What better reason to try out some fun popcorn recipes for kids than National Popcorn Day? This January 19th, get the whole family together to make some unique popcorn snacks with the little ones. The history of popcorn dates back 4,000 years when small ears of popped corn were discovered in a cave in New Mexico. The savory snack became central to Aztec culture, specifically ceremonies, as the popping process—turning a kernel into a “white flower”—was seen as something magical.
But popcorn didn’t become massively popular until the 1900s, with the advent of first the steamed popcorn machine and later the microwave. Today, United States citizens consume 14 billion quarts of the stuff per year!
In this post, we’ll share three unique recipes for homemade popcorn for kids. Which one will you try?
Popcorn Snacks For Kids… And Adults!
Googly-Eyed Cookie Monster Popcorn
Recipe by Two Sisters Crafting
Photo from the Two Sisters Crafting Blog
Because food is so much more fun when it has eyes!
Kids love playing with their food and making it come to life, especially when it looks like their favorite cartoon characters. Popcorn snacks are so easy to make, and just like with the peppermint recipe, they make for a great gift for their friends. Best of all, they’ll be so proud of their unique creation!
What you’ll need:
- 10 cups of popped popcorn
- salt
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- Mini Chips Ahoy cookies
- Mini Oreo cookies
- Candy eyes (we like the ones made by Wilton)
- Bright blue food dye
How to make it:
- Make popcorn, add salt to taste, and set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Then, add mini marshmallows to pan and stir until melted. Turn the heat off.
- Add food coloring to the marshmallow mixture. Then pour the whole mixture over the popcorn. Mix until fully coated.
- Dump the coated popcorn onto a cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle Mini Oreos and Mini Chips Ahoy cookies onto the popcorn.
- Show your kids how to strategically place the googly eyes on the popcorn so that they don’t fall off. Your little ones will love this step—it’s so goofy and fun!
- Let the popcorn cool, then serve!
White Choco Peppermint Popcorn For Valentine’s Day
Recipe by PassionForSavings
Photos from the PassionForSavings blog
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to take your love-themed snack recipes to the next level. Make this delicious popcorn snack with your kids, then package it in cute little bags with ribbons for them to bring to their friends at school. Or, stick it in a heart-shaped bowl to keep at home and spread the love with your family!
What you’ll need:
- 8 cups of popped popcorn
- 2 cups of white chocolate candy melts
- Sprinkles (if you’re making this for Valentine’s Day, go with red, pink, and white!)
- Red and white peppermint M&Ms
How to make it:
- Pop your popcorn and melt the chocolate candy.
- Stir the melted chocolate in with the popcorn a little at a time until you run out.
- Pour the mix onto wax paper, then add your sprinkles and M&Ms. Voilà!
- Keep in mind that these simple popcorn snacks are great year-round. You can mix up the sprinkle and M&M colors to make the recipe festive for any holiday!
Hot Cocoa Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Recipe by Mess for Less
Photos from the Mess for Less blog
No one can resist an indulgent hot cocoa. These popcorn balls taste just like the cozy holiday beverage but in the form of a warm, chewy, marshmallowy ball. It has the consistency of a Rice Krispie Treat, and it’s bursting with flavor. Try it out with your kids!
What you’ll need:
- 1 bag of popcorn
- 1/4 cup of butter or margarine
- 4 cups of mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
- 1 packet of hot cocoa mix
How to make it:
- In a large saucepan on low heat, melt the butter, then add the marshmallows. Keep stirring until marshmallows are completely melted, then add the hot cocoa mix. Keep stirring on low heat until the hot chocolate has dissolved into the marshmallow mix.
- Place the popcorn in a large bowl and pour the entire marshmallow mixture on top. Mix until the popcorn is totally coated with the mixture, then add chocolate chips and stir.
- Spray your hands and your child’s hands with cooking spray or oil, then use the mix to form 3-inch balls. Make sure to show your little one how to squeeze the popcorn tightly together so the ball doesn’t fall apart.
- Place the balls on parchment paper and let them set. Then you’re all done!
Here at Lingokids, we believe the best way for kids to learn is through fun. And if it involves the whole family, even better! For more inspiration for fun activities to do with your kids, check out our blog! And, if your children are little-chefs, they’ll for sure love our Pastry Game and other food-related games, which you can play along on our app. Our activities to learn cooking vocabulary will help them a lot with that!
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