Marshmallow Popcorn Homemade Valentine Treats

Valentine’s Day is coming quickly. My big kids always sign up for bringing the “special treat” for class parties. I was thinking about what to make as the perfect treat when it came to me that marshmallow popcorn balls could be modified into a heart shape. They are sort of similar to rice krispie treats but they firm up a little better which means that they can be served on a stick for extra fun. These Marshmallow Popcorn heart-shaped treats were a huge hit with my kiddos and their friends. Here is the recipe for these homemade Valentine treats with a step by step tutorial.

Marshmallow Popcorn Recipe With Printable Valentine Labels

Marshmallow popcorn is the ultimate homemade Valentine treat because of the sweet and savory flavor combination that makes it a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re hosting a making classroom treats or just craving a delicious snack, marshmallow popcorn is a winner. Part of what makes it such a fun treat is the cute heart shapes, eating it off a stick, and how cute they look wrapped up as gifts with labels.

Learn the step-by-step process to create the most mind-blowing marshmallow popcorn you’ve ever tasted. From perfectly melted marshmallows to the ideal popcorn-to-marshmallow ratio, this blog post guides you through the process of making a yummy snack for kids and adults alike. These are basically 3 ingredient marshmallow popcorn balls but you need to add the food coloring and candy melts for making them pink and the oil if you are popping your popcorn on the stove.

Ingredients:

• 10 tbsp popcorn kernels
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (if stove-popping)
• ¼ cup salted butter
• one 8 oz bag mini marshmallows
• red or pink food coloring
• red or pink candy melt

Supplies:

• parchment paper
• heart cookie cutter
• paper lollipop sticks (here is my affiliate link to a lollipop stick, treat bag, and gold tie set on Amazon)
• plastic piping bag
• baking sheet

How To Make Marshmallow Popcorn:

First, you need plain popcorn. For marshmallow popcorn, I suggest you use plain, air-popped popcorn or stovetop popcorn. The type of popcorn kernels can be your preferred type, whether it’s yellow, white, or a specialty variety. The key is to have a neutral-flavored popcorn so that it complements the sweet and gooey marshmallow coating. For this reason, I would not use bags of microwave popcorn as they might be buttery popcorn or too salty popcorn. If you want to use bags of popcorn that are already popped, I suggest Skinny Pop because it uses the fewest, cleanest and simplest ingredients possible (no artificial flavors). You can use 10 cups of popcorn, in that case.

Make A Sheet of Sweet Marshmallow Popcorn

Pop the popcorn according to directions provided by the brand. Use an air popper or stovepop with vegetable oil.

Separate and dispose of all unpopped kernels and partially popped kernels from the fully popped popcorn.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low to medium heat. Add the mini marshmallows when the butter is totally melted. (You could use large marshmallows, but mini ones melt more quickly.) Stir continuously until the marshmallows are completely melted. Add a few drops of pink or red food coloring and stir well.

Remove from heat and add the popped popcorn into the melted marshmallow mixture and stir until evenly coated. I like easy cleanup so I do it all in one pot instead of pouring it into a large bowl for mixing.

Press the popcorn mixture into a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. The popcorn should be tightly pressed. I used a wooden spoon that I first coated with cooking spray for this.

Cut Heart Shapes And Insert Lollipop Stick

Wait about 5 minutes so the popcorn mixture can cool a bit. Use a non-stick spray on your cookie cutter or grease with butter. Cut the popcorn sheet into heart shapes with a heart cookie cutter. Place heart cutter as close the last cut as possible to minimize the extra in between hearts. Place a lollipop stick (available at craft stores) in the bottom of each. Lay on a sheet of parchment paper to finish cooling and allow to harden up.

Add Drizzle

Place 1/2 cup of candy melt into the plastic piping.  Microwave for 25-30 seconds.  Squish the piping bag to mix the candy melt.  Heat for an additional 25 seconds or until the candy has melted completely.

Snip the tip of the piping bag off and drizzle the candy melt over the popcorn hearts.

Presentation Options

After the candy melt has cooled completely you can wrap the popcorn hearts in individual treat bags. Or place in a tall glass or vase to create a popcorn heart bouquet. Be sure to cover them with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container until they are ready to eaten.

Free Printable Gift Tag

You could give these adorable Popcorn Heart Homemade Valentine Treats with the attached printable tags for a unique Valentine’s Day edible gift. They say, “My heart is popping with love!”  Just drag the image to your desktop, open the image and chose print from the file menu at the top of the screen.

Marshmallow Popcorn Treat Printable Recipe Card

Conclusion

Discover how marshmallow popcorn can be a canvas for your culinary creativity. From adding colorful sprinkles to drizzling pink chocolate sauce, there are plenty of ideas to elevate your popcorn game. Get ready to impress your friends and family with your artistic popcorn creations. This marshmallow popcorn makes for a sweet and crunchy treat, perfect all special occasions!

Let me know if you think you will try these popcorn hearts as your special homemade Valentine treats and how they turn out! Don’t forget to keep a yummy treat for yourself! I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

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