Description
Delightfully festive Christmas Popcorn Balls made with melted marshmallows, buttery popcorn, colorful M&M candies, and sprinkles. These sweet, handheld treats are perfect for holiday parties and gift-giving, combining crunchy popcorn with gooey marshmallow and a pop of holiday colors.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn
- ½ cup unpopped popcorn kernels
Marshmallow Mixture
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 10 ounce bag miniature marshmallows
Toppings
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
- ⅓ cup festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn: Pop the ½ cup of unpopped popcorn kernels using your preferred method such as stovetop or air popper. Once popped, separate and discard any unpopped kernels, then transfer the popped popcorn into a large bowl.
- Melt butter and marshmallows: In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt ½ cup unsalted butter completely. Add 1 10 ounce bag of miniature marshmallows to the melted butter and stir frequently until the marshmallows are fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Combine popcorn and marshmallow mixture: Remove the pot from heat and immediately pour the melted marshmallow and butter mixture over the popped popcorn. Gently stir with a spatula to ensure all the popcorn is evenly coated.
- Add candies and sprinkles: Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then fold in 1 cup of red and green M&M candies along with ⅓ cup of festive sprinkles using a rubber spatula for even distribution.
- Form popcorn balls: Spray your hands lightly with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Scoop about one cup of the coated popcorn mixture and shape it into balls by gently pressing together. Reapply cooking spray as needed during the forming process.
- Set and serve: Place the formed popcorn balls onto a tray and let them cool at room temperature until completely set and firm, about 20 minutes. Serve or store as desired.
Notes
- Store popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Because the marshmallow mixture and warmth from your hands can cause the M&Ms to melt, press a few candies onto the outside of the balls immediately after shaping if you wish to keep them intact.
- The number of popcorn balls depends on size: using 1 cup per ball yields about 16 balls. Larger balls (around 3 inches) will make about 13.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popcorn ball
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
