Description
Magical midnight snacks reach new heights with glow-in-the-dark candy popcorn bombs, creating a whimsical treat that sparks excitement. Crisp popcorn kernels blend with sweet candy coating, delivering a playful surprise you’ll crave at midnight movie marathons.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup tonic water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Garnish and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Neon food coloring (pink, blue, green, yellow, purple)
- Edible glitter or shimmer dust
Instructions
- Prepare a large baking tray by lining it with parchment paper, ensuring even coverage for the popcorn.
- Pop the kernels until they are light and fluffy, spreading them across the prepared tray in a single layer.
- Lightly season the popcorn with butter and a delicate sprinkle of salt to enhance its natural flavor profile.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and tonic water, creating a smooth base for the candy coating.
- Heat the mixture over medium temperature, stirring gently to prevent burning, until the liquid reaches exactly 250F on a candy thermometer.
- Quickly incorporate baking soda into the hot syrup, which will cause the mixture to expand and become wonderfully airy.
- Separate the glowing syrup into different bowls, adding vibrant neon food coloring to each for a striking visual effect.
- Carefully drizzle the colored syrups over sections of the popcorn, using a gentle tossing motion to ensure even, complete coverage.
- Allow the coated popcorn to dry completely at room temperature, which will help the candy coating set perfectly.
- Enhance the visual appeal by sprinkling edible glitter or shimmer dust across the popcorn for an extra magical touch.
- For the ultimate glow effect, serve the popcorn bombs under a blacklight, revealing their neon-bright, luminescent transformation.
Notes
- Adjust heat carefully when making candy coating to prevent burning, watching the temperature closely with a reliable candy thermometer.
- Work quickly when drizzling colored syrup over popcorn, as the mixture hardens fast and can become difficult to spread evenly.
- Use white popcorn kernels for the best color visibility and glow effect under blacklight.
- Clean utensils immediately after use, as the sugar mixture can harden and become challenging to wash off if left to cool.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg