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Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Time: 15 minutes
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This easy Valentine’s Day Popcorn is the BEST sweet and salty snack mix covered in marshmallow goodness. It’s no bake, only 7 ingredients, and everyone will be swooning over it (and calling you Cupid).

A great baking activity or treat for class parties, gifting to your Valentines, or my favorite is movie night snacking.

If you love a good popcorn snack mix. Save this Leprechaun Popcorn for St. Patrick’s Day!

Valentines Day themed popcorn snack mix with mini pretzels and corn chex, coated with marshmallow, and topped with M&M's and conversation hearts.

This popcorn snack mix is an easy and fun treat perfect for Valentine’s Day! It is a sweet and salty combination of popcorn, cereal, pretzels, coated in gooey marshmallow and topped with M&M’s and conversation hearts.

Kids love it, adults love it, and even the “anti-valentiners” can’t resist this one. You will also love how it’s…

  • only 7 ingredients – and may I add, they are simple ones.
  • a fun no bake activity – it’s easy enough for little kids to make or with your sweetheart for date night.
  • great for packaging as gifts – no matter if it’s for a class party, your best girl friends, or the Amazon driver. I like to wrap mine in cellophane baggies, tie them off with a festive ribbon, and attach a handwritten valentine.
  • customizable – throw in some nuts, swap out the conversation hearts for sprinkles, add a pink chocolate drizzle, you can’t go wrong with this one.
A bowl filled with marshmallow coated Valentines Day Popcorn.

Valentine’s Day Popcorn Ingredients

  • Plain Popcorn: I use pre-popped bagged popcorn. Feel free to use microwaveable, air popped, or pop your own on the stove. Whatever you do, make sure it is not buttered or flavored. Lightly salted is okay but no salt is best.
  • Mini Pretzels: This adds a delicious salty, crunch. I use mini twists but any small shape will work.
  • Corn Squares Cereal: Another crunchy element, I like to use corn squares because they are sturdy and don’t break apart easily. You could also use rice squares, but they are not as sturdy.
  • Mini Marshmallows: These become our gooey glue to the popcorn snack mix. Always make sure they are fresh and soft or they could have a hard time melting down.
  • Unsalted Butter: Used to help melt down the marshmallows. Do not use salted butter, it will make the coating too salty.
  • M&Ms: Grab a bag of the Cupid’s blend, they are pink, red, and white. I have seen them sold as milk chocolate (what I used), peanut, and peanut butter.
  • Conversation Hearts: What screams Valentine’s Day more than conversation hearts? These add a crunchy, bright note.

Equipment Needed

  • Saucepan: It can be on the small side because all we will do is melt the butter and marshmallows in it.
  • Bowl: You will want this to be the biggest one you got. It has to hold a lot of goodies and you have to be able to stir it without flinging stuff everywhere.
  • Baking Sheet: Line it with some parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. This is so the marshmallow doesn’t make the popcorn snack mix stick to it.
Ingredients. Plain popcorn, corn chex, mini pretzels, mini marshmallows, unsalted butter, mini M&Ms, and conversation hearts.

How to Make Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Here’s a quick summary on how to make this popcorn snack mix. The recipe card below will have complete details.

1. IN A BIG BOWL COMBINE SNACK MIX INS popcorn, mini pretzels, corn squares cereal, half the M&M’s, and half of the conversation hearts.

2. MELT BUTTER AND MINI MARSHMALLOWS in a small saucepan until both are smooth and well combined.

3. POUR MELTED MARSHMALLOW OVER SNACK MIX and fold together until everything is coated.

4. SMOOTH ONTO A BAKING SHEET and allow the Valentine’s Day Popcorn snack mix to harden and dry.

Storing Information

Any leftovers can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or sealable bag. It is best eaten within 3 days but still edible until it is stale. I live in a very dry climate so mine tends to last a lot longer than 3 days.

I do not recommend refrigerating or freezing your Valentine’s Day Popcorn.

