Popcorn Cake is basically just like Rice Krispie treats but made with popcorn instead!
This is such a fun dessert to make for a small gathering, and if you happen to be making it for kids… they really seem to love it. Think about having it out at a casual party. You can slice it up ahead of time so the slices are displayed and ready to grab and eat. This is a dessert you can pick up and eat with your hands, so that works out great!
How to make Popcorn Cake:
You’ll need about 12 cups of popped popcorn. You can either pop some popcorn on your own (using about ½ cup of kernels or utilizing the microwave popcorn), or you can purchase popped popcorn in a bag. It’s important that you remove any stray, unpopped kernels and discard them.
Marshmallows are combined with butter and vanilla in a saucepan over medium-low heat until the marshmallows have melted and you’ve created a marshmallow syrup. At this point, you’ll combine the popped popcorn and the melted marshmallow misture in a large bowl and use a strong wooden spoon to mix those together. You’ll keep mixing until the popcorn is completely coated with the marshmallow syrup.
Then you’ll stir in M&M’s chocolate coated candies and peanuts. The mixture is then scooped into a buttered bundt or tube pan. You’ll use greased hands or waxed paper to press the mixture into the pan. Then you can let it cool for a few minutes before cutting.
Here are some pan options you can order on Amazon to make this cake:
You can either use a tube pan (my preference) or a bundt pan for making this Popcorn Cake.
- The photos in this post show the popcorn cake made with a TUBE PAN. It has tall, straight sides. It’s cheap on Amazon if you want to pick one up. You can use it to make angel food cake or pound cake as well.
- And you can also use a regular, classic bundt pan. It will take on a slightly different, rounded shape but still the same general idea.
What other mix-ins are an option?
If you really love peanuts, you can use peanut M&M’s instead of regular. Also, if your Popcorn cake is for a special holiday, consider using the holiday colored M&M’s for a festive look! Or try using the mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups or cut the regular sized ones into pieces. Chocolate chips are also an option. If you are serving this dessert to people who cannot have peanuts, just leave them out. Be creative with your mix-ins!
Here are a few more fun cake recipes you might like to try:
- Chocolate Valentine Surprise Loaf Cake
- Candy Cane Coffee Cake
- Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Cake
- Funfetti Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
- Rainbow Bundt Cake
- Ding Dong Cake
- Kit Kat Cake
Popcorn Cake
Ingredients
- 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup of kernels, popped)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- Two 10-ounce bags miniature marshmallows
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups M&M candies
- 1 cup salted peanuts
Instructions
- Remove any un-popped kernels of corn from measured popped corn. Place the popcorn into a very large bowl.
- Make a syrup from the butter, marshmallows and vanilla by heating them together and stirring in a large saucepan. Pour the marshmallow syrup over the popcorn in the bowl. Stir to combine and coat all of the popcorn with the marshmallow mixture. Then stir in the M&M's and peanuts until they are evenly distributed.
- With greased hands (or waxed paper), firmly press the mixture into a well-greased tube or bundt pan. Allow to stand for 10 minutes; then loosen and turn out onto cake plate.
- Carefully cut slices using bread knife.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I grew up with my mom making popcorn cake every Christmas, only difference is we melted our marshmallow mix in the microwave… I now make it all year long not just at Christmas
I have been making this for years! Not only do kids love it, but so do adults! My suggestion is to not use microwave popcorn or pre-popped popcorn, as they get stale VERY quickly.
How outrageously extravagant. I want to make this, but with caramel instead of marshmallow. It will be like Crunch n’ Munch Cake!
looks great I never saw that before.
olga