Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls are a tasty, irresistible way to celebrate life’s big and small events. So let’s have a party!
This is my mom’s Popcorn Ball Recipe. Simple to make without a candy thermometer and so addictive! It’s a fun, beloved recipe that’s been around for decades! Learn How to Make Popcorn Balls with this super easy recipe.
Why You Must Make
- These are super easy! They’re like making Rice Krispie Treats except with popcorn.
- No special equipment is needed!
- They can be jazzed up with different colored sprinkles, M & Ms, or even add colored Jello powder to the melted marshmallows for different holidays.
- They’re extremely tasty.
When I was growing up, we didn’t fiddle with candy thermometers when it came to making sweets. My mom wasn’t one to mess with homemade toffee or divinity. But she had no trouble letting us melt marshmallows and butter to make Rice Krispie treats or these irresistible, super-easy marshmallow popcorn balls.
Ingredient Notes
- Popcorn – You’ll need about 10 cups of popped popcorn. You may use 2 bags of microwave popcorn with a neutral flavor or use your favorite popcorn maker.
- Marshmallows – Large marshmallows
- Butter – Salted is OK
- Vanilla – Real vanilla extract, never artificially flavored. Make sure to read the label if you’re unsure.
- Sprinkles – They stick best if added immediately after shaping the popcorn balls. If you wait too long the surface will not be tacky enough for the sprinkles to adhere. Change up the colors depending on the occasion.
Expert Tips
I have fond memories of the sweet, chewy popcorn balls of my childhood. This is a super easy recipe since marshmallows and butter can be quickly melted in the microwave, which wasn’t an option when I was a teen (yikes, I’m OLD). Here are a few tips if this is your first time making popcorn balls:
- Pop your popcorn however you prefer, but don’t add extra seasonings, though a bit of salt is OK. PRO-Tip: Salt is a flavor enhancer, and even sweets benefit from the addition of salt.
- If you use microwave popcorn, don’t use a butter-flavored variety as it can taste artificial and overwhelm the vanilla flavor of the popcorn balls.
- If that is all you have on hand and that butter flavor doesn’t bother you, feel free to give it a try. I prefer natural-flavored microwave popcorn.
- Make sure to remove any unpopped kernels from your bowl of popcorn.
- The marshmallows and butter can quickly and easily be melted in the microwave. But it’s also simple to do in a pot on the stovetop.
- PRO-Tip: Butter your palms when you shape the popcorn balls so they don’t stick to your hands.
- Dip your popcorn balls in sprinkles while the balls are still tacky from the marshmallows if desired.
- Add colored M&Ms to the popcorn before adding the marshmallow and butter mixture to make seasonal or holiday-themed popcorn balls. Using Orange and Brown for Halloween, Red and Green for Christmas, or Pastel Colors for Spring and Easter are a few suggestions.
- PRO-Tip: You can also mix flavored gelatin into the melted marshmallow mixture to both color and flavor your popcorn balls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep your popcorn balls in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also individually wrap them in plastic wrap.
If you’re giving out popcorn balls for a party favor or Halloween treats, put them in cellophane bags or plastic wrap tied with festive ribbons. These can be packaged a day ahead of time.
If your popcorn balls are dry, you may have too much popcorn for the amount of marshmallows and butter used as the “glue” to make the popcorn into balls. If you’re using an alternative recipe with butter, corn syrup, and sugar, the mixture may not have been cooked properly or was not cooled as directed before using.
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Marshmallow Popcorn Balls Recipe
A simple popcorn treat that's great for all ages!
Ingredients
- 10 cups popcorn (may use 2 bags of microwave popcorn with a neutral flavor)
- 30 large marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Sprinkles, to decorate, optional
Instructions
- Pop popcorn according to instructions on the bag if using microwave popcorn.
- Pour popped corn into a large bowl, removing any unpopped kernels.
- In another large microwave-safe bowl, melt marshmallows and butter by heating for 30-second increments, stopping and stirring till melted.
- Stir until the butter is mixed with the marshmallows. Add vanilla and mix. Add popcorn and gently stir till all the popcorn is well coated.
- With buttered hands, press popcorn into well-packed balls. Dip in sprinkles if desired and press gently until the sprinkles adhere.
Notes
Yield: varies depending on size of popcorn balls
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 popcorn ballAmount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 88mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g
In a matter of minutes, I had popped two bags of popcorn and was tossing and coating the kernels in marshmallow goodness. I shaped the balls with buttered hands and dipped them in sprinkles. It was for a celebration after all. Did you know that it’s Jolly Time’s 100th anniversary? So get with the program, everyone, and pop up a batch of corn.
Whether sweet or salty or both, please enjoy a treat that’s been around for more than a century! And if you’re so inclined a batch of these festive popcorn balls is also a wonderful way to celebrate!
40 Comments on “Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls”
Could you just use a bag of store bought popcorn (like skinny pop or boom chic a pop)?
Hi, Denise! Yes, either of those should work. Just make sure to buy the plainest option 🙂
These make the cutest celebration treats! Family loves them!
What a fun idea! Using marshmallows is brilliant. These would be so fun for the kids around Valentines day. Take Care
I love them! I’m making them for our next party, they will be such a hit, thanks for sharing!
Amalia
xo
Oh to be a kid again so I wouldn’t feel guilty about eating this. 🙂 I can just taste the sweetness and feel the crunchiness and gooeyness of one bite. YUM!
I make this with Reeces Pieces and form it in a bundt pan. The kids love popcorn cake!
What a delicious, idea, Susan! I need to make a popcorn cake!!
I’ve not heard of popcorn balls, but they do look festive. The sprinkles really up the ante.
I can’t believe I’ve never seen this recipe before. I LOVE IT!!! I’m going to make this with my daughter. What fun!
This is really addictive!! My kids couldn’t stop eating this!
So fun to make and to eat! My daughter loves to help in the kitchen and this was such a great recipe for us to make. We had so much fun and then got to enjoy these yummy treats!
well I’m gonna try this recipe, easily! 😉 What a fun one! 🙂 they look so festive!
100 years and they don’t look a day over 30!
I have recently become a popcorn addict! These are so cute! I need to make them.
These look yummy! Jolly Time is the only microwave popcorn, with a rich buttery taste, I have found, that does not use artificial color (yellow # 6). Great treat for my boys, but we have to skip the sprinkles…I know, so boring!
Hi Liz,
I knew 2014 was Jolly Time’s anniversary, I just didn’t know when. It makes so much sense to celebrate during Popcorn Poppin’ Month! Now, why didn’t I think of that, lol…I have a Jolly Time cookbook around here somewhere but I am sure these delicious popped balls are not in it! So festive, squishy and oh so yummy, I’m sure!
Thanks for the heads up Liz and of course for sharing…
I love these! I actually just made popcorn balls for Halloween – that sweet and salty combo is divine! I love all those sprinkles!!
LOL WOW!!
cool idea, my kids would love this! 🙂
Michael
check out my Instagram page:
http://instagram.com/michaelswoodcraft/
Yay, to 100 years of Jolly Time! Love these popcorn balls, Liz, they’re so fun and super adorable!
They’re so cute! Like little cloud balls 😉 I have never heard of popcorn balls before :O They sound amazing though- and so easy too!
A lovely sweet treat!
When I was young enough to trick or treat, my favorite stop was the neighbor who passed out popcorn balls. Yes for a jolly time!
Oh I LOVE these! They look fantastic!!!
They are so cute, Liz! They look like popcorn cupcakes… I love the idea!
What fun these are, Liz!
What a clever idea, these are adorable!
And sprinkles too!! These are perfect and I love the birthday idea. 🙂
Oh my goodness! I love these and my kids are going to lose their minds. Have to make these ASAP!!
Like this Liz ! Popcorn + marshmallows = hapiness 😉
These are so fun and festive, I’d love to make these and surprise a sweet 6 year old I know – she’d be over the moon!
Easy and adorable! I love these popcorn balls and I can see adding different color of sprinkles for many other occassions!
These marshmallow popcorn balls are totally adorable, Lizzy! My mom was never into the baking or candy making, either, but I could always count on having marshmallow krispy bars. Making them with popcorn is a brilliant idea!
pretty and fun and tastyyy!!
I’m passing this on to my daughter…this is a great idea for a birthday party!
100 years of popcorn?!!! woot woot!! and LOVE these marshmallow popcorn balls!!! what a great way to sweeten up popcorn and make it fun to eat!! love this, Liz!!
Cute and colorful! Happy B-Day to my all time favorite snack:@)
Sooo colorful and cute, Liz! Pinning!….I try not to think about things like the absence of microwaves and mobile phones =)
Fun!