Nothing says holiday cheer quite like crunchy, sweet, colorful treats — and this Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe hits all those notes perfectly. These popcorn balls are a fun, festive snack that’s as delightful to eat as they are to make, especially when you get those cheerful red and green M&Ms nestled right inside.

There is a wooden plate filled with round popcorn balls, each made of light-colored popcorn mixed tightly with small red and green candy pieces and sprinkles, giving them a festive look. The popcorn balls are placed close together, showing their bumpy texture with the colorful candies spread evenly on each one. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with holiday decorations nearby, including red and black checkered cloth, pine cones, a white wooden stand with red snowflake designs, and a few green Christmas ornaments scattered around. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've made lots of popcorn treats over the years, but this Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe quickly became a holiday favorite. It’s perfect for kids and adults alike, blending that classic popcorn crunch with the gooey sweetness of marshmallows and the festive pop of color from M&Ms. Plus, it’s simple enough that you can make it while listening to your favorite holiday playlist.

Easy to make: No complicated baking here, just melting marshmallows and mixing — anyone can do this successfully.
Perfect festive pop: Those M&Ms bring a bright, seasonal touch with their red and green colors, making these popcorn balls party-ready.
Great for gifting: Wrap these in cellophane with a ribbon and you’ve got an instant, homemade gift that everyone will appreciate.
Versatile and fun: You can tweak the size, add different sprinkles, or even swap candies to suit your taste or occasion.

The image shows twelve round popcorn balls arranged closely on a round wooden board. Each popcorn ball has a light creamy color with colorful red and green candy pieces mixed evenly throughout, adding bright spots of color. The popcorn balls have a slightly bumpy texture from the popcorn and candies. Around the wooden board on a white marbled surface, there are scattered small marshmallows, red and green round candies, and tiny sprinkles. The background includes red and green Christmas ornaments and a cluster of berry-like decorations on branches, giving it a festive look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

When you look at the ingredients, it’s a simple, classic combo, but each part plays a crucial role in creating those perfectly sticky, sweet popcorn balls that hold together while delivering a burst of flavor and texture.

Flat lay of a small pile of shiny unpopped yellow popcorn kernels, a few cubes of pale yellow unsalted butter, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with soft miniature white marshmallows, a small white bowl holding bright red and green M&M candies, and another small white bowl with colorful festive sprinkles, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unpopped popcorn kernels: Using kernels gives you the freshest popcorn and lets you avoid extra salt or oil. Just pop them your way—air popper or stovetop—and be sure to pick out any unpopped kernels.
Unsalted butter: Melts smoothly and adds richness without overpowering the sweetness; unsalted helps you control the salt balance.
Miniature marshmallows: The glue that binds it all together, melting into a smooth, sticky coating that makes the popcorn balls hold their shape.
Red and green M&M candies: These add festive color and little pockets of chocolatey crunch that contrast beautifully with the soft marshmallow coating.
Festive sprinkles: A sprinkle of holiday cheer and a fun textural contrast that makes the balls extra eye-catching.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how adaptable this Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe is. You can easily switch up the candy or sprinkles to match other occasions, or even sneak in some extra flavors to surprise your guests.

Variation: One year, I swapped the red and green M&Ms for white chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies—totally delicious and just as festive.
Dietary tweak: If you or your guests are vegan, try using a plant-based butter substitute and vegan marshmallows to keep the fun going.
Size matters: For parties, I like making smaller popcorn balls (about half a cup) so everyone can sample a few different snacks without getting too full.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe

Step 1: Pop Your Popcorn – Fresh and Fluffy

Start by popping your ½ cup of popcorn kernels using your favorite method—whether that’s a stovetop pot, air popper, or microwave. The key here is to get as many popped kernels as possible, but no worries if a few don’t pop. I always pick out those hard kernels before mixing everything, so no one ends up biting into anything unexpected.

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows to Gooey Perfection

In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt ½ cup of unsalted butter. Once melted, toss in your 10-ounce bag of miniature marshmallows and stir often. It’s important to keep the heat medium-low and stir frequently to avoid scorching — you want a silky smooth marshmallow sauce that will coat the popcorn evenly without clumps.

Step 3: Combine and Coat Gently

Remove the pot from heat and immediately pour your marshmallow mixture over the popped popcorn. Gently fold and stir with a rubber spatula, making sure every piece is coated without smashing the popcorn too much. Let the mixture cool just a bit before moving on to the next step.

Step 4: Add the M&Ms and Sprinkles

Once the mixture has cooled slightly (so the M&Ms won’t completely melt), fold in 1 cup of red and green M&M candies and ⅓ cup of festive sprinkles. I like folding gently here to keep those candies intact, giving you pops of color and chocolate in every bite.

Step 5: Shape Your Christmas Popcorn Balls

Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Scoop about one cup of the popcorn mixture and gently press it into a ball shape. Don’t squeeze too hard—just enough to hold together. I keep the spray handy and reapply as needed because this step gets sticky fast! Depending on the size, you’ll get about 13 to 16 popcorn balls.

Step 6: Let Them Set

Place the popcorn balls on wax paper or a baking sheet and let them set at room temperature until completely cooled. This ensures they hold their shape instead of falling apart when you bite into them.

Top Tip

Over time, I’ve figured out a few tricks that help make these Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe turn out perfectly every time—especially when it comes to handling the sticky marshmallow mix and keeping those colorful M&Ms looking their best.

Keep the heat low: Melting marshmallows over medium-low heat reduces chances of burning and keeps the mixture silky smooth.
Spray your hands generously: Don’t be shy! I learned the hard way that a good coating of non-stick spray on your hands makes shaping the balls so much easier and less sticky.
Add M&Ms after cooling a tad: Incorporating the M&Ms when the marshmallow mixture is just slightly cooled prevents the colors from bleeding or the candy shells from melting.
Use a rubber spatula: This tool helps fold the popcorn and candies without crushing the popcorn pieces into crumbs.

How to Serve Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe

Christmas Popcorn Balls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For me, a quick dusting of extra festive sprinkles over the popcorn balls right after shaping adds a professional, sparkly touch. Sometimes I press a few extra M&Ms right onto the outside to catch the eye—it makes them so giftable and irresistible.

Side Dishes

I love pairing these popcorn balls with other easy snacks like hot cocoa or a simple cheese and fruit platter for holiday gatherings. Their sweetness is perfectly balanced by the fruity and savory bites on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

I once wrapped individual popcorn balls in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons — they made adorable stocking stuffers. Another time, I arranged them in a festive tin lined with holiday tissue paper for a party centerpiece that guests kept reaching for.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay fresh for up to 5 days. Just make sure the container is sealed well so they don’t dry out or get sticky from humidity.

Freezing

In a pinch, I’ve frozen popcorn balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in freezer bags. They thaw well at room temperature, but the texture softens a bit, so I usually make these fresh when I can.

Reheating

Because these are best eaten cool and chewy, I don’t recommend reheating popcorn balls. Just let them sit at room temperature if refrigerated and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these popcorn balls without the M&Ms?

Absolutely! You can skip the M&Ms or swap them with other candies or nuts you prefer. Just add the extras after the marshmallow mixture cools slightly to keep everything intact.

How do I prevent the M&Ms from melting?

To avoid melting, fold the M&Ms into the popcorn mixture when it’s warm but not hot. Also, spray your hands well and shape the balls quickly or press some M&Ms on the outside after shaping to preserve their shape.

Can I use pre-popped popcorn for this recipe?

Yes, pre-popped popcorn works as long as it’s plain (no butter or salt). Just make sure to remove any unpopped kernels and proceed the same way when coating with marshmallow mixture.

How long do Christmas popcorn balls keep?

They stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. After that, the texture starts changing and they may become too hard or sticky.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Popcorn Balls with M&Ms Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions. It’s fun, festive, and a sweet little joy to make and share. I hope you have as much fun making it as I do, and that it brings smiles at your holiday parties or cozy nights in. Give it a try—you’ll find it’s a simple way to add some colorful magic to your season.