Halloween Themed Flavored Popcorn Bar for Kids

Halloween is a great time to try some fun flavored popcorn recipes. Kids love popcorn and candy, so this combination makes the perfect treat for the holiday. There are so many candied popcorn recipes out there, and you can let your creative juices flow. But, I’m sharing some of our favorite options and toppings to try. Whether you want a cute or spooky Halloween treat, a sweet and salty popcorn recipe is the way to go.

Another great thing about making flavored popcorn is that it’s easy to get your kids involved. Turn it into a fun Halloween craft or activity. You could even use this for a kids Halloween party or hand them out for trick-or-treating instead of regular candy. Or set out your popcorn creations with additional toppings and treats to create a fun and tasty Halloween popcorn bar everyone will love!

My son enjoys working in the kitchen and getting to use his mini apron and tools from my list of kids kitchen essentials for cooking with toddlers. Get your kids some cute aprons, chefs hats and kid safe kitchen accessories, too!

Keep scrolling for the best Halloween flavored popcorn ideas and my trick for speeding up the process!

Tools for Making Flavored Popcorn

• Mixing Bowls

• Large Baking Sheet and Wire Cooling Rack

• Parchment Paper

• Microwaveable Bowls

Flavored Popcorn Candies and Toppings

Remember, you can always tweak any of these recipes to include your favorite candies and toppings ideas. Use the recipes as a base and go from there. Feel free to mix in sweet treats like the options below and use them to deck out a Halloween popcorn bar:

• Crushed Oreos and other candy bars

• Caramel

• Melted Chocolate

• Mini Marshmallows

• Nuts

• M&Ms

• Pretzels

• and More!

The Best Candied Popcorn Recipes

Okay, let’s get to these awesome candied popcorn recipes! And I’ll let you in on a little trick: Save time by purchasing pre-popped popcorn. This will save you several extra steps and provide for less cleanup. Below are 4 easy flavored popcorn ideas with step-by-step instructions and the flexibility to make your own unique creations.

Caramel Halloween Popcorn Balls

This recipe for Halloween themed popcorn balls is inspired by Owl B Baking. These popcorn balls are great for handing out to trick-or-treaters and make a great Halloween party snack, too!

INGREDIENTS

• 24 C Popped Popcorn

• 1/4 C Butter + 1/2 TBSP, separated

• 1 C Brown Sugrar, lightly packed

• 1/2 C Light Corn Syrup

• 2/3 C Sweetened Condensed Milk

• 1 TSP Vanilla Extract

• Favorite Candies and Chocolate Bars, optional

DIRECTIONS

ADD ¼ c butter and all of the sugar and corn syrup to medium pot. STIR to combine and bring to a BOIL over medium heat.

Once boiling, ADD in the sweetened condensed milk, stirring constantly.

Use a candy thermometer to bring the mixture to 238° F and REMOVE from the heat.

ADD in the vanilla extract and continue to STIR until the mixture is no longer bubbly.

Pour the sauce over the popcorn and TOSS to coat.

Use the remaining ½ TBSP of butter to coat your hands and gently FORM the popcorn into balls.

When all the balls are assembled, LET COOL on your wire rack or prepared baking tray.

Hocus Pocus Candied Popcorn

You’ll love this Hocus Pocus candied popcorn recipe inspired by For Modern Kids. The mix of Halloween colors creates an impressive look kids will be excited to eat.

INGREDIENTS

• ​ 12 C Popped Popcorn (4 for each color)

• 1 1/2 C Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter (1/2 C per saucepan)

• 3 C Sugar (1 C per saucepan)

• ​3/4 C Light Corn Syrup ( 1/4 C per saucepan)

• ​1 1/2 TSP Salt (1/2 TSP per saucepan)

• ​1 1/2 TSP Vanilla Extract ( 1/2 TSP per saucepan)

• ​1 TSP Green Food Coloring

• ​1 TSP Orange Food Coloring

• ​1 TSP Purple Food Coloring

• ​2 TSP Orange Candy Oil Flavoring

• ​2 TSP Apple Candy Oil Flavoring

• ​2 TSP Grape Candy Oil Flavoring

• ​2 tsp baking soda ( 1/4 each bowl )

DIRECTIONS

ONE COLOR AT A TIME: ADD 1/2 C butter to medium saucepan over medium heat and MELT.

​STIR in the sugar, corn syrup, food coloring, and salt and bring to a BOIL, STIRRING continuously.

Stop stirring and allow to COOK for 2 minutes.

ADD in the corresponding candy flavoring and STIR to combine, then REMOVE from heat.

​POUR the popcorn into separate bowls with a lids (about 4 cups of popped popcorn for each color). POUR the candy coating, SEAL and SHAKE to coat.

​Next, POUR the popcorn on a parchment-lined baking sheet and COOL for five minutes.

​​​REPEAT for each color.

Monster Munch

Here’s a tasty Monster Munch flavored popcorn mix inspired by How to Nest for Less. Think of this as a Halloween-themed popcorn trail mix. Feel free to add and take away ingredients to your taste.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Bag Popcorn, lightly salted (About 4 Cups)

• 2 C Vanilla Chex

• 2 C Mini Marshmallows

• 1 C Reese's Pieces

• 1 C Candy Corn

• 11 OZ Package White Chocolate Chips

• 1 Package Candy Eyeballs

DIRECTIONS

POUR your popcorn into a large bowl and ADD the vanilla Chex and mini marshmallows.

MELT the white chocolate chips in the microwave or use your stovetop over medium-high heat, then POUR it over the popcorn in the bowl. STIR well to coat.

ADD the candy eyeballs on top while the chocolate is still melted.

Ghoulish Green Popcorn

This spooky-ooky green candied popcorn is inspired by Simplistically Living. This would look great on a Halloween party food table or packaged in a plastic glove to make a witch’s hand or monster hand.

DIRECTIONS

• 1 1/4 C Sugar

• 1 TBSP Butter

• 1 Bag Popped Popcorn

• 1/4 C Water

• 3-4 DROPS Neon Green Food Coloring

• Bat Sprinkles

INGREDIENTS

ADD the butter, water, food coloring, and sugar to a sauce pan and SIMMER until it reaches a low boil. STIR frequently and let boil for 2 -3 minutes until it thickens, then REMOVE from heat and COOL for 3 minutes.

DRIZZLE the mixture over the popcorn, ADD sprinkles and TOSS to coat.

Do You Plan to Make a Sweet and Salty Popcorn Recipe this Season?

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for flavored popcorn. Do you plan to try some this Halloween? Let me know in the comments and any ideas for recipes you think I should add. I know you and your kids will love this Halloween idea and can’t wait to see your candied popcorn recipes.

If you liked this post, be sure to check out How to Make a Kids Picnic Basket for fall, Fall Art With Toddlers That Will Help You Celebrate the Season and Fall Events and Activities for Kids in Atlanta.