When I was saw this recipe by Mrs. Schwatz a few weeks ago, I knew I had to stop everything and make it immediately. Birthday Cake Batter Popcorn? Yes, please. As a lover of anything salty and sweet, I knew it would be a winner. Plus, it involved rainbow sprinkles. Enough said.
I made this the day before going on vacation, and had grand plans to take it with me in little plastic baggies for the flight.
Let’s just say it never made it that far.
Between munching all day while I worked and going back for “just one more kernel”, all I had left to fill my plastic baggies were popcorn seeds. Oops.
Here’s what ya need!
Simple yellow cake mix, some popcorn (I just popped one bag in the microwave), vegetable shortening, white chocolate chips and sprinkles. Five ingredients—it doesn’t get better than that!
The first step is melting your white chocolate. I just zapped this in the microwave in short thirty-second intervals until it was all melted. I think it took a minute and a half total.
Then, stir in your vegetable shortening to the melted white chocolate …
And add cake mix! How fun is that? I would never in a million years think to add dry cake mix to melted chocolate. The recipe says to add 1 – 1 ½ cups cake mix, but I would err on the lesser side because it makes the chocolate mixture really, really thick.
Add this to the popcorn and use your hands to toss everything together—watch out, it’s gonna get messy! Don’t worry if you don’t get all the white chocolate cake batter clumps perfectly mixed in with the popcorn. It will harden anyway and work out just fine.
Now comes my favorite part: sprinkles! I love rainbow sprinkles and add them to anything and everything.
Let the popcorn cool and set to harden up a bit—if you can stand it to wait, that is.
Ta-dah! How fun and festive is that?
I love taking a perfectly healthy snack like natural popcorn and dumping chocolate and cake mix on it, don’t you?
If you want to be sneaky, you can put this in a bag, hide it in the bottom of your largest purse and hit up the movies with your girlfriends. You didn’t hear that from me though.
Thank you, Mrs. Schwartz, for such a fun easy recipe! Head over to her blog Mrs. Schwartz’s Kitchen to find more of her recipes.
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Description
Salty, sweet, crunchy and colorful! What else would you want in a snack or dessert?
Ingredients
- 1-½ cup Melted Almond Bark Or White Chocolate
- ¼ cups Vegetable Shortening
- 1-½ cup White Or Yellow Cake Mix
- 6 cups Popcorn (popped)
- ¼ cups Sprinkles
Preparation Instructions
Melt the almond bark/chocolate in the microwave. I put it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each 30 seconds until it is fully melted.
Add the vegetable shortening to the almond bark/chocolate and stir until it is melted. I usually don’t have to put it back in the microwave to completely melt it but you can if you have to.
Then add the cake mix to the almond bark/chocolate.
Pour the coating onto the popcorn and coat evenly. I use 2 spoons and toss it almost like a salad.
Pour the popcorn out onto cookie sheets to cool/harden. Sprinkle immediately with your choice of sprinkles.
Wait until fully hardened (if you can) and enjoy!
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Jenna is a food writer who has worked as a pastry chef and bread baker. Her blog Eat, Live, Run has great recipes, travel stories, and the perfect slogan: “Celebrating life, one crumb at a time.”
68 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
Kayla on 7.18.2012
making today! i saw this and immediately fell in love. i hope the popcorn doesn’t get stale fast, so this lasts a while.
Nicole D. on 7.16.2012
So, I did something wrong. It still tasted good, but not like pictured. AND I somehow made a bigger mess than I ever have in my kitchen – that includes what I’ve done with making cakes and cookies from scratch. Seriously, I found popcorn in the living room…
So worth it.
Brazilian Coffee on 7.11.2012
I haven’t seen popcorn as a birthday cake in birthday party, it looks yummy and unique.
Cody
janessa on 7.10.2012
Just made this… Delicious! :D:D:D
Sarah T on 6.29.2012
Looks Great! Just wondering if it is possible to form it into a cake pan…..will it hold its shape once it hardens? I’d like to make it into a birthday “cake” for someone. Thanks!
Melody Weber on 6.11.2012
I am wondering if you can freeze this for later use-I want to make it for my daughters wedding and would like to make ahead of time?
