Popcorn Ghouls: Make a Fun Halloween Treat

Popcorn Ghouls are a fun Halloween treat to make with kids!

If you’re a reasonable parent with control and restraint who gives out pencils or snack-sized prunes for Halloween, then don’t bother reading this. If you’re like me and have no control over Halloween candy consumption, then here’s a fun (and dare I say, “decorative”) Halloween treat to make with your kids. It would be a lovely addition to a party as well. I made these Popcorn Ghouls or Zombies or whatever you prefer to call them today on Tulsa’s Channel 8 – catch me every Tuesday morning on Good Morning, Oklahoma.

Here’s the recipe:

Popcorn Ghouls

• 2 ½ quarts popped popcorn
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups small marshmallows
• Green food coloring
• Candy corn
• Red gumballs or other round, red candy for the eyes. If you prefer a different color, that’s fine, too.
• Jelly beans
• Some kind of stringy candy for the hair. I used licorice strings, which came in a variety of colors.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add a few drops of green food coloring. Stir to blend. Add the marshmallows and melt, stirring to make a nice, green color. Add the marshmallow/butter mixture to the popcorn and stir until mixed. Quickly form into oval-shaped “heads” and place on waxed paper. If you butter your hands first, or spray with cooking spray, they won’t stick to your hands.

Add candy corn teeth, gumball eyes, a jelly bean nose and licorice string hair, as pictured. It’s best to do the decorating right away and push candy into the popcorn so it sticks.

If you’re looking for safe Halloween outings, go to our calendar for some ideas.