Popcorn is already a great snack. Add candy to it, and somehow it gets even better.
The salty-sweet combination is one of those pairings that just works — and the beauty of making it at home is that you can mix and match however you want. Going all-in on chocolate? Do it. Want something fruity and sour? Go for it. Making a Halloween bowl for the whole neighborhood? There's a candy popcorn mix for that, too.
Here are the 8 best candies and sweets to mix with your popcorn:
9 Best Candies & Sweets to Mix with Popcorn
Candy popcorn mix is a great snack because you can customize it according to what you're craving. You can choose your favorite candies and pair them with all kinds of popcorn.
We like to pick a salty popcorn base. Unsalted butter popcorn, sea salt popcorn, and kettle corn are all perfect choices as they'll make the snack mix have both sweet and salty flavors. You can also choose caramel corn to make a super sugary snack mix.
Whether you want a sweet and salty mix or a strictly sweet treat, these 9 awesome candies will work wonderfully in your recipe.
1. White Chocolate Chips
White chocolate chips are amazing with salty popcorn. The sweet white chocolate complements the saltiness of the popcorn perfectly. To make it, you can simply toss the white chocolate chips into your warm popcorn or melt them.
Here’s how to do the latter:
- Melt the chocolate chips for a few seconds in the microwave (or over medium heat on the stove).
- Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the popcorn and toss it together.
- Wait until the popcorn is room temperature and then serve.
2. Candy Corn
Candy corn is pure sugar and it doesn't pretend to be anything else, which is exactly why it works here. Tossed into a bowl of caramel or kettle corn, it adds a waxy, honeyed sweetness that leans hard into dessert territory. It's the most Halloween-appropriate thing you can do with a bowl of popcorn, and it takes about ten seconds to make. Just pour and stir.
3. Milk Chocolate Fudge
Crumbled fudge does something that chocolate chips don't: it softens slightly against the warm popcorn and gets into all the crevices, so you get a little bit of it in every handful. The texture contrast — dense, creamy fudge against the crunch of the popcorn — is what makes this one worth trying. Crumble it over a warm batch and toss before serving.
4. Oreos
While not technically a candy, Oreos bring crunch, cocoa, and that irresistible cream filling flavor. Chopped into rough pieces, they add a cookies-and-cream quality to the bowl that's hard to stop eating. Mini Oreos work great if you want to skip the chopping. You just pour them straight in.
5. Peanut Butter Cups
Crunchy, chocolatey peanut butter popcorn goodness — mmm, we can taste it already!
To indulge in this snack mix, just chop whole peanut butter cups (or use mini versions) and add them to your freshly popped popcorn. Doing this while the popcorn is still warm will allow the heat to melt the cups a little bit, allowing the sweet and salty flavor to seep into every bite.
6. M&M's
M&M's work in a candy popcorn mix because they hold their shape. Unlike chocolate chips or fudge, they don't melt into the popcorn. They stay distinct, so every handful has a mix of textures. Peanut M&M's are the move if you want something more substantial, while mini M&M's distribute more evenly if you want chocolate in every bite. Either way, just pour your favorite in and toss.
7. Mini Marshmallows
Mini marshmallows are another candy you want to mix into your popcorn while the popcorn is warm. The marshmallows will melt a little bit and make every bite of popcorn sticky and sweet.
You can also try melting the marshmallows with some butter and then pouring it over the popcorn. This will create a rice krispie-like snack you’ll love to sink your teeth into.
8. Sour Patch Kids
The tartness of the Sour Patch Kids cuts through the saltiness of the popcorn in a way that keeps you going back for another handful. It's sweet, sour, and salty, all at once. Pour a full pack into a bowl of Oh Sooo Buttery Popcorn and give it a good toss. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
Don't Forget the Most Important Part: Your Popcorn Base
The candy is fun, but the base makes or breaks the mix. You want popcorn that's fresh, flavorful, and has enough structure to hold up against the add-ins, and that's where stovetop beats everything else.
The Popsmith Popper gives you full control: you choose the oil, you control the heat, and you get a batch of perfectly popped kernels in under five minutes. Unlike microwave popcorn (loaded with sodium and additives) or air-popped (tends to be dry and bland), stovetop popcorn has the right amount of richness to actually complement your candy mix. Here's exactly how to use the Popper.
How Long Will a Popcorn Candy Mix Stay Fresh?
Popcorn candy mix is best when it’s fresh. We recommend making small servings of snack mix at a time so it doesn’t go to waste. Use about ¼ cup of kernels per batch to give yourself about 5-8 cups of popped popcorn.
If you have any leftover popcorn, store it in an airtight container and it’ll last up to 5 days. You should place a piece of parchment paper at the bottom to help it absorb moisture.
Endless Poppabilities with Popsmith
Popcorn tastes fantastic as is, but it’s also the perfect blank canvas to get your creative culinary juices flowing. Go try one or all of these candy popcorn mix ideas for your next movie night, or do your own experiments. Let your imagination run wild.
Don’t forget to check out our other posts for more snacking inspiration and remember to have fun making your popcorn.
