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Easy popcorn balls are so sticky and tasty, everyone will love them. They’re perfect for any party, holiday, or get-together!!
These popcorn balls are the perfect sweet treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. They are just as yummy as our Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn and Rice Krispie Treats.
A Childhood Favorite!
Does anyone else have memories of eating delicious, sticky popcorn balls when they were younger?!
WE DO! They were a favorite when we were kids, and they are now a favorite for our kids. We love them because they’re nostalgic but also because:
- They are delicious! Sticky and gooey and so yummy, these are loved by kids (and adults)
- Great for parties. Whether it’s a potluck, fall festive or Halloween party, these popcorn balls are a hit at any function.
- 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.
Ingredients
- Popcorn – We usually use plain, but lightly salted, buttered and kettled popcorn work. They just add a little more flavoring.
- One 3.28 oz bag of popcorn contains 5 tablespoons of unpopped kernels or about 11 cups of popped corn. For this recipe, you can buy about 20 cups of plain pre-popped popcorn, pop ⅔ cup popcorn kernels, or pop 2 bags of plain microwave popcorn.
- Powdered Sugar
- Mini Marshmallows
- Corn Syrup
- Unsalted butter – Salted butter and even margarine work too!
- Cold Water
- Food Coloring
How to Make Popcorn Balls
- POPCORN. Pop popcorn and pour it into a large mixing bowl, removing any un-popped kernels.
- CANDY SYRUP. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine powdered sugar, marshmallows, corn syrup, margarine, water, and food coloring. Heat and stir until the marshmallow mixture comes to a boil.
- No candy thermometer needed. Be cautious about over-boiling the syrup as it causes the sugar crystals to harden too much when it cools.
- COMBINE. Carefully pour over the popcorn, stirring to coat each kernel.
- SHAPE + COOL. Let cool a bit, then butter your fingers so you can easily handle and shape popcorn into 3–4-inch balls before they cool.
Wrap with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Pro Tip
Spraying your hands with cooking spray will keep the popcorn balls from sticking to your hands while you shape them. Work quickly because the popcorn mixture will harden as they cool. Also, don’t pack them too tightly otherwise they will be too dense and hard to eat.
Recipe Tips
- Timing. If the syrup mixture is too warm when forming the balls, they will not hold their shape. If the syrup mixture cools too much, then it will be too hard to form.
- Size. Make them any size you’d like. We made ours about 3-4 inches around, and that was a great size. You can make them smaller, larger or even add a popsicle stick to make it easier to eat.
- Variations. You can add fun ingredients to change these popcorn balls up a little. Be sure not to add too many extras. If the syrup mixture doesn’t cover the extra ingredients, then the balls won’t hold together. Some additions include:
- festive sprinkles
- mini M&M candies
- chocolate chips – try different sizes and different flavors
- mini marshmallows, regular or colored
Storage Tips
Make ahead of time. Wrap balls with plastic wrap and store them at room temperature for up to 5 days.
FREEZE. These old fashioned popcorn balls are easy to 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 popped popcorn. You can also freeze the popped popcorn in an airtight container. It won’t actually freeze, but it will stay fresh for a couple of weeks.
- 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.
For more popcorn recipes:
Churro Popcorn
15 mins
Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn
20 mins
Homemade Kettle Corn
15 mins
Caramel Popcorn Recipe
15 mins
Popcorn Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (3.2-ounce) bags plain microwave popcorn
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- 4 tablespoons margarine or unsalted butter, plus more for your hands
- 2 teaspoons cold water
- a few drops food coloring of choice
Instructions
- Pop popcorn and pour it into a large bowl, removing any un-popped kernels.
- In a medium pot over medium-high heat, combine powdered sugar, marshmallows, corn syrup, margarine, water, and food coloring. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Carefully pour over the popcorn, stirring to coat each kernel.
- Let cool a bit, then butter your fingers so you can easily handle and shape popcorn into 3–4-inch balls before they cool.
- Wrap with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love, love, so love lol these popcorn balls! OMG brings back memories from when we made the in school!
Very easy as noted in the name. I substituted 15 cups of air popped popcorn which worked very well with the sugar coating. I also made mine softball sized for a fundraiser which gave me 15 balls per recipe.
Thanks for sharing how you made these. So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
For the popcorn balls you didn’t tell us when to add the food coloring.
These popcorn balls are a must for any sleep over party! My nephews and niece were here for three days and they love these popcorn balls! They look so good and tasty. Kids had fun!
I made these for a party and they were a huge hit! Super easy to make and so delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome!
This was easy to make and a great hit with the kids. going to try them in different colors next time.
That would be so fun! Glad to hear they were a hit!
Plan on selling these at the county fair if they do good my four stars will definitely be a five star
Best of luck!!
Do you have to use margarine in this recipe? Or can you substitute 1/4 Cup real Butter salted or unsalted in this recipe? Thanks!
These where dynamite when I was 6 YO. Still fun!
They are fun! Definitely takes me back to my childhood too!
At Halloween, I put a box of orange jello in my syrup for my popcorn balls as it cooks. Delicious!l
Can you please tell about how many popcorn balls this recipe makes?
It makes 24, Carol.
These are super easy and im not a great cook and they turn out amazing!
I just made these and they are soo good. I colored them red and getting ready to make some green ones. Can’t wait for my grandkids to try. Thank you
Tastes great but I’m not sure what I did wrong. My popcorn balls would not stick together. Usable for something else, but I wonder if I could salvage them.
