Popcorn Balls

I just love these homemade popcorn balls. How can you not like popcorn, covered in a yummy candy coating?

Growing up we used I remember eating popcorn balls quite a bit. There was always one house in my neighborhood that would hand them out for Halloween trick-or-treating, and I remember having them at Christmas and other holiday parties. Definitely have fond memories of the good-ole-days.

You definitely can’t go wrong with these popcorn balls. They are cheap and so easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather the ingredients

In order to make these yummy popcorn balls at home you need just a handful of ingredients:

• Popcorn – I always make mine from kernels in my Salbree popcorn popper, but you can use pre-popped popcorn as well.
• Water – Use filtered water if your tap water tastes gross.
• Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter.
• Corn syrup – Liquid glucose will work as well if corn syrup is not available. They are pretty close to the same thing.
• Marshmallows – You can use mini or regular-sized marshmallows.
• Powdered sugar
• Food coloring – This is optional, but it is fun to give it a color. You could make green and red ones for Christmas.
• Shortening – You can use oil as well, this is for coating the hands so the popcorn balls don’t stick while forming them.

Tools

• Large bowl or roasting pan
• Wooden or silicone spoon
• Medium pot
• Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat
• Plastic wrap, to wrap and store them

Step 2: How to make popcorn balls at home

Start by making the popcorn. I typically make it from kernels in my popcorn popper instead of using premade popcorn from a bag. If you are popping it, 3/4 cup of kernels will yield right around 20 to 21 cups of popped popcorn which is perfect.

Place the popped popcorn in a very large bowl or roasting pan. This will give it plenty of room when you pour the candy coating on top of it.

Step 3: Make the candy coating for the popcorn

Time to make the candy coating for the popcorn balls. The candy coating winds up being in between Rice Krispies treats coating and a caramel coating.

In a medium, pot add the water, butter, corn syrup, marshmallows, and powdered sugar. If you want the finished popcorn balls really sweet add 2 1/2 cups or a bit more powdered sugar.

Place the pot on the burner and set the heat to medium (350 F/176 C.) Continuously stir as everything melts together. Once it starts to boil keep stirring and add in your desired color of food coloring, start with a few drops and then go from there. The food coloring is optional.

Now allow the candy to keep boiling while stirring for about 2 minutes. No need to use a candy thermometer. Then remove it from the heat.

Step 4: Form the popcorn balls

Pour the hot candy mixture over the popcorn. Use a really large bowl or roasting pan. Then stir and mix until the popcorn gets evenly coated.

Stirring it will also help it to cool down. It needs to be cool enough to handle. Once it is cool enough, add some shortening or oil to your very clean hands and then grab some popcorn and shape it into a ball.

Place it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. You will need to work fairly quickly because once the candy cools down it will harden.

Once they are all formed, allow them to cool completely at room temperature. The cool thing is when they cool, they will not be sticky anymore on the outside. Pretty awesome!

You will be left with a bit of hardened leftover candy on the bottom of the bowl. Add some hot water to it and let it soak for a few minutes and it will clean right up.

Time to enjoy those yummy homemade popcorn balls!

How long do popcorn balls last?

Once they have cooled completely and are no longer sticky, wrap them in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap won’t stick to them. Now they can be stored at room temperature. They will last up to a week but are definitely the best the day they are made.

Here are some other recipes you may be interested in:

Homemade Rock Candy

Homemade Caramel Apples

3-Ingredient Chocolate

Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

Oreo Twix