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What Is Marshmallow Popcorn?

H. Bliss
H. Bliss

Marshmallow popcorn, also called marshmallow creme popcorn, is usually a sweet snack made from popped corn and marshmallow fluff. This food can be made at home or purchased at grocery stores and snack shops. It is also a flavor of microwave popcorn. Homemade marshmallow popcorn is made by heating a mixture of popped corn and marshmallows or marshmallow fluff, then cooling it. Some marshmallow popcorn is served as loose individual kernels or in small chunks, while other types are cut or formed into shapes like balls or rectangles. Popcorn shapes made with marshmallow tend to have a chewier texture than the popcorn balls that are given out around Halloween, though some traditional popcorn ball recipes also include marshmallows.

This sweet snack can be crispy, with a marshmallow flavor to the popcorn and a texture similar to kettle corn, or it can be stretchy and gooey, somewhat like homemade marshmallow treats made with puffed rice cereal. This type of popcorn can be made by stirring the ingredients together in a warm pot, or by pouring the mixture into a pan and baking it. The baked variety is often cut into rectangles, while Sometimes, marshmallow popcorn rectangles are topped with sweet adornments, like chocolate sprinkles, which are added during the last few minutes of baking to allow them to slightly melt into the marshmallow squares.

Marshmallows or marshmallow fluff makes a tasty treat when added to popcorn.
Marshmallows or marshmallow fluff makes a tasty treat when added to popcorn.

Most marshmallow popcorn recipes call for marshmallow fluff rather than real marshmallows. Marshmallow fluff is white in color and has either a stretchy or thick liquid texture. It can be bought in stores or made at home. This ingredient is also common in homemade fudge and frosting.

Marshmallow fluff recipes can vary, but it is generally made with a mixture of corn syrup, sugar and salt with evaporated milk, egg whites and vanilla extract. The mixture is whipped until it takes on the desired texture. When marshmallow fluff is heated, it takes on a stretchier consistency, like saltwater taffy.

When making marshmallow popcorn at home, it is particularly important to ensure that no unpopped kernels make it into the mixture. The cooked marshmallow fluff can mask the presence of the hard unpopped kernels, making them a potential eating hazard. A reasonably reliable way to avoid getting unpopped kernels in a batch of marshmallow popcorn is to put the popped kernels in by hand rather than scooping or pouring them into the mixture. Biting down on a hard popcorn kernel within the soft marshmallow popcorn is an unpleasant surprise that can crack a tooth.

Discussion Comments

SarahGen

Marshmallow popcorn is so easy to make and it tastes great. It's a little crispy and a little chewy, it's basically perfect.

I'm diabetic so I make them with sugar free marshmallows and only have it in moderation. So it has not affected my sugar levels negatively. This is the perfect treat to have when I get a sweet craving but there are no sweets at home! I can prepare it in a jiffy.

stoneMason

@bluedolphin-- Actually, they do taste a little like marshmallow squares! So if you like marshmallow squares, you will definitely like marshmallow popcorn as well. The recipe is very similar also. Instead of adding cereal into the butter and marshmallow mixture, you will be adding popcorn.

I like to use my hands to mix everything so that all the popcorn is coated with the marshmallow mixture evenly. I then shape them into small snack balls. You might want to coat your hands with some butter or oil before handling the mixture, otherwise it sticks.

Of course, if you're going to be buying marshmallow popcorn ready made, you don't have to worry about any of this. I'm sure that once you try it though, you will be hooked.

bluedolphin

I've never tried marshmallow popcorn before. What does it taste like? Does it resemble marshmallow squares in flavor?

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    • Marshmallows or marshmallow fluff makes a tasty treat when added to popcorn.
      By: coffeemill
      Marshmallows or marshmallow fluff makes a tasty treat when added to popcorn.