Gifting Valentine’s Day Popcorn

I absolutely love making this popcorn snack mix to package up for gifts. It’s great for your kid’s school parties, your BFF’s at the Galentine’s Day party, or even your neighbor or mailman.

Here’s a few ways I would package it up for Valentine’s Day (with a handwritten Valentine of course):

  • Place a cup or two of the popcorn snack mix into clear or colored cellophane baggies. Tie it off with festive ribbon or kitchen twine.
  • Add the popcorn snack mix to a small canister or Valentine’s themed box and add a red bow to the top.
  • Decorate paper lunch bags (with markers, stickers, or stamps), place the popcorn snack mix inside and staple the bag on the top. Add a small, stick-on bow for pizzaz.
Hand grabbing the marshmallow coated popcorn snack mix out of a pink bowl

Fun Variations To Try

Although this recipe tastes amazing as written, you can customize your Valentine’s Day Popcorn to make it your own.

COAT IT IN CHOCOLATE- Not a fan of marshmallows? No problem, swap them out for white chocolate or colored candy melts. You won’t need the unsalted butter or mini marshmallows if you opt for chocolate.

ADD OR SWAP IN YOUR FAVORITE GOODIES- This can be anything from roasted nuts to freeze-dried strawberries, Valentine’s Day themed sprinkles, a red or pink chocolate drizzle, other types of cereal, or mini chocolate chips. The list goes on and on, you cannot mess this up.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How many servings is this Valentine’s Day Popcorn snack mix?

This recipe has 8 servings at about 1 cup each. But don’t worry, you can easily double or triple it to feed even more people.

Close up of the marshmallow coated popcorn snack mix.

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Enjoy Entirely, Elizabeth
Valentines Day Popcorn with mini pretzels and corn squares cereal, coated with marshmallow, and topped with M&M's and conversation hearts.

Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Elizabeth Swoish
Make this sweet and salty popcorn snack mix for a fun Valentine's Day treat. Kids will love helping you make this for class parties or snacking on movie night.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Servings 8 1 cup each
Calories 202 kcal

EQUIPMENT

  • baking sheet - large, prepared with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray
  • saucepan - small
  • bowl - large

INGREDIENTS
 
 

  • 5 cups plain popcorn
  • 1 cup mini pretzels
  • 1 cup corn squares cereal
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • ¼ cup M&Ms - the pink, red, and white bag
  • ¼ cup conversation hearts

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine plain popcorn, mini pretzels, corn squares cereal, half of the M&M's and half of the conversation hearts, set aside.
    Step 2. Mixing together the plain popcorn, corn squares cereal, mini pretzels, M&M's, and conversation hearts in a very large bowl.
  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once the butter has melted, add mini marshmallows and stir continually until they are melted.
    Step 1. Melting the butter and mini marshmallows until smooth.
  • Remove from heat and pour the melted marshmallows over the popcorn snack mix. Fold until everything is well coated and combined.
    Step 3. Adding the melted marshmallow mixture and stirring until everything is well coated.
  • Pour popcorn snack mix onto the baking sheet, spread it out slightly. Immediately sprinkle with the remaining M&M's and conversation hearts
    Step 4. Spreading it all out onto a lightly grease parchment paper lined baking sheet. Topping the popcorn with more M&M's and conversation hearts.
  • Allow it to dry before breaking into pieces and enjoying.
    Hand grabbing the marshmallow coated popcorn snack mix out of a pink bowl

RECIPE NOTES

Storing Information:

  • At room temperature, in an airtight container or sealable bag, for up to 3 days or until stale.
  • I do not recommend refrigerating or freezing it.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Tried this recipe?Feel free to share a rating and comment below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media, or use the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth – I would love to see what you’ve made!
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By Elizabeth Swoish on February 9th, 2024
Elizabeth Swoish holding a camera up to her eye taking a photo.

About Elizabeth Swoish

Elizabeth Swoish is the founder and CEO of Entirely Elizabeth. She is a self-taught foodie and mocktail enthusiast with a business degree in data analysis. Read Elizabeth's food journey or connect on your favorite social media channels.

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