Cotton Candy Popcorn at a Glance
County fairs and carnival midways have a lot going for them, but cotton candy has got to be the highlight. Inspired by its sweet, sugary taste, this cotton candy popcorn recipe combines stovetop popcorn with cotton candy flavoring, a marshmallow coating, and a pink-and-blue finish that makes it impossible to walk past without grabbing a handful.
All you need is your Popper and a handful of ingredients to make it happen:
Cotton Candy Popcorn Ingredients
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½ cup popcorn kernels
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2 tablespoons coconut oil
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3 cups mini marshmallows
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (LorAnn brand works well — find it in the baking aisle or online)
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Pink and blue oil-based food coloring
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¼ teaspoon sea salt
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Sprinkles
Cotton Candy Popcorn Directions
Step 1: Preheat
Set your stove to medium heat and allow your Popper to preheat for 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 2: Pop the Kernels
Add the coconut oil, let it melt, and drop in 3 test kernels. When the first one pops, add the remaining kernels and cover the Popsmith.
Step 3: Crank
Turn your Popper’s crank clockwise every couple of seconds to prevent burning. You don't need to crank continuously; you just want to keep things moving.
Step 4: Remove
When popping slows to 1 to 2 seconds between pops, take the Popper off the heat and pour the popcorn into two large, lightly greased bowls, dividing it evenly.
Step 5: Make the Marshmallow Coating
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the mini marshmallows and stir constantly until fully melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the cotton candy flavoring. Divide the mixture evenly into two bowls. Stir pink food coloring into one bowl and blue into the other until each color is fully blended and vibrant.
Step 6: Coat the Popcorn
Working quickly, pour the pink marshmallow mixture over one bowl of popcorn and toss with a lightly greased spatula until fully coated. Repeat with the blue mixture and the second bowl.
Step 7: Finish It Off
Spread both colors onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, mixing them together loosely so the pink and blue clusters sit side by side. Finish with sprinkles and sea salt while still tacky.
Step 8: Set and Serve
Let the popcorn set for 10 to 15 minutes. Break into clusters and serve.
More Cotton Candy Popcorn Tips
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Cotton candy flavoring is the key ingredient. Without it, you just have colorful marshmallow popcorn. LorAnn's cotton candy oil is widely available online, and a little goes a long way. Start with ½ teaspoon and adjust to taste before dividing the marshmallow.
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Grease everything that touches the marshmallow — bowls, spatula, and hands if you're pressing clusters together. Cooking spray works well.
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Work fast with the marshmallow coating. It starts setting the moment it hits the popcorn. Have your bowl ready and your spatula greased before you start melting.
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Switch up the colors. Pink and blue are classic, but this recipe works with any color combination. Purple and gold for a graduation party, red and green for the holidays, or all pastels for a baby shower.
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Eat all of your cotton candy popcorn the same day, if possible. Marshmallow-coated popcorn softens overnight as it absorbs moisture, so it's best within a few hours of making. If you do have any leftover popcorn, store it in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.
Straight from the Carnival
Few recipes are as camera-ready as cotton candy popcorn. The pink and blue, the sprinkles, the marshmallow coating, it’s the kind of treat that’s perfect for occasions where showing up with something homemade and visually stunning goes a long way.
Don't have a Popper yet? It's where every great batch of popcorn starts. And once you've got it, the possibilities don't stop here — browse our full collection of popcorn recipes for inspiration on what to make next.
