Unicorn Popcorn is an outrageously fun and super adorable treat, perfect for the kids and the kids at heart!
Made with colorful candy coated popcorn, unicorn sprinkles, and iced animal crackers, this snack mix is super easy to make and comes together in minutes!
This popcorn makes a great addition to any party!
It can either be part of a big dessert table or given as the cutest little going home favor at a magical unicorn birthday party.
Wherever you choose to bring it, just know your loved ones will be obsessed!
Are you ready to mix up a little fun and magic? Check out these other fun party treats for kids like my Under The Sea Birthday Cake or these super cute Whimsical Cake Pops!
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How to make Unicorn Popcorn
Makes 9-10 cups or approximately 12 servings
Ingredients for this recipe:
- 8 cups popped popcorn, unflavored
- 16 oz of vanilla candy coating, almond bark, or white chocolate chips*
- Food coloring for candy (make sure it says specifically for coloring candy or oil based. Do not use regular food coloring)
- Unicorn sprinkles (see note below)
- Mother's brand animal cookies-a mix of the Circus animals and mythical creatures
- Kosher salt
*If using white chocolate chips, 16 oz is approximately 2 ¾ cups. If you're using the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers (my favorite), you'll need about 2 ⅔ cups.
Instructions:
Melt your candy coating or white chocolate chips by placing them in a heat proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water--not boiling! Stir continuously until the coating is completely melted and smooth.
Alternatively, you can melt your white chocolate or vanilla melts in the microwave, just follow the package instructions!
Divide the popcorn into three bowls: 4 cups go in a large bowl and then 2 cups go in one medium bowl and the last 2 cups go in another medium bowl.
Once the vanilla melts are completely melted and smooth, quickly pour ½ of the melted coating over the 4 cups of popcorn in the large bowl. Use a rubber spatula to toss the popcorn until completely covered in the vanilla coating.
Pour the popcorn out onto a sheet pan lined with wax or parchment paper and set aside.
Moving quickly, divide the remaining melted vanilla coating or white chocolate into two small bowls. Using a toothpick or a popsicle stick, color one bowl of candy coating with pink food coloring and the second bowl with purple food coloring. Add the color a little at a time to reach the desired shade.
Once each bowl has been colored, grab your two medium bowls of popcorn and pour the purple coating over one bowl and the pink over the other bowl.
Stir each bowl of popcorn to cover evenly in the colored coating. And pour them onto the sheet pan with the white popcorn.
Before the candy coating or white chocolate hardens, give the mixture a light sprinkle of salt.
Next, sprinkle on the unicorn sprinkles and allow the mixture to set completely. About 30 minutes at room temperature, 10-15 minutes in the fridge.
Once the popcorn has set, break into chunks and add the animal cookies to the popcorn mixture.
Gently combine everything together so that the cookies and colored popcorn are evenly mixed.
Serve and squeal with delight!
Storing Your Finished Unicorn Popcorn
This popcorn can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for at least a week.
Honestly, I've been known to keep this popcorn out on the counter uncovered for easy snacking access and it stays perfectly delicious for several days!
Food Coloring For your White Chocolate
Using already colored melts from the craft store would be the easiest way to make this snack, but I tend to find their flavor a little off-putting. So I opt for coloring my own white chocolate instead.
By coloring my own white chocolate or good quality vanilla melts, I get a better tasting snack, that still looks super cute!
It's important to note that whether you're using white chocolate, white chocolate chips, almond bark, or vanilla candy melts, the food coloring you use MUST BE OIL BASED.
Regular food coloring won't work for these, as it'll just start to separate and get grainy or even worse...cause your coating to seize.
For this recipe, I used food coloring specifically made for coloring candy and it worked perfectly. I was able to find these right at the craft store (Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics carry them).
If you don't want to buy special food coloring, there is a hack for coloring chocolate! All you need is gel food coloring and coconut oil.
Hack for making your own oil based food coloring
To make chocolate friendly food coloring, mash together ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil (not melted) and a smear of gel food coloring in a small dish.
