Zebra Popcorn

Elevate your snacking experience with this Zebra Popcorn. Caramel-coated popcorn drizzled with dark and white chocolate for the perfect sweet and crunchy treat!

 

I love popcorn! It can be buttery, cheesy or sweet, but there is just something about popcorn that gets me every time. The gourmet popcorn shops that are all over the place always draw me in. Lots of them sell a version of this Zebra Popcorn, and you can buy it in a lot of grocery stores now as well. But just like almost everything else, there is something about homemade that is just so much better!

When I was growing up we had a babysitter who would always make caramel corn with us, so this recipe is a no-brainer for me, it is just so good!

Why You’ll Love Zebra Popcorn

• Sweet & Tasty – caramel with 2 kinds of chocolate makes for one tasty treat! You could add in peanuts if you want to mix it up and add a salty note to it.
• Fun – Just look at it! It is such a fun treat and great to serve at a party. They will attract a lot of attention on your buffet table.
• Easy – homemade caramel corn seems intimidating, but it is really easy to make! Trust me, it doesn’t take that much time for effort and you have the most delicious treat.

What Is Zebra Popcorn

Zebra popcorn is a caramel flavored popcorn that is drizzled with dark chocolate and white chocolate, so you get the black and white stripes like a zebra! Popcornopolis came up with it and you can find it pre-made in lots of stores, including Costco these days.

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

• Popped Popcorn – You can use plain or buttered popcorn, either bagged or air-popped.
• Brown Sugar
• Salted Butter
• Light Corn Syrup
• Baking Soda
• Dark Chocolate Chips – you can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate as well.
• White Chocolate Chips

How To Make Zebra Popcorn

• Pop. Pop the popcorn using whatever method you want. Microwave popcorn works great, or you can use an air popper or the stovetop. Remove any unpopped kernels, and pour the popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
• Make Caramel. In a large saucepan, stir the light brown sugar, salted butter, and corn syrup over medium heat until melted and combined. Allow the mixture to come to a low boil, and then stop stirring and set a timer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in baking soda, it will foam up a little and lighten in color.
• Mix. Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir until it is evenly coated.
• Bake. Spread the popcorn onto a large baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until it is a deep caramel color.
• Let Cool. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely. This will take at least 60 minutes.
• Drizzle. After the popcorn is cooled drizzle dark chocolate and white chocolate evenly over the top of the caramel corn.
• Break Apart – after the chocolate has set up and everything is solid, break into small pieces and serve.

Storing Popcorn

Once the popcorn has cooled completely and the chocolate has completely hardened you can transfer to an airtight container or a plastic storage bag. Store at room temperature in a cool dry place. You do not want to refrigerate or the caramel will get very hard and it will be hard to eat.

It should last for about a week if sealed tightly. It may loose some of the crispiness, so it is best within the first 2-3 days.

Recipe Tips & Suggestions

• Remove Unpopped Kernels – Whether you are using air popped, microwave, or popcorn you make on the stovetop you want to make sure to remove the unpopped kernels before coating witht he caramel mixture.
• Caramel Mixture– When you are making the caramel, you will want to make sure to really pay attention and stir the mixture well. You do not want it to burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Make sure to maintain the medium heat and letting it come to a low boil. Don’t rush this process!
• Baking Time – After the popcorn is coated with the caramel and in the oven, make sure to keep a close eye on it, and stir well every 15 minutes. This will make sure that you don’t have spots that get too dark or burnt. You want to get a deep caramel color which will give the best flavor to the zebra popcorn.
• Let it Cool – I know it is tough, but you really need to be patient and let the popcorn cool before adding the chocolate. If the caramel doesn’t completely set, it will melt even further when the warm chocolate hits it and just create a mess.
• Use a Bag – When drizzling the dark and white chocolate over the popcorn, I really like to use a piping bag or even a sturdy plastic bag to pipe and even amount of the melted chocolate over the popcorn. You can use a spoon or a fork, but it tends to drop large amounts in certain areas and not get those even stripes.
• Break Up Popcorn – Once the popcorn is completely cooled and the chocolate has set, break it into smaller pieces before serving.
• Get Creative – as with everything, make it your own! Feel free to stir in extra mix-ins such as nuts, sprinkles, or candies or drizzle different flavored chips on top, such as peanut butter, butterscotch, or mint chocolate chips.

More Fun Dessert Recipes

• Rice Krispie Treats
• Rainbow Popsicles
• Strawberry Lemonade Bars
• Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Frosted Churro Cookies
• Chocolate Cobbler

Continue to Content

Yield: 8

Zebra Popcorn

Print

Elevate your snacking experience with this Zebra Popcorn. Caramel-coated popcorn drizzled with dark and white chocolate for the perfect sweet and crunchy treat!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients

• 8 cups popped popcorn
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 225º F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon liner.
2. Pop popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a large saucepan stir the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup together over medium heat until they are melted and combined. Bring the mixture to a low boil (do not increase the temperature) and then top stirring for 5 minutes.
4. After 5 minutes, frmove the pan from the heat and stir in the baking soda. It will foam up slightly and lighten in color.
5. Pour caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir until everything is evenly coated. Pour onto prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is a deep caramel color.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 60 minutes.
8. Melt the dark chocolate chips and place in a sturdy plastic bag. Cut off the tip and drizzle evenly over the top of the caramel corn. Repeat with the white chocolate.
9. Let the mixture set up completely and then break into small pieces to serve.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 386Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 12gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 34mgSodium 336mgCarbohydrates 50gFiber 2gSugar 44gProtein 2g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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