Rainbow Popcorn Recipe

This Rainbow Popcorn Recipe is a fun treat that the kids will love and is super easy to make. This bright and colorful popcorn is perfect for a party, a special treat, or movie night. 

Rainbow Popcorn

Rainbow Popcorn, or as my 8-year-old calls it, Unicorn Popcorn, is a fun and tasty treat that all of the kids will love. 

This colored popcorn is the perfect treat to make for a movie night, kids’ parties, or just because you want to have something fun. 

The rainbow colored popcorn also makes an excellent snack for the leprechaun to bring on St. Patrick’s Day. You can skip making all the rainbow colors and make the colors you want to match a holiday to make this popcorn for a specific holiday like Valentine’s Day or Christmas.

This recipe is super easy to make, so it is great for busy people. There is no need for a candy thermometer in this rainbow popcorn recipe, as we use different-colored candy melts to make the bright-colored popcorn. 

Popcorn Recipes

• Valentine’s Day Popcorn
• Grinch Popcorn
• Grinch Popcorn Balls
• Sweet and Salty Popcorn snack mix
• Kettle Corn

Tips for Making Rainbow Popcorn

Add salt before coating the popcorn. If you want salted-colored popcorn, sprinkle the salt on after popping the popcorn and then coat it with candy melts.

Make it in batches. It is easier to do each color if doing multiple colors one at a time. Heat the color candy melts you are going to use for the one color popcorn, coat the popcorn, and then melt the next color candy melts.

Allow to set completely. This popcorn covered in chocolate candy melts should be allowed to set completely for the full 30 minutes. 

You can use homemade popcorn or store-bought microwave popcorn. You can also make fresh homemade popcorn using popcorn kernels, either on the stovetop or in the microwave. I like making homemade microwave popcorn.

Make the popcorn however you prefer. You can make stovetop popcorn, microwave popcorn or popcorn in an air-popper. 

Use a Double Boiler. If you prefer to melt the candy melts using a double boiler instead of the microwave, you can.

Holiday Variations of Colored Popcorn

Christmas Popcorn. Make 9 cups of popped popcorn. Use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of green candy melts, use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of red candy melts, and leave 3 cups cup of popcorn plain.

Fourth of July Popcorn. Make 9 cups of popped popcorn. Use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of blue candy melts, use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of red candy melts, and leave 3 cups cup of popcorn plain. 

Easter Popcorn. Make 9 cups of popped popcorn. Use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of light green candy melts, 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of pink candy melts, and 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of light blue candy melts.

Halloween Popcorn. Make 9 cups of popped popcorn. Use 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of green candy melts, 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of purple candy melts, and 3 cups of popped popcorn with 2 cups of black candy melts.

How much Popcorn Kernals for 1 Cup of Popcorn?

You will need 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels to get 1 cup of popped kernels of popcorn. 

How much Candy Melt do I need for 1 cup of Popped Popcorn?

You will need 2/3 cups of candy melts for every cup of popcorn you make. You can easily use fewer colors, but you must use 2/3 cups of candy melts for every cup of popped popcorn, no matter what colors you use.

How to Store Rainbow Popcorn

Store the popcorn in an airtight container or large resealable bag to keep out moisture and air, which can make it stale or soggy.

How can I make different colored candy melts from what they sell in the store?

If you want candy melts in different colors than those you can find in the store, you will need to use two different colors. Use equal amounts of each color. Teal can be made by mixing light green with light blue, and Dark Purple is made by combining purple and navy blue. You will need teal and dark purple if you are making the popcorn exactly as we have or are making it for the feelings board from The Best Kids Crafts and Activities Blog.

Rainbow Popcorn Ingredients

• 9 cups of popcorn (already popped by your preferred method)
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Yellow candy melts 
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Red candy melts 
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Blue candy melts
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Green candy melts 
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Purple candy melts 
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Orange candy melts 
• 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of Pink candy melts 
• 2 ounces (1/3 cup) light green candy melts
• 2 ounces (1/3 cup) light blue candy melts
• 2 ounces (1/3 cup) navy blue candy melts
• 2 ounces (1/3 cup) purple candy melts

How to make Rainbow Popcorn

Pop the popcorn. You will need 1/4 cup of kernels for each cup of popcorn. For this, we are making 9 cups of popcorn, so you will need 2 1/4 cups of popcorn kernels for this recipe. 

Line baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper. You should have one baking sheet for each color of popcorn you are making.

Place the popped popcorn into 9 mixing bowls. If you are not making all 9 colors, use 1 bowl per color of popcorn. 

Add one color of candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions. Typically, this involves microwaving at 50% power for 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth. 

• When you are making the dark purple, you will add 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of navy blue candy melts and 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of purple candy melts, melt them together, and stir to combine.
• When you are making the teal, you will add 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of light green candy melts and 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of light blue candy melts, melt them together, and stir to combine.

Pour the melted candy melts over the popcorn in the bowl and gently stir and toss the popcorn to coat the popcorn well with the melted candy melts.

Pour the coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet and set aside. 

Complete the steps for every other color you are making. If you are making all nine colors, you will complete all nine steps nine times. 

Allow the popcorn to cool and the candy melts to harden completely. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Once popcorn has set store or enjoy.

Rainbow Recipes

• Rainbow Cake
• Rainbow Grilled Cheese
• Rainbow Pancakes
• Rainbow Pinwheel cookies

Rainbow Popcorn

Created by Lauren

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 9 cups

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This Rainbow Popcorn Recipe is such a fun treat that the kids will love that is super easy to make. This bright and colorful popcorn is perfect a party, a special treat or movie night.

Ingredients

• 9 cups popped popcorn already popped by your preferred method
• 4 ounces Yellow candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Red candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Blue candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Green candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Purple candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Orange candy melts 2/3 cup
• 4 ounces Pink candy melts 2/3 cup
• 2 ounces light green candy melts 1/3 cup
• 2 ounces light blue candy melts 1/3 cup
• 2 ounces navy blue candy melts 1/3 cup
• 2 ounces purple candy melts 1/3 cup

Instructions

• Pop the popcorn. You will need 1/4 cup of kernels for each cup of popcorn. For this, we are making 9 cups of popcorn, so you will need 2 1/4 cups of popcorn kernels for this recipe.
• Line baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper. You should have one baking sheet for each color of popcorn you are making.
• Place the popped popcorn into 9 mixing bowls. If you are not making all 9 colors, use 1 bowl per color of popcorn.
• Add one color of candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions. Typically, this involves microwaving at 50% power for 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
• When you are making the dark purple, you will add 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of navy blue candy melts and 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of purple candy melts, melt them together, and stir to combine.
• When you are making the teal, you will add 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of light green candy melts and 2 ounces (1/3 cup) of light blue candy melts, melt them together, and stir to combine.
• Pour the melted candy melts over the popcorn in the bowl and gently stir and toss the popcorn to coat the popcorn well with the melted candy melts.
• Pour the coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
• Complete the steps for every other color you are making. If you are making all nine colors, you will complete all nine steps nine times.
• Allow the popcorn to cool and the candy melts to harden completely. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Once popcorn has set store or enjoy.

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 864kcal | Carbohydrates: 152g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 449mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 32g | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 5mg

rainbow popcorn

Dessert

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