Add the coconut oil and food coloring mixture little by little to the melted white chocolate (or candy melts) until you get the desired shade you're looking for. That's all there is to it!
I learned this method from my friend Liz at Owlbbaking.com, and I love how simple it is!
Give This Popcorn As A Gift!
This Unicorn Popcorn recipe makes the perfect treat to share with friends!
Once the popcorn is fully set, it can be packed in little cellophane bags or tins and distributed to the ones you love most.
Because you can make this popcorn several days in advance, it's an effortless addition to any party and adds an extra special homemade touch.
Give it out as an adorable party favor after a magical unicorn birthday party or include it in a super sweet popcorn gift basket!
Variations:
This unicorn popcorn recipe is so easy and delicious as is, but it also allows a lot of room for playing around with fun ingredients! Here are some ideas to add even more sparkle, magic, and tastiness:
- Add fun pastel or cheery colored M&M's
- Skittles would be a terrific fruity and colorful addition
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels, for a sophisticated contrast to the sweetness
- Mini marshmallows (either white or pastel colored)
Other Party Snack Mix Recipes:
Mummy Munch Halloween Snack Mix
Valentine's Day Popcorn Snack Mix
📖 Recipe
Unicorn Popcorn
Unicorn Popcorn is an adorable sweet treat perfect for a magical unicorn birthday party or popcorn gift basket!
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn, unflavored
- 16 oz of vanilla candy coating, almond bark, or white chocolate chips*
- Food coloring for candy (make sure it says specifically for coloring candy or oil based. Do not use regular food coloring)
- Unicorn sprinkles (see note below)
- Mother's brand animal cookies-a mix of the Circus animals and mythical creatures
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt your candy coating or white chocolate chips by placing them in a heat proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water--not boiling!
- Stir continuously until the coating is completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you can melt your white chocolate or vanilla melts in the microwave, just follow the package instructions!
- Divide the popcorn into three bowls: 4 cups go in a large bowl and then 2 cups go in one medium bowl and the last 2 cups go in another medium bowl.
- Once the vanilla melts are completely melted and smooth, quickly pour ½ of the melted coating over the 4 cups of popcorn in the large bowl.
- Use a rubber spatula to toss the popcorn until completely covered in the vanilla coating.
- Pour the popcorn out onto a sheet pan lined with wax or parchment paper and set aside.
- Moving quickly, divide the remaining melted vanilla coating or white chocolate into two small bowls.
- Using a toothpick or a popsicle stick, color one bowl of candy coating with pink food coloring and the second bowl with purple food coloring. Add the food color a little at a time to reach the desired shade.
- Once each bowl has been colored, grab your two medium bowls of popcorn and pour the purple coating over one bowl and the pink over the other bowl.
- Stir each bowl of popcorn to cover evenly in the colored coating. And pour them onto the sheet pan with the white popcorn.
- Before the candy coating or white chocolate hardens, give the mixture a light sprinkle of salt.
- Next, sprinkle on the unicorn themed sprinkles and allow the mixture to set completely. About 30 minutes at room temperature, 10-15 minutes in the fridge.
- Once the popcorn has set, break into chunks. Add the animal cookies to the popcorn mixture and gently combine everything together so that the cookies and colored popcorn are evenly mixed.
- Serve and squeal with delight!
Notes
*If using white chocolate chips, 16 oz is approximately 2 ¾ cups. If you're using the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers (my favorite), you'll need about 2 ⅔ cups.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 90mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
Allie says
I think this a fantastic post. My best friend has a 3 year old and her Birthday is coming up. I am definitely going to be making these for her. Thanks for sharing.
Julie says
This popcorn is so happy and fun! I can see these making a great gift or party favor for kids or teens. Thanks for sharing and for the tips on how to use the food coloring.
Leslie says
My daughter is obsessed with unicorns and rainbows. She will love this for her birthday (P.S. it's in January but she is already talking about it in August!)