If you've ever thought popcorn was the perfect snack, wait until you hear about TikTok's latest #FoodTok obsession. Creators on the social media app are upping the movie theater treat, adding their favorite candies, chocolates and crunchy snacks and calling it "popcorn salad" because, well, why not. The best part is, the new trend is salty, sweet, and simple, which means there's almost no reason not to try it.
#FoodTok is known for creating many, uh, unique snack combinations, like cheese pickles and fruit roll-up wrapped ice cream, but luckily, the popcorn salad craze features a combination of ingredients we can all get behind. You might even have done it without even knowing it.
As of March 28, the hashtag #popcornsalad has been viewed more than 5.9 million times on TikTok. According to the label, all you need to make a popcorn salad is popcorn, some sweet treats, and a handful of salad tongs to toss it all together. (You can use your hands if you want, but that kind of defeats the whole "salad" purpose.) Plus, you can add any number of candies to your popcorn salad, including chocolate, peanut butter cups, marshmallows, sour gummies, etc. wait. It's basically every kid's (and adult's) dream salad, and TikTok was made for it.
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Many people, including creator @zoe_billins, choose to make their popcorn salad with candy. To upgrade date night, the TikToker created desserts for two, including a variety of sweet treats like Kinder Bueno Eggs, Sour Patch Kids, and Cadbury Crunchie Rocks.
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Meanwhile, other popcorn salad lovers are putting their own spin on the snack by adding sweet and savory options. Singer/songwriter @mollyjburch takes this combo to the next level with what the creators call the Molly Burch Snack Bowl, which includes Flaming Hot Cheetos Balls, Cheez-Its, BBQ Kettle Chips, M&M Peanuts, Sour Patch Kids and Red Vines.
If you like your salad on the savory side but don't want to use flame-heated Cheetos, there are plenty of ways to make it work. Instead, you can add other savory toppings, such as pretzels, chips, or nuts.
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For a more complex popcorn salad recipe, TikToker @alectreffs uses snacks like chocolate chips, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, coconut peanut butter cookies, crunchy caramel, and peanut butter drizzle to create a "Gram"-like Snack - worth it as it's delicious. Oh, and don’t forget the sea salt popcorn and sweet and salty cornmeal as a base.
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It's unclear who exactly coined the term "popcorn salad" on TikTok, but whoever did deserves a big "thank you" from users of the Clock app, because it looks like this simple treat has become A new go-to for many. TikTok user @theoneandonlycatherine is one of the snack's many fans, creating "dorm snack recipes" using everything from cashews to dark chocolate hazelnuts. We love snacks that are set in height.
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There are dozens of different popcorn salads on TikTok, so whether you like it sweet, savory, or a mix of the two, there's something for everyone. It's the perfect snack for all your movie viewing parties or even a night out with friends.
