This easy popcorn balls recipe totally reminds me of fall festivals at school growing up.
Although you can easily customize these with sprinkles, small candies, or breakfast cereal to fit any holiday, I’ve added Lucky Charms here so they feel St. Patrick’s Day appropriate.
Popcorn balls are SO easy, taking only about 30 minutes to make. And this popcorn ball recipe is great to wrap up and give to friends, to have ready at a party, or just to devour by yourself while watching a cozy movie.
Popcorn balls may look intimidating to make if you’ve never tried before, but this recipe is foolproof! Anyone can make these simple popcorn balls.
That being said, if you want to be a Pinterest mom and take these to the next level, try decorating them for an event—like these Olympic Medal Popcorn Balls.
Popcorn Ball Ingredients:
- Butter – I use unsalted but salted will work fine too
- Granulated white sugar
- Marshmallows – mini/regular size (like the kind you’d use in hot cocoa)
- Popcorn – microwave, air pop, or whatever you like
- Add ins like: breakfast cereal, sprinkles, or mini M&Ms (optional)
How to Make Popcorn Balls:
- Melt the butter in a large pan over medium/low heat.
- Add in the marshmallows and sugar and stir until just melted.
- If your pan or pot is large enough, add the popped popcorn to the pan. If not, pour the melted mixture over the popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl.
- Once the mixture has cooled just enough to handle, butter your hands and quickly form balls from the batter.
- Place the popcorn balls on parchment paper and allow to fully cool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t my popcorn balls stick together?
Make sure your marshmallows are completely melted before trying to form balls. You also could have too much popcorn in the melted marshmallows if they seem too dry.
When were popcorn balls popular?
Popcorn balls gained popularity in the 1950s as a Halloween treat families would make and hand out to trick-or-treaters.
Can I use vegan marshmallows for popcorn balls?
As long as the marshmallows will melt and be sticky, yes. Any marshmallows can work for popcorn balls.
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foolproof method to make popcorn balls
Instructions
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First, melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
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Next, add in the marshmallows and sugar. Stir until everything melts together.
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Pour the mixture over the popcorn and cereal if using and mix well with a large spoon. You can do this directly in a pan/pot if it’s large enough.
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Once the mixture has cooled just enough to handle, butter your hands and quickly form balls from the batter.
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Place onto parchment paper and allow to fully cool.
Notes
- You can use any breakfast cereal or omit it for this easy popcorn ball recipe. You could also choose to add a cup of sprinkles or mini M&Ms instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Easy Popcorn Balls
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
