'Fluffy Popcorn' Might Look Delicious on TikTok—but Is It Safe to Eat?

You'll want to tweak this viral recipe a little bit before you try it.

Fluffy popcorn is the latest viral TikTok recipe people are making for a Halloween-inspired snack. The marshmallow-covered treats are like Rice Krispy treats and are layered with your toppings of choice, like sprinkles, candy corn, or your favorite Halloween candy .

But before you follow the TikTok recipe exactly, you need to make some adjustments. In short, the raw flour from the cake mix is unsafe to eat as prepared. A registered dietitian explains the risks of raw flour and how to modify the recipe safely.

Meet the Expert

• Kathleen Garcia-Benson , RDN, CSSD, LD, NASM-CPT, NBC-HWC, registered dietitian specializing in PCOS/women's health, sports nutrition, and digestive health

How Do You Make Fluffy Popcorn?

The original fluffy popcorn recipe by @katelynnjeaneee has over 4.8 million views on TikTok and has amassed many recreations.

According to Katelyn Jeane's recipe, you need 1 stick of butter, a 10-ounce bag of marshmallows, 1 bag of popcorn, and half a bag of cake mix, along with optional toppings like sprinkles or candy. Start by melting the butter in a large pot over the stove, then mix in marshmallows until melted. Katelyn Jeane then stirs in the cake mix and folds in the popcorn until it has a Rice Krispy treat-like texture. Finally, remove from heat and add any desired toppings.

However, most boxed cake mixes contain raw, enriched flour, which is the ingredient that poses a health risk.

Why Is Fluffy Popcorn Potentially Unsafe?

Since most cake mixes contain flour, they need to be cooked thoroughly before consuming. “Raw flour is a high-risk food, and eating it puts you at risk for getting a bacterial disease, like E. coli and Salmonella,” says registered dietitian Kathleen Garcia-Benson, RDN.

Unfortunately, heating fluffy popcorn on the stove isn’t enough to reduce illness risk. “Heating the raw flour is not the same as cooking to proper temperatures. The FDA recommends following package directions on baking mixes for the correct cooking temperatures and specified times,” adds Garcia-Benson.

Warning

“Food-borne illnesses can cause symptoms like severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, and in some cases harming vital organs, leading to more serious and long-term health complications,” says Garcia-Benson.

Related: The 10 Foods Most Linked to Recalls and Disease Outbreaks

How to Modify the Recipe Safely

You don’t have to skip fluffy popcorn altogether if you want to indulge. Garcia-Benson recommends spreading the melted popcorn mix on a baking sheet and baking at 350°F until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160°F.

Also, use a thermometer to ensure the snack reaches this safe temperature. She adds that this step is especially important when preparing food for immunocompromised individuals, young children, or the elderly, as they are more susceptible to food-borne illnesses. Additionally, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after handling raw flour to avoid spreading contaminants.

If you want to skip the baking step, remove the cake batter altogether (as you see in many popcorn bar recipes ) or use a substitution to help bind the popcorn together and add that cake-like flavor. Instant pudding mix that does not contain flour and does not need to be baked will work. You could also try mixing ¼ cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla extract .

Related: How to Upgrade Boxed Cake Mix and Make It Taste Homemade

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