other candies to compliment your theme instead of sprinkles. If you order ahead of time you can even order a custom color of M&Ms.
  • Miniature marshmallows – white or colored would work well.
  • Nerds® Candy or Chewy Sweet Tarts® make an excellent “sprinkle” with flavor instead of just a waxy texture.

Equipment

Air popcorn maker. This allows you to make popcorn without any added oil or salt.

Piping bags. Using a piping bag will help control the amount of chocolate.

Parchment Paper. Lining your cookie sheets with parchment always makes cleanup so much easier!

close-up of candied treat in a bowl.

Storing Unicorn Popcorn

My unicorn popcorn recipe can be made ahead for your party! It will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 7 to 10 days. I do not recommend freezing popcorn.

Fun Party Snacks to Try

Popcorn boxes filled with multi-colored popcorn with the bowl in the background.
Striped popcorn boxes filled with multi-colored popcorn. The bowl of the popcorn sits in the background.

Unicorn Popcorn Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini
When you need a fun colorful treat for a birthday or a celebration, make unicorn popcorn. Easy unicorn popcorn recipe is a party in a bowl!
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Drying time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword: Party Food, Popcorn

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4-5 cups air-popped popcorn
  • 1 can Decorative Color Mist from Wilton Pink
  • 1/2 cup blue candy melts
  • 1/2 cup yellow candy melts
  • 1/2 cup green candy melts
  • 3 tsp vegetable oil or coconut oil
  • sprinkles of choice

Instructions
 

  • Pop the popcorn with an air popper. Or use plain bagged nonbuttered popcorn.
  • Lay the popcorn on two cookie sheets and spray lightly with the pink (or other colors) food spray. Turn over and coat the other side.
  • Let dry as you prep the candy melts.
  • Place the candy melts in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 60 seconds, stir, and reheat as needed. Add in 1/2 teaspoon or more of coconut or vegetable oil to make the candy melts looser and easily drizzled.
  • Drizzle half of the candy melts over the popcorn, add sprinkles, let dry.
  • Reheat the candy melts and toss the popcorn to coat the other side with the second drizzle.
  • Let the popcorn dry completely before serving.

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Recipe Rating




Erin

Monday 7th of June 2021

We made this to celebrate a birthday party, and goodness gracious, was it good! We had no leftovers, and the kids ADORED it!

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 8th of June 2021

Thanks, Erin! It's a fun snack that's perfect for the kiddos!

Tara

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

Oh how fun! Such a wonderful treat for your granddaughter's birthday. My daughter would absolutely love this and all the color.

Julie Menghini

Monday 24th of May 2021

Thank you, Tara!

Biana

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

Wow, this popcorn does look like a party in a bowl! I love the colors, perfect for a summer party.

Julie Menghini

Monday 24th of May 2021

Thank you, Biana!

Anjali

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

My kids and I had a blast making this unicorn popcorn today!! It was the perfect weekend cooking project for all of us, and best of all, it made for a delicious treat with our family movie night too!

Julie Menghini

Monday 24th of May 2021

Thank you, Anjali! It's a fun activity that the kiddos love.

veenaazmanov

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

This is so exciting and kids would love to do it themselves. Very Creative and perfect for a kids get together time too.

Julie Menghini

Monday 24th of May 2021

Thank you! My granddaughter loved it.

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