Looking for Christmas treat ideas? Make these Marshmallow Popcorn Balls. It’s a sweet, crunchy, irresistible treat to share and enjoy. It’s very easy to make and is extremely versatile making them super kids and beginner-friendly, added with pinky sweet color and some dried strawberry for garnish.
Popcorn Balls are a classic treat loved by kids and adults. This popcorn ball recipe is the best and fun to serve for parties, and holidays and also fun to wrap for gifts!
Nostalgic and Fun Popcorn Ball
Popcorn balls are nostalgic for me. My mom made them when I was a kid around the holidays and when I think of some festive such as Christmas I think of popcorn balls. Even tho, sometimes, whenever I have tried them in the past, they have always been disappointing. First off, they are usually crack-your-teeth hard. They are ginormous and make you feel like you’re biting into a mile-high burger. I think they are not the easiest to eat, but they are one of the funniest.
Those sweet, crunchy, and slightly sticky treats are enjoyed during the holidays or other special occasions. They are easy to put together and make fun gifts and party snacks.
All you need are popcorn kernels, oil, butter, marshmallow (optional), and a large pot. The corn is popped on the stovetop in corn oil and then tossed and gently cooked in a mixture of marshmallows and butter, giving the popcorn balls their signature taste.
Other things I love about Popcorn Balls are; first, Great for parties. Whether it’s a potluck, or fall festival party, these popcorn balls are a hit at any function. And you can always Change up the flavor (and the color!!) Add your favorite flavoring or a few drops of your favorite food coloring to easily customize these treats.
I know for sure your kid will love how this popcorn ball turns out, moreover, this cute color combination is something to die for!
Ingredients of Popcorn Balls
Yes you read that right, you only need popcorn kernels, marshmallows, butter to stick them together, and coconut oil to make popcorn. Other than that are optional. You can make more variety or reduce my food coloring or the garnish decoration. Here for more detailed ingredients;
- Popcorn Kernels; pop your own or use pre-popped bags from the grocery store. You need 16 cups of popped popcorn in total. stick to plain, unsalted, or lightly salted popcorn.
- Coconut Oil; To make popcorn, you can use a microwave to skip this oil part.
- Unsalted Butter; Use unsalted butter if using salted popcorn. – unsalted butter is best, but you can also use salted butter
- Plain Marshmallows; Jumbo or mini marshmallows will work. Because we will melt the marshmallow
- Dried Freeze Strawberry optional; this is optional, but I use some dried frozen strawberry just for the pinky theme lol. Additionally, the sour and tart of strawberry just perfectly balances with the popcorn
- Food Coloring is optional; also, if you won’t use this food coloring that’s fine, natural color is just as beautiful as mine. If u use this, try to add 3 drops of the food coloring.
Let’s Make Popcorn Balls
To make these Popcorn balls let’s start with popping the popcorn kernel. In a non-stick pan, pop the popcorn kernel with coconut oil. Set aside.
Next, Melt butter in a pan over medium heat then add marshmallows to the melted butter and stir constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted. Then, drop some food coloring then stir until mixed thoroughly.
Once you’ve expertly mixed the popcorn into the luscious marshmallow blend, it’s time to transform the sticky concoction into delightful bite-sized treats.
To achieve the perfect shape, dampen your hands with a touch of oil. This not only prevents the mixture from sticking to your hands but also adds a subtle hint of flavor to each popcorn ball.
Elevate the visual appeal of your popcorn balls by adorning them with vibrant dried frozen strawberries or a sprinkle of your favorite toppings. This will add a burst of some texture to the finished product.
Allow your popcorn balls to set and firm up, giving them the ideal texture for a satisfying chewiness. This step is crucial for achieving the perfect balance between soft and crunchy.
Once fully set, your popcorn balls are ready to be enjoyed! These homemade delights are sure to be a hit at any gathering or as a delightful snack for a cozy movie night.
STORAGE TIPS
Make it ahead of time. Wrap balls with plastic wrap one by one to avoid sticking each other, and store them at room temperature for up to 5 days.
FREEZE
- Freeze popcorn kernels. Keeping popcorn kernels frozen helps them maintain their moisture which allows them to pop better. You can even pop them straight from the freezer. Just allow for a little extra popping time.
- Freeze popcorn balls. Simply wrap each ball with plastic wrap then put them in an airtight freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 weeks. Allow to thaw at room temperature then remove the plastic wrapping.
Recipe Notes;
- Be sure to take out any unpopped kernels before you add in the popcorn, to avoid the hard texture inside and ruin your teeth.
- Carefully shape the balls. If the popcorn and syrup mixture is too hot to touch once combined, stir it a few more times and let it sit until it is cool enough to handle – but still warm. I also recommend wearing latex or nitrile food-safe gloves to shape the balls. They add some insulation from the warm syrup and also make clean-up much easier!
- Make colorful popcorn ball treats! Add a drop or two of liquid food coloring to the syrup mixture before drizzling over the popcorn to make balls that are festively colored for any occasion.
- You can also make some variations by adding caramel, vanilla, crushed Oreo, chopped nuts, or anything you think you love!
Try this Recipe!
Don’t forget to try this Popcorn balls recipe, let me know if this recipe works and be your favorite menu to cook. You can save this recipe with sign-up for my email list! please leave a star rating and a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback.
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DON’T FORGET TO TRY THESE OTHER SWEET TREATS;
Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup Popcorn Kernels
- ⅛ cup Coconut Oil
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 200 g Plain Marshmallows
- 30 g Dried Freeze Strawberry optional
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
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In a non-stick pan, pop the popcorn kernel with coconut oil. Set aside.
-
Melt butter in a pan over medium heat then add marshmallows to the melted butter and stir constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted.
-
Drop some food coloring then stir until mix thoroughly.
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Add in popcorn to the marshmallow mixture and stir until well combined.
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Moisten your hand using a bit of oil, then shape it into a balls. Decorate the popcorn balls with dried freeze strawberry or sprinkle. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to take out any unpopped kernels before you add in the popcorn, to avoid the hard texture inside and ruin your teeth.
- Carefully shape the balls. If the popcorn and syrup mixture is too hot to touch once combined, stir it a few more times and let it sit until it is cool enough to handle – but still warm. I also recommend wearing latex or nitrile food-safe gloves to shape the balls. They add some insulation from the warm syrup and also make clean-up much easier!
- Make colorful popcorn ball treats! Add a drop or two of liquid food coloring to the syrup mixture before drizzling over the popcorn to make balls that are festively colored for any occasion.
- You can also make some variations by adding caramel, vanilla, crushed Oreo, chopped nuts, or anything you think you love!
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