Description
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas Popcorn Balls, featuring crunchy popcorn coated in a sweet marshmallow mixture and sprinkled with colorful red and green M&Ms and festive sprinkles. Perfect as a fun treat or party snack, these popcorn balls are easy to make and sure to bring joy to any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn
- ½ cup unpopped popcorn kernels
Marshmallow Coating
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 10 ounce bag miniature marshmallows
Decorations
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
- ⅓ cup festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Pop the Popcorn: Pop your popcorn kernels using your preferred method, such as on the stovetop or popcorn maker. Remove and set aside any unpopped kernels to avoid unwanted hard bits.
- Melt the Butter and Marshmallows: In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter completely. Add the miniature marshmallows and stir frequently until they are fully melted and form a smooth, gooey mixture.
- Combine Popcorn and Marshmallow Mixture: Remove the pot from heat and pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popped popcorn. Gently stir to ensure all the popcorn is evenly coated.
- Add M&Ms and Sprinkles: Once the mixture has cooled slightly, use a rubber spatula to fold in the red and green M&M candies along with the festive sprinkles.
- 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 gently press it together to form balls. Spray hands as needed to keep mixture from sticking.
- Set the Popcorn Balls: Place the formed popcorn balls on a lined baking sheet or parchment paper, and allow them to sit at room temperature until completely cooled and set. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
Notes
- Store popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and texture.
- If your mixture is too sticky to handle, refrigerate it for 10-15 minutes before shaping into balls.
- Use non-stick cooking spray generously on your hands to prevent the popcorn mixture from sticking while shaping.
- You can substitute the red and green M&Ms with any holiday-colored candies or dried fruits if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popcorn ball
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
