Description
This Loaded Leprechaun Popcorn is the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day treat! Sweet, salty, crunchy, and so festive – perfect for parties or movie night!
Ingredients
For the Popcorn Base:
- 10 cups popped popcorn (about ½ cup kernels or 1 large bag of air-popped popcorn) – plain, lightly salted, or air-popped works best
- 6 cups green cereal (such as green-colored corn or rice cereal) – adds crunch and festive color
- 1½ to 2 cups pretzel sticks – the salty counterpoint to all that sweetness
- 1½ to 2 cups green candy pieces (like green chocolate candies or M&M’s)
- 1½ to 2 cups marshmallows – mini or regular, both work beautifully
For the White Chocolate Coating:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 bag (10–12 ounces) white chocolate melts or white chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon green food coloring (optional) – for that lucky green hue
For Topping:
- 1 cup sprinkles (green, gold, or festive St. Patrick’s Day shapes)
- ½ cup mini green M&M’s or similar small candies
Instructions
Pop your popcorn using your favorite method and spread it out in a large bowl or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Take a minute to pick out any unpopped kernels – nobody wants to bite into those! This is your blank canvas, so make sure it’s nice and fluffy.
Toss in the green cereal, pretzel sticks, green candy pieces, marshmallows, and mini green candies right into the popcorn. Use your hands or a big spoon to gently combine everything. Don’t worry about being too precise here – the beauty is in the variety of every scoop!
Place your white chocolate melts or chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each round, until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted.
This usually takes about 1½ to 2 minutes total. Be patient and don’t rush this step – white chocolate can seize up if it gets too hot.
If you want that lucky green coating, stir in the green food coloring drop by drop until you reach your desired shade. Start with just a little and add more as needed – a little goes a long way! Mix thoroughly so there are no streaks.
Pour the melted white chocolate over your popcorn mixture in a slow, steady drizzle. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold and toss everything together, making sure all the pieces get a little coating.
You’re not trying to cover every inch – those chocolate-coated clusters and bare spots are what make this snack so fun to eat!
While the chocolate is still wet and sticky, shower your mix with those festive green and gold sprinkles. This is the fun part where kids (or the kid in you) can really go wild! The sprinkles will stick to the chocolate and add that magical sparkle.
Allow your Loaded Leprechaun Popcorn to cool at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes. The chocolate needs time to harden so everything sticks together in those perfect, crunchy clusters.
If you’re in a hurry, you can pop it in the fridge for about 10 minutes to speed things up.
Once the chocolate has fully set and hardened, break the popcorn into bite-sized clusters or chunks. Some pieces will be big, some will be small – that’s exactly what you want!
Notes
- Melt chocolate gently and slowly – White chocolate burns easily, so patience is your friend here. If it starts to look thick or grainy, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to smooth it out.
- Don’t add small candies until after the chocolate drizzle – Heat-sensitive candies like chocolate pieces can melt if they’re mixed in too early.
- Line your surface with parchment – This makes cleanup a breeze and prevents sticking.
- Taste as you go – If the mix feels too sweet, add more pretzels or a pinch of sea salt to balance it out.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American