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+ servings
Five portions of rainbow unicorn popcorn in individual cupcake papers.

Rainbow unicorn popcorn

Looking for a fun and colourful snack to add to your next party? Rainbow popcorn is a great addition and really popular with the kids. Pick your child's favourite colours and add as many mini marshmallow or other sweeties to it as you wish.
5 from 47 votes
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Course: Snack
Cuisine: International
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Drying time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings (child servings)
Calories: 78kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 packet microwave popcorn - like Butterkist (60g) in the UK, or Act II (2.75 oz) in the US
  • 120 grams sugar
  • 120 grams water - 100ml
  • food colouring of choice
  • mini marshmallows - multi-coloured

Instructions

Get your stuff together

  • Prepare a large baking tray by lining it with parchment paper. This will be used to dry and set the coloured popcorn.
  • Get together some small bowls, one for each colour you want to use.
  • Ensure you have your food colouring ready, along with toothpicks for transferring the colour from the jars to the syrup, especially if you are using gel food colouring.
  • Also, have some medium-sized bowls ready for combining the popcorn and coloured syrup. Prepare one bowl for each colour you plan to use.

Make the popcorn

  • Cook the popcorn in the microwave as directed on the package. Make sure to let it cool completely before continuing.

Make the sugar syrup

  • In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat. Stir occasionally as the sugar melts. If it starts boiling too rapidly, reduce the heat to low.
  • Once the sugar has fully melted, let the mixture simmer gently for approximately 10-15 minutes until the syrup slightly thickens.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand for about 10 minutes to cool down slightly.
  • Pour the syrup into the small bowls and add your desired colours to each bowl. Make sure to divide the syrup evenly among the bowls.

Let's colour some popcorn!

  • Begin with your first color. Take a clean, medium-sized bowl and pour approximately 2 tablespoons of the coloured sugar syrup into the bottom of the bowl.
  • Take a few handfuls of popcorn and throw it on top of the coloured syrup in the bowl. Working quickly and using your hands, toss the popcorn around in the syrup to coat it evenly.
    Avoid letting the popcorn sit on top of the syrup for too long as it may make the popcorn soft. If you want a stronger colour, you can add more syrup and toss again.
    Always be cautious not to add too much liquid. Start small first.
  • Once you're happy with the colour, spread the coloured popcorn evenly onto the baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  • Repeat the process for the remaining colours, ensuring each coloured popcorn is spread out in its own section on the tray.
  • Allow the popcorn to air dry for approximately 3 hours. If you have a draughty area in the house, this will be ideal to leave your tray in to help the drying process.
  • Combine the different coloured popcorn together in a bowl and mix it with mini marshmallows or your preferred choice of sweets.

**Nutritional data disclaimer**

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 0.01g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg