Today I am sharing a recipe on How to Make Popcorn Balls which are a fun fall snack idea and can be enjoyed any season. Made easily in minutes, these tasty popcorn snacks are very portable too!
Whether you are hosting a Halloween party, or just enjoying a quiet date night at home, these easy popcorn balls make a great Fall snack idea.
Hello Friends! How is your week going? We are enjoying the cool weather of the season and enjoying watching our sports. There is nothing like getting together with family and friends around the television to enjoy a good game or movie.
Today’s recipe is a fun twist on classic popcorn balls and an easy one when you are looking for a fun fall dessert idea.
Why this Popcorn Ball Recipe?
This easy popcorn ball recipe can be made in minutes on your stove top. These homemade popcorn balls are a fun and festive way to enjoy the season.
These homemade treats are made with just a few simple ingredients and are so fun for a gathering. These are great for Halloween parties, football parties, and even lunch box snacks.
Ingredients
This recipe requires the following ingredients:
Popped popcorn - You can use microwave popcorn or popcorn from an air popper. You will need 4 cups of popcorn for this recipe. Be sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
Corn syrup
Marshmallows
Powdered Sugar
Butter or margarine
Equipment and Tools
- baking sheet
- Medium Saucepan or large pot
- Large bowl
- rubber spatula
- parchment paper
- Note - you do not need a candy thermometer for this recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
I like to make my popcorn balls small enough that a child could hole them, but you can make these larger if you want. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the popcorn balls have to fully set before enjoying.
You can add a couple of drops of food coloring to the marshmallow mixture to make them different colors.
You can add a little bit of candy corn or any of your favorite candies to the popcorn balls. Just be sure that they are in small chunks before mixing.
How to Make Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Popcorn balls have been around since I was a kid and I remember that we used to actually get these as trick or treat snacks from the neighbors. All you do is melt ingredients on the stovetop,
And then add popped popcorn and shape.
Place popcorn balls on parchment paper to set.
Tips for making Popcorn Balls
- They are super easy to make and chances are you have all the ingredients on hand. Before making these, gather all of your ingredients beforehand.
- You will want to make sure that you have some wax paper to help you roll up the balls. They are sticky when warm and using waxed paper to roll them into balls saves on time and clean up. You can also grease hands with a little butter as another option.
- These are best made ahead of time so that they have time to cool and set.
- You can embellish this popcorn ball recipe by adding sprinkles and candy melts to the popcorn balls after they cool if you like.
- I love making popcorn balls on the stove, but you can also microwave the too. Be sure to use a large heatproof bowl
For more great fall snack ideas, check out these easy recipes ideas:
Candied Popcorn Recipe - A great popcorn snack that we make all year round.
Fall Crispie Snack – A fun twist on the usual cereal snack recipe.
Fall Trail Mix – This fun blend of trail mix is just for fall.
Fall Snacks – all fall-themed snacks for the season.
Recipe FAQs
How long do popcorn balls stay fresh?
Popcorn balls stay fresh 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container in a cool place. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap. They are best eaten the same day they are prepared.
What kind of popcorn should I use?
You can use any kind of popcorn you like, but air-popped popcorn is the best choice in my opinion. It is less likely to burn, and it will make your popcorn balls lighter and fluffier.
How do I make my popcorn balls more flavorful?
You can easily add flavors to your popcorn balls, such as vanilla extract, almond extract, or butter extract. You can also add spices and powders, such as cinnamon, cheese or nutmeg.
More Delicious Recipes - Easy Halloween Treat Recipes
Halloween Candied Pretzels - A cute spooky treat that is so simple to make.
Fondant Ghost Muffins - An easy and fun snack idea that takes about 10 minutes.
Fall Crispie Snack – A fun twist on the usual cereal snack recipe.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - Delicious chocolate chip cookies with pumpkin!
Cinnamon Popcorn - A delicious sweet twist on popcorn.
We hope you enjoyed this easy recipe idea!
📖 Recipe
Popcorn Balls
Equipment
- medium saucepan or medium pot
- wooden spoon
- Wax paper
Ingredients
- 4 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pop popcorn using method of choice.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, marshmallows, and corn syrup.
- Stir and heat until marshmallows are dissolved into the syrup mixture.
- Gradually add popped popcorn to the marshmallow mixture while stirring to coat, one cup at a time.
- Remove any un-popped popcorn kernels from the popcorn and discard.
- Once all the popcorn has been added roll and the popcorn mixture is cool enough to handle.
- Form balls by rolling popcorn mixture into 3-inch popcorn balls using waxed paper to roll together and prevent popcorn from sticking to hands.
- Wrap each ball in waxed paper and let cool completely.
Notes
- They are super easy to make and chances are you have all the ingredients on hand. Before making these, gather all of your ingredients beforehand.
- You will want to make sure that you have some wax paper to help you roll up the balls. They are sticky when warm and using waxed paper to roll them into balls saves on time and clean up. You can also grease hands with a little butter as another option.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
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Tamara
Scarlet says.. "these are literally magic." I agree. So many of my favorite things together. What could go wrong??
Christy
I love popcorn balls but have never made them. Do you recommend putting food color in them to make them festive or ditch the food coloring and do something else like sprinkles or something?
Raquel
I love both! My preferred would be to add sprinkles because you can make them look so festive with them. Thanks for visiting Christy!