Michelle on 6.5.2012
I saw this recipe on Pinetrist and couldnt wait for the right opportunity to try it. Low and behold its the end of the school year and I happily signed up to bring a treat for the class picnic….. so excited to try it!! Im very tempted to try with chocolate chips and chocolate cake batter so ive decided to do 2 batches. Ill let you all know how it turns out. Wish me luck!!!
Jqb on 5.4.2012
Christie,
I also just made this and the batter was way too thick to distribute. When I googled the recipe another site used only 4Tbsp of cake mix! Someone around here will figure out a way to eat it, but next batch will use less cake mix.
Ali, GH Cretors on 4.10.2012
This looks AMAZING! Great recipe!
Christie on 4.7.2012
I just tried this – per directions (except I used stove popped popcorn) and the batter was hard to distribute. I ended up with huge clumps of batter and lots of un-coated popcorn. Any tips?
Erin on 4.7.2012
I think this looks amazing, but I don’t think I would feel food about eating raw flour. I wish there was another way to get a similar flavour!
MN-Mom on 4.7.2012
I cut back on the white chocolate (3/4 c), shortening (1 T) and cake batter mix (3/4 c), and it was still wonderful. *All my measurements are approximate, as I didn’t use any measuring utensils. I might even cut it back a touch more next time.
RaeRae on 4.5.2012
You’ve no doubt just made my daughter very popular.
IndyMomma on 4.5.2012
I love this recipe!! I used white popcorn, but it was salted. So yummy. I found it easier to mix it by hand by spraying a little cooking spray on my hands first (like you do with popcorn balls). It was easier than using the two spoons. Very good!
Kristi R on 4.4.2012
Just made this tonight for a food day tomorrow at work. Holy mother of all snack foods Batman – this stuff is da bomb!! For each batch (I made 2), I used 1 microwave bag Orville R extra tender popcorn, an entire bag of Ghirardelli white chocolate chips, and just over a cup of yellow cake mix (along with the shortening, of course).
One question – in the photos above, you’re definitely holding a bottle of rainbow non-pareil sprinkles, but on the finished product it looks like the icing type sprinkles. I think that the little balls (non-pareils) are a bit hard. I’d go with softer sprinkles next time.
And of course we all realize it’s unhealthy. *rolls eyes* What a silly and obvious statement to make. If you’re the diet police, you came to the WRONG website my dear.
Mdooloo on 4.3.2012
Made this….and loved it! I used funfetti and candiquick. Reaaaaally sweet but reaaaaaly good!
Sarah Sielbeck on 4.3.2012
Yuck. I guess I’m in the minority, but this is a waste of my good, Amish-grown popcorn. My husband’s birthday is today and I thought this might be an alternative to birthday cake since we both love popcorn and take it very seriously. This is way too sweet. I’m heading out to buy a Carvel ice cream cake.
Teresa on 4.1.2012
My girls and I just made this we had fun and are waiting for it to harden so we can enjoy it together!
Kris on 4.1.2012
Delicious! DO NOT USE BUTTER. The white chocolate will seize up and will be unusable.
Trust me.
Lynda S. on 4.1.2012
Oh my heavens…it is so good! I took a large zip bag to my brothers families to keep me from eating all of it. I did keep a small stash and have been nibbling on it since last night. Thank for you this wonderful recipe!
Jen on 4.1.2012
To be even more indulgent, I’ve used butter-flavored hulless popcorn and mixed it with melted white chocolate and sprinkles (or colored sugars depending upon the holiday). I’ve never added the cake mix, however. Definitely not healthy, but so addictive and tasty!
Mary R on 4.1.2012
Made this yesterday using Gluten-Free cake mix and Gluten-Free sprinkles. It was awesome! Thanks for the recipe!
Tammi on 3.31.2012
I made this scrumptious snack today and my whole family couldn’t keep their hands out of it. Thank you for the recipe!
Tom G on 3.30.2012
I love the sound of this recipe and can’t wait to try it out. The sprinkles make it look quite festive. I might try it with butter instead of shortening though.
Laurie@Gift Baskets for Women on 3.30.2012
This looks scrumptious! My daughter would love it – she loves birthday cake ice cream and enjoys snacking on popcorn. Of course, this adds a few calories to the low fat popcorn, but oh well, for a special occasion, it would be perfect!
Lena L on 3.30.2012
I made something like this, but with RICE CHEX cereal instead of popcorn. So yummy!!! Just google “Cake Batter Buddies”.
