Buttery Marshmallow Popcorn Bars

Popcorn bars are a lot like Rice Krispies, except we'd have to say they're way more interesting since you can flavor the popcorn any way you want. You could go with kettle corn, peanut butter, or even matcha. 

For this recipe, though, we kept it simple and made butter popcorn bars with marshmallow to hold it all together and a chocolate drizzle on top. You get crunch, chew, salt, and sweet in every bite. 

And it all starts with a batch of Oh Sooo Buttery Popcorn made in your Popper.

Butter Popcorn Bars Ingredients

• 1 packet Oh Sooo Buttery Popcorn  

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 7 cups mini marshmallows

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¾ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, for drizzling

• 1¼ cups salted roasted peanuts (optional)

How to Make Buttery Popcorn Bars

Step 1: Prep Your Materials

Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little hanging over the long sides so you can lift the bars out later. Lightly coat the parchment with nonstick cooking spray and do the same for your silicone spatula too, because everything from here on is sticky.

Step 2: Preheat Popper

Set your stove to medium heat and let your Popper preheat for 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Oil

Cut open the coconut oil portion of the packet and squeeze it into the Popper. Let it melt and start to sizzle.

Step 4: Pour Kernels and Salt

Cut open the kernels and buttery salt portions of the packet. Drop 2 to 3 kernels into the Popper and wait for the first one to pop. Then add the rest of the kernels, pour in the salt, and put the lid on.

Step 5: Pop

Turn the crank clockwise while the kernels pop to keep them from burning. 

Step 6: Remove

When the pops slow to about 1 to 2 seconds apart, take the Popper off the heat and pour the popcorn into the biggest bowl you own.

Step 7: Cool 

Pick out any unpopped kernels, then let the popcorn sit for a few minutes so the steam escapes. Steamed popcorn goes chewy, and these bars need it crisp.

Step 8: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

Melt butter in a large pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until the mix is smooth and glossy, then take the pot off the heat and stir in the vanilla. 

IMPORTANT: Keep the heat low the whole time. Marshmallow that gets too hot dries out and hardens, and your popcorn bars will be dry instead of soft and chewy.

Step 9: Mix

Pour the marshmallow mix over the popcorn, add the peanuts if you're using them, and fold with your greased spatula until everything is coated. 

Step 10: Press Gently

Scrape everything into the pan. Lay a piece of parchment on top, or use a greased hand, and press it into an even layer. Press lightly.

GOOD TO KNOW: Packing it down hard gives you dense bars instead of crunchy, chewy ones.

Step 11: Drizzle Chocolate

Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Then drizzle it over the pressed popcorn while it’s still in the pan.

Step 12: Set and Serve

Let the pan sit at room temperature for about 1 hour so the chocolate and marshmallow firm up. Then lift the slab out by the parchment and cut it into bars with a sharp knife. Wipe the blade between cuts so the marshmallow doesn’t drag the chocolate.

More Butter Popcorn Bar Tips

• Work fast once you mix. The marshmallow starts to set as it cools, so pour it over the popcorn and fold it in right away. If you wait, it gets stiff and won’t coat the popcorn evenly.
  

• Drizzle with a zip-top bag. Spoon the melted chocolate into a bag, snip a tiny corner off, and squeeze. You get thin, even lines without a mess.
  

• Swap the add-ins. Peanuts are optional, so use whatever you like in their place. Mini chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, or chopped nuts all work. Keep the total to about 1¼ cups so the marshmallow can still coat everything.
  

• Store at room temperature. Keep any leftover popcorn bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Don’t refrigerate or freeze them. The cold makes them hard and takes the crunch out of the popcorn.

Raising the Bar

Don’t stop here. Try other popcorn flavors and mix-ins to see what you come up with. Because popcorn bars are so customizable, they work for nearly any occasion you can think of, from movie night and potlucks to holiday parties.

Our sweet popcorn recipes are a good place to start, and these out-of-the-box popcorn recipes will get you thinking beyond snacking. Every one of them starts the same way: with a fresh batch from your Popper.