Sweet and Salty Marshmallow Popcorn
Updated September 11, 2019
Sweet and Salty Marshmallow Popcorn-this sweet and salty popcorn is easy to make and great for movie night, game day, or any day! Kids and adults love it!
If you are a sweet and salty fan, we have the perfect treat for you today! This Sweet and Salty Marshmallow Popcorn is a fun snack to make and eat! I will warn you though, it is VERY dangerous. We made a big pan over the weekend and I couldn’t stay away. I kept telling myself every bite was my last bite, but every time I walked by the pan I would grab another handful. I have no self control when it comes to sweet and salty! This popcorn is too good to resist!
I love this popcorn because it is easy to make too! You don’t have to turn on the oven for this popcorn treat! You just cook everything on the stove and pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and pretzels until they are well covered. The mixture will be sticky and that is ok. It is all part of the fun!
I add plain M&M’s because they add a pop of color and chocolate is always a good idea. Peanut M&M’s would be good too, but I have to go nut-free for Josh!
I am going to make a big pan for Halloween. It is the perfect treat for watching scary movies…although we really don’t watch scary movies. I hate being scared. I don’t know why people think it’s fun to be scared. I think we will stick to Monsters, Inc., The Witches, and Hocus Pocus…my kind of scary movies:)
If you are looking for a fun snack to munch on during movie night, game day, Halloween, or any old day, make our Sweet and Salty Marshmallow Popcorn. Beware, it won’t last long!
Sweet and Salty Marshmallow Popcorn
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn we use air popped popcorn
- 1 1/2 cups pretzels
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 12 big marshmallows
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup M&M's
Instructions
- Place the popcorn and pretzels on a large baking sheet that has been lined with a Silpat baking mat. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and corn syrup and cook until melted and combined. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
- Evenly pour the marshmallow caramel mixture over the popcorn and pretzels. Gently stir until the popcorn and pretzels are well coated. It will be sticky! Stir in the M&M's. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. The popcorn will stay sticky and soft!
- Note-if you need the recipe to be gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free pretzels. You can also use peanut M&M's or stir in peanuts!
Have you tried this recipe?
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I love chocolate and popcorn together and this looks soo yummy. What a great way to use up Halloween candy!
gah! Looks so good! Would be dangerous for me too. Something I’d have to take to a party so I wouldn’t have the leftovers around 🙂
What a fun popcorn!
DYING to try this! Love all the fun colors too 🙂
Love this colorful popcorn!!
This looks like such an addictive snack! Perfect for Halloween movie watching. I’ll be sticking with the not so scary ones too 🙂 There are some great Halloween TV specials too.
The perfect snack to munch on!
I love salty & sweet combos! Perfect snack for weekend afternoon with the kiddos!
Oooooohhhh….so pretty! Great for a snack or dessert:)
oh man- this would take me down!!!
Popcorn’s been my snack and dessert of choice lately- this one is so fun!
The perfect snack and a lot of flavor in one bite. No wonder you couldn’t stay away, Maria!
YUM! Lol ditto on the scary movie front Maria! Can’t get enough of hocus pocus during this time of year 🙂
I LOVE sweet and salty, I bet I could even eat the whole batch!
I hate being scared tooo!! Not cool. Don’t get it at all! Confession? Hocus Pocus used to even scare me a little (that dead guy!).
This popcorn is so fun Maria! Can’t even imagine how addicting it is!
Oh my, I’m sooooo loving this!!
Everyone in my home is a sweet and salty fan, so yeah – love this!
How fun!! I’m sure kids would go nuts for this at a birthday party
This looks amazing!!! I’m dying to try it but where I’m from we only have one size of marshmallow, could you give me an approximate measurement for how much marshmallow I should use? Thanks!
I need to know the weight of the marshmallows?
I love this idea to have sitting around during the holidays for guest to munch on!
Such a fun treat! Perfect for late night snacking!
this is my kind of popcorn! I love all the textures and color!
This looks delicious and fun…just wondered it you knew of any replacement for the corn syrup?
I have only tried it with corn syrup.
This looks yummy, for ALL movie nights! One question, what quantity of popcorn kernels did you start with for the air popper to get the 8 cups of popped popcorn? I do have an air popper and can’t wait to make this. I have mini marshmallows, any idea how many I should use?
This reminds me of a delightfully sticky rice krispies treat! I love salty and sweet flavors, and this looks like a winner. I may have to make this soon!
If I follow your recipe exactly and wanted to add peanuts…what type of peanuts would your recommend and how much should be put into this recipe? Thanks!!
I could probably eat it all by myself!
I am SO in a candy mood for Halloween! I want this popcorn bad!
This would be awesome with Halloween themed m&ms bagged and given out for trick or treaters!
Makes me want to lick my screen!
The flavors and colors!! I NEED 😀
How much corn did u use before it was popped
About 1/4 cup unpopped
YUM! Question though — I made this recipe today and my caramel was so thick it wouldn’t coat the popcorn. It became a smashed delicious mess. Any idea what might have gone wrong? Thanks for the recipe!
Hmm…did you cook it too long? I have never had that happen. You do have to stir gently!
You had me at sweet and salty!!!! I love all the fun mix ins…that wouldn’t last very long in our house!
I plan to make this, but think I would find it easier to pour the warm marshmallow mixture over popcorn in a large greased bowl, rather than tossing on a cookie sheet. Knowing me, I would have half the popcorn on the floor. Then I would transfer the coated mixture to the cookie sheet.
I made this today using real maple syrup instead of corn syrup and it turned out fine. I also made it all in a giant bowl, and formed it into popcorn balls for my kids classroom Halloween treats!
If using mini marshmallows, how many should I use? Even a weight for the 12 lg would be ok, I have a scale and could weigh the mini. How many kernels did you start with to get 8 cups of popped popcorn? I can’t wait to make this treat tomorrow.
Is it absolutely necessary to use sea salt? Can you just use regular salt?
You can use regular salt.
Made this just now. Oh. my. goodness. Awesome! I did not add the sea salt, trying to help my kids not develop a “salt tooth”, but it was incredible. I will be making this again and again.
What do you mean by Big marshmallows? In the store here there are 3 sizes – mini, regular and jumbo.
Regular
How long does this keep if I wanted to make ahead of time for Xmas?
Store in an airtight container. You should be fine if you make it 3 days in advance.
Hey girl!
So, just made this for my sons birthday party! Wanting to put in baggies for the take home gift (what do you call that?!)
Anyway, should I/can I transfer to baggies while still warm?
It is so delicious i need to get it sealed up ASA P
Yes, you can put the popcorn in bags! Enjoy!
This looks super yummy! I have 2 questions: do you know how many mini marshmallows (even ounces is ok, I have a scale), to replace the large? I have an air popper also, how many kernels does it take to equal 8 cups of popped popcorn?
Thanks for your time and the recipe!
Did you use salted popcorn or unsalted?
I use unsalted. If you use salted, just taste before you salt so it doesn’t get too salty!
My daughter is allergic is nuts so she said we should we should use some skittles
Made this tonight! Easy and delicious… I’ll be making it again!
Made this today but dried it out in the oven so it would be crispy. Turned out great! (250 for 5 minutes then turned oven off and let it sit for an hour and a half.)
Wowzers! I made this tonight with my daughter and I can’t stop! This is such a great mix. Worth the mess 🙂
I made this recipe with smaller popcorn that i found at a amish store and use peanut butter m&m’s came out great
Yay!
How long will this last?
So easy and delicious! I ate almost the whole thing in one night. It checks off all of the sweet and salty boxes. Thanks for a great recipe!!!!
Oh, and I used pork free marshmallows and there was no difference in consistency or taste!
I am sure to give it a try for my kids. Its really interesting Sweet and salty popcorn with marshmallow. My kids would love it.
Can you sub honey for corn syrup?
People have been asking since 2014 what weight of small marshmallows equals 12 large or “regular” marshmallows. You answer other questions but not that one. I have two bags of tiny marshmallows and will not buy a bag of large ones just for this recipe. I, too, have a scale so if you just weigh your 12 marshmallows, we can translate your weight into our quantity!!!
I have a plastic bag hanging on a door handle in my kitchen, with popcorn and pretzels and a bag of small marshmallows in it. before I buy the M&M’s I need to know if I am going to make this recipe at all!!!!
HOW ABOUT IT, READERS, DO YOU HAVE LARGE MARSHMALLOWS YOU COULD WEIGH FOR US?
Okay, I asked online and 12 big marshmallows means 1 2/3 cups miniatures.
Thanks for sharing!
Could you use microwave buttered popcorn?
Sure!
Made this for movie night:) my littles and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the recipe !
You are welcome! The perfect movie snack.