Healthy Monster Popcorn with No Food Dyes

Monster Popcorn is seriously scary-looking popcorn.  I agree the colors are a bit scary and if you are sensitive to food dyes you can still make this popcorn with a few simple substitutions.  For a party or special occasion, this monster popcorn is a fun way to add some color, fun, and fright to the snack or dessert table.  
Also check out my recipes for Monster Apple Snacks, Earth Day Waffles, and Easy Chocolate Unicorn Bark. 

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Make it Healthy and with Dye-Free Coloring :

Use Natural Popcorn and White Chocolate:

Use air-popped popcorn instead of microwave popcorn.  You will need about 6 cups of popped popcorn. Use white chocolate in place of the candy melts.  The candy melts have artificial flavors. 

Dye-Free Coloring To color the white chocolate, use natural powdered food-based colors. (click here) for a link to purchase food-based powders for color.  Remember, you have to use a color that works in an oil or candy base.  The only colors I’ve found that work with candy are powders.  Please don’t purchase a powder that requires you to mix it in water before using it.  Use sprinkles that are free of food dyes.  Supernatural makes a variety of sprinkles that are free of food dyes.  (click here to purchase)

Make the Eyeballs Yourself::

For the eyeballs: make your own out of Royal Icing.  Color the icing for the pupils black using the Jelife black color from the link above.   You can make a variety of eyeball sizes for pennies with Royal icing.  Save the leftover eyeballs for future “monster recipes.”

 

Lets make some Monster Popcorn. 

Melt The Candy

Add a little vegetable shortening to the candy melts or white chocolate and melt in the microwave.  To Melt Candy Melts in the microwave.   Microwave for 15-second intervals.  Stir after every 15 seconds.  Be careful not to overheat the Candy Melts.  Overheating them will cause the candy to form a solid clump of candy.  If this happens, throw out the Candy and start over.    Alternately you can melt in a double boiler on the stove. 

Use pre-colored candy melts or color the candy after it is melted.  If you use white chocolate, color it after it is melted.  Add the coloring to the melted candy and stir in.  Add more coloring if a deeper color is desired. 

Add the Melted Candy to the Popcorn

Add the Orange candy to the popcorn and stir to coat the popcorn. Spread the coated popcorn on a baking sheet.  Drizzle the popcorn with the green and blue melted candy.  Add sprinkles and eyeballs.  

Serve up a Frightfully Delicious Snack.

Let the candy firm up.  Serve the popcorn once it can be handled without sticking to your fingers.  For more yummy monster treats try my  Fruity Cereal Monster Treats or my Monster Breakfast Parfait. 

monster popcorn

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4.34 from 3 votes

Monster Popcorn

Monster Popcorn is seriously scary-looking popcorn. However, it is also a seriously yummy monster-themed party snack. See notes for options on how to make it healthy and free of food dyes.
Servings 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
drying time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Equipment

  • This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
  • cookie baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1 bags Microwave popcorn
  • ½ cup white candy melts (85g)
  • ¼ cup bright blue candy melts(42g)
  • ¼ cup fluorescent green or lime green candy melts (42g)
  • orange candy coloring Make sure it is candy coloring and not regular liquid food coloring
  • small candy eyeballs
  • Monster sprinkles
  • 2 tsp crisco vegetable shortening

Instructions

  • Pop the bag of popcorn in the microwave. Remove all of the unpopped kernels. Place in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add 1/2 tsp of vegetable shortening to each color of candy melts.
  • Melt the white candy melts in the microwave. Add the orange candy coloring and stir to mix in. (see notes)
  • Pour the orange-colored candy over the popcorn. Toss to mix and coat the popcorn.
  • Spread the candy-coated popcorn on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Melt the blue and green candy melts in the microwave.
  • Drizzle each color over the popcorn. Add the sprinkles before the candy dries. Let the candy firm up. Wait to serve the popcorn until the popcorn can be handled without any candy sticking to your fingers. Serve and enjoy your Monster Popcorn.

Video

Notes

Store in an airtight container once the candy is firm and can be handled without any candy sticking to your fingers. 
To Melt Candy Melts in the microwave. Microwave for 15-second intervals. Stir after every 15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat the Candy Melts. Overheating them will cause the candy to form a solid clump of candy. If this happens, throw out the candy and start over. Alternately you can melt in a double boiler on the stove.
Make it Natural and free of Food Dyes:
  1. Use white chocolate in place the candy melts. The white candy melts have artificial flavor.  Color the white chocolate, orange, green, and blue.  
  2. To color the candy use natural powdered food-based colors. (click here) for a link to purchase. Remember you have to use a color that works in an oil or candy base.  The only colors I've found that work with candy are powders.  
  3. Use sprinkles that are free of food dyes. Supernatural makes a variety of sprinkles that are free of food dyes.  (click here to purchase)
  4. Use air-popped popcorn instead of microwave popcorn.  You will need 6 cups. 
Calories: 84kcal
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candy popcorn, colored popcorn, easy, monster popcorn, popcorn,

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

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