Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn (Expert Tips & Ideas)

Learn how to make the best chocolate covered popcorn with this easy recipe full of expert tips and creative ideas! Chocolate drizzled popcorn makes a fun, crowd-favorite snack ideal for movie nights, homemade gifts, or parties.

Homemade Chocolate Covered Popcorn Recipe

With the approaching holidays, why not make chocolate drizzled popcorn for a multitude of occasions?!

Just like peanut brittle or microwave caramel corn, drizzled popcorn makes a quick and easy homemade gift. Or, with impending social calendars, bring chocolate covered popcorn as a hostess gift or offer as an addictive addition to a festive dessert platter.

With only a few ingredients and less than 10 minutes prep it’s the perfect emergency dessert or gluten-free snack! Make classic popcorn drizzled with chocolate, or try out some of the suggested variations such as white chocolate, kettle corn, peanut butter, or add M&Ms or salty nuts!

Below you will learn how to make chocolate drizzled popcorn, including the best popcorn to use, tips for melting smooth chocolate that doesn’t seize, and plenty of creative ideas and mix-ins. Let’s do this!

Best Types of Popcorn To Use

When choosing popcorn to drizzle, you’ll want to avoid using any that is heavily buttered or your treat will become soggy fast! Whether making this fun chocolate snack or our family’s favorite counterpart – white chocolate coated popcorn with M&Ms, marshmallows, and peanuts.

For best results use homemade popcorn or a microwave popcorn with minimal butter. I used sea salt microwave popcorn and the snack mix stayed fresh and crunchy for 4 days. Other microwave varieties that would work include kettle corn, natural, touch of butter, or natural varieties.

If making homemade popcorn use 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Pop in an air popper, a whirly-pop, simply use a pot on the stove top with a bit of oil.

Melting Chocolate For Drizzle

While no fancy chocolate is required you’ll want follow these simple tips to avoid seized chocolate, which is when it becomes clumpy rather than silky smooth for drizzling.

1. Choose from chocolate chips, chopped dark chocolate, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate, chocolate wafers, or candy melts. The best brands for melted chocolate are listed these chocolate bark and white chocolate bark recipes.
2. Place in a microwave-safe bowl with a teaspoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil. This helps thin the chocolate so it can drizzle. Be careful to not add too much oil, though, or it will not harden.
3. Candy melts or wafers may not require any oil. Melt first and see if it needs to be thinned with a dash of oil.
4. Heat in 20-30 second intervals, stirring occasionally, to make sure it is not overheated.
5. Microwave the chocolate until it is about 75% fully melted. Remove and then stir until the chocolate is completely smooth. This prevents overheated, seized or bloomed chocolate, which is when white spots appear after it hardens.
6. Use a fork to drizzle in thin ribbons. This helps distribute the chocolate without big globs.

Let’s Make This Together!

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Begin by lining two baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper. Prepare the popcorn and once it is cool enough to handle, spread it on one baking sheet, leaving the other empty.
2. Melt the chocolate and white chocolate in separate microwave-safe bowls with a teaspoon of oil added to each. Heat in 20 second intervals until it is mostly melted, then stir until smooth.
3. Use a fork to drizzle on half the chocolate first, then drizzle half the white chocolate on top. Add anything you would like to stick to the chocolate, such as flaky sea salt, sprinkles, peanuts, etc.
4. Place the second piece of wax paper on top the popcorn. Invert the second baking sheet on top so the bottom is facing up. Hold the two pans together and flip over, so the non-drizzled side is face up. Remove the top sheet and repeat with second half of chocolate and any mix-ins.
5. Let sit at room temperature to harden, then enjoy!

More Creative Ideas and Mix-Ins

The sky is the limit for making your own unique drizzled popcorn! Swap out different types of popcorn, add mix-ins, or drizzle on different flavors.

If adding mix-ins sprinkle on immediately after drizzling with chocolate, white chocolate, or a mixture so it adheres as it cools.

• Caramel popcorn with chocolate drizzle
• White Out – white chocolate with coconut
• Use colored candy melts for baby showers or birthday parties themes
• Dried cranberries or cherries
• Flaky sea salt
• Melted peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips
• Candy – chopped Snickers, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Heath bars, Butterfingers, M&M’s, or Reese’s Pieces
• Nuts or candied pecans
• Rocky Road – peanuts and miniature marshmallows
• S’mores – chopped graham crackers and miniature marshmallows
• Chocolate covered popcorn – Dump the popcorn in a large bowl. Pour melted chocolate over top. Stir or cover with a large lid and shake until the chocolate covers the popcorn. Spread on a lined baking sheet to harden in chunks.

Holiday Popcorn Ideas

Turn chocolate covered popcorn into a festive treat by using holiday-specific sprinkles, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Easter. For an added pop of color, you can also add holiday M&Ms before the chocolate hardens.

Christmas is also the perfect occasion to make white chocolate peppermint popcorn. Use white chocolate only and sprinkle with crushed candy canes while the chocolate is still wet.

Wilton also carries a variety of candy melts, which come in different flavors and colors to choose in holiday colors. They are available in craft stores or on Amazon.

Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Leave a star rating and comment below the recipe card. It helps others when searching for recipes and I appreciate feedback from our community. You will always hear back from me! -Melissa