Tara Guillen on 3.29.2012
I just made this an hour ago, it’s absolutely delightful and totally unexpected!!..it works a lot better without the vegetable shortening too..great recipe!
Mary Wren on 3.29.2012
I am new to Pinterest…..but this looks FABULOUS….. thanks for sharing. I will try to share something too……
Faith on 3.29.2012
My daughter loves anything birthday cake flavored – and she adores sprinkles! Gotta make it for her birthday in a couple weeks!
AverBlue on 3.29.2012
I saw this recipe yesterday and literally got in my car, drove to the store, bought the ingredients, went straight home, and whipped up a batch of this stuff. Oh MY !!! I bought Nestles white chocolate chips (12 oz. bag and used them all),Duncan-Hines classic yellow cake mix (just like the recipe), and Wilton bunny & ducks sprinkles (in pretty Spring colors). Everything else, I had on hand. I made air popped corn and seasoned it with Kernel Season’s Popcorn Seasoning in butter flavor, then I sprinkled on a little extra regular salt for good measure. It is so delicious!!
Adriana of AZ on 3.29.2012
hmm i bet this mails well!!
Sandi Pike Foundas on 3.29.2012
Oh. My. God. This looks SO good!!!
My mouth is literally watering right now as I write this. Thanks Ree. Must try this SOON
Tracy A. on 3.29.2012
Wow! I’m going to try this for a friend’s birthday next week – how fun!
Clarette on 3.29.2012
I made this last night & it is delicious! Both my boys want this for their next Birthday treat to bring to school.
Patsy Coke on 3.29.2012
Someone said use 1 bag of microwave popcorn…oh nooo. I used 2 and there was PLENTY to coat all of the popcorn!
Kelly on 3.29.2012
Ree,
Just thought I would tell you that I recieved the “Greatest Mom Ever” award last night after making a batch of Birthday Cake Popcorn. My daughter and husband LOVED it. They asked for another batch this weekend.
Thanks for sharing this one.
P.S. I’ll be cursing it come bikini season.
Sarah B on 3.29.2012
@fromthesouthwest: What kind of statement is that, “If you don’t like the recipe, don’t comment.” Comments in a blog are supposed to create and respond to dialogue, which I was doing. What is the point in everyone saying “this looks delicious.” This is a ridiculously unhealthy recipe, which is all I was saying.
lynn @ the actor's diet on 3.28.2012
i saw this recipe a while ago when i was looking to use up sprinkles…must…make…
Lynn on 3.28.2012
This sounds so yummy. Will be making (and sneaking in) to the next movie your father and I go to!!!
So much better than popcorn with M&M peanuts in it… !
Gerette H. on 3.28.2012
Read the recipe before going to grocery store today – big mistake! Got ingredients, came home and immediately made it and ate it! It is so easy and so good.
Goldeelocks on 3.28.2012
OMG!! i would have never thought to do this!! This is awesome!
Sarah Coe on 3.28.2012
This would be good to try this tonight for my birthday! =)
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions on 3.28.2012
Oh how fun! I think this would be so cute to bag up and give away as party favors for a birthday party or baby/bridal shower.
Wenderly on 3.28.2012
I A-D-O-R-E sweet & salty! This has my name all over it! Thank you for sharing, love!
fromthesouthwest on 3.28.2012
Someone actually asked if it looks unhealthy?!? It’s a sweet treat… most sweet treats aren’t all that good for you. Give me a break! If you don’t like the recipe, don’t comment. Yes… one could use a funfetti cake mix, but what fun is that? Gotta love pourin’ on the sprinkles!
Lauren from Washington on 3.28.2012
Can’t wait to try it!!! Popcorn IS a food group at our house
Liz @ Southern Charm on 3.28.2012
I feel the need to send this to my family and friends to make for my birthday Saturday … just saying
Robin Lundeen on 3.28.2012
Why couldn’t you just use a funfetti cake mix??
The Old Fashioned Girl on 3.28.2012
I have been thinking about this popcorn all day….it sounds strange, but I think that I have to make it!
Gwen M on 3.28.2012
This sounds like a great treat!!!! Yummy!!!! I just have one question ~ do you measure the white chocolate after you melt it??? Or do you measure out the white choc chips and then melt??