Im making these for all my grandkids and using different colors ..they love them
These we’re great! Quick and easy, and just what we we’re hoping for!
I came across this recipe and realized I had never made this favorite childhood treat for my own kids who are now entering teens years. Your recipe will help rectify that travesty. 😆
We love popcorn balls! Just a fun treat that reminds us of good times.
Delicious and so EASY! Totally going to make some again in green, purple and orange ones for Halloween! Yay! My kids are going to be so thrilled!!!
Your recipe is so easy!! They remind me of my childhood! We made these with some friends last year & they were gone so fast!
These are so delicious and my daughter loved them!!
My mom and I have always made our family’s popcorn balls but we came across this recipe and wanted to try these instead…wow so happy we did! This was very easy to make, tastes great and didn’t require cooking times etc of.our other recipe. We did notice that to shape the balls you need to let them cool longer which was opposite of our recipe. Just FYI.
Thank you!! This is going in the recipe book!
Oh that makes me so happy to hear!! So glad this recipe was a hit for your family!
Gonna try for Halloween thank you!
You’re welcome!!
I followed this recipe and my popcorn turned out wonderful! I never used marshmallow or powder sugar before. Wow, what a difference! Thank you for this recipe.
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the popcorn! This is a favorite recipe over here. 🙂
This was such a great idea for the grandkids. Staying the night they are wanting some special treat. Thank you. Deborah Singleterry
You’re so welcome! Glad to hear your grands enjoyed the popcorn balls!
I have this idea to put a popcorn ball on the top of a pretzel stick and stick it in a chocolate cupcake that’s in a small clay pot as an Earth Day “tree”. Would these popcorn balls stay together if impaled on the top of a pretzel stick?
This popcorn ball recipe creates more of a gooey popcorn ball so I’m not sure how well they will hold their form when impaled with a pretzel stick. I think if you refrigerate the popcorn balls for a while before you put the pretzel stick in them might help with keeping the shape. This sounds like such a cleaver and cute idea! I hope it works well for you. Let me know how they turn out. I’d love to hear!
Really enjoyed making them! I like the softness that the marshmallows added to them. I ended up using a paper baking sheet to form them and it works perfect! Scoop them out with a metal ladle.
So glad you liked them! Thanks so much for the tips!
Just made these and they are easy and delicious!
Made these for Halloween treats and my family fell in love with them! Going to make them to put in Christmas Cookie Plates we’re giving out this year! One question, how long will these last if I make them and wrap them in advance? Thank you again for sharing this recipe!
Glad you liked them! You can freeze them, 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. If you aren’t freezing, I’d say a couple days.
Awesome!
Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
Can you use buTter instrad of maRgerine
You sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
Simple thx
DELICIOUS. Easy recipe. Reminds me of the snack we used to fix as kids when playing outside. one of my favorites so far. and not to mention how great they look too! the aesthetic appeal to their look. Great!
I am glad you think so 🙂 They remind me of childhood, too! Thank you!
These are super easy to make and everyone loves them! Such a fun addition to any gathering.
Thank you for saying that!
These were delicious and the kids loved helping make them.
They are fun to make with kids 🙂 Glad you agree! Thank you!
Delicious popcorn balls! Brings back many childhood memories. My mom did not color them so they were just popcorn colored. I added a pinch of salt because I like to cut the sweetness just a bit. So good!! Thanks for sharing!
This looks so quick and easy.
Thank you, they really are! Hope you try them!
I love popcorn balls! I can wait to nake halloween theme popcorn Balls! Great recipe!
Thank you! They are so fun to make & eat!
Dont yOu mean “margarine” yOur fingers?!!!
DO you actually use margarine or dO you Use butter?
Sound yummy!
It doesn’t really matter if you use butter or margarine. You could even spray them with cooking spray.
This recipe was easy and delish!!! 5 stars all the way, thank you for sharing!
Glad to share 🙂 Thank you so much for saying that!
I have made these a few times and they turn out great. My grandkids love them. i use baking spray on my hands and it makes them go quickly.
Thank you for sharing that!! That’s what I like to do as well!
Very nice and very easy to cook 🙂
Thanks for sharing that!
Need measurments?
It’s there 🙂 The measurements are in the recipe card in the post. Enjoy!
We make these at Christmas time but instead of red coloring we throw in a couple hands full of red cinnamon candy. Looks great and tastes even better.
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing that!
I would like to try to make these this year for Halloween! Adding to my list!
They are easy & so good!! I hope they are a hit 🙂
These remind me of childhood, love them so much!!
Aren’t they so good?! I feel the same! You’ll have to make some 🙂
Great idea, my kids would be all over these!
Thank you!! Yes, they are a hit with the kids 🙂 And, they love helping in the kitchen with these, too!
Totally pinning these! Popcorn balls make great neighbor gifts!
They sure would 🙂 Thanks so much!
I see powdered sugar in the instructions but no mention in list of ingredients?
How long should you boil your MIXTURE?
As soon as it starts to boil, that’s when you pour over 🙂
What happens if you leave them unwrapped? I want to make and take to a 4th bbq. I think these would be fun appetizer for kiddos at the pool.
They would be!! They might just get a little harder, if unwrapped, but that’s ok 🙂 Have fun!
Oh, goodness! You are channeling my mom today. In fact, the 29th is my Dear Mom’s birthday and this is the very recipe she used to make a molded popcorn bunny. I have the mold, but misplaced the recipe. Thanks for posting this tasty treat!
Awe..I am so glad I could share this recipe today!! Must be a childhood favorite for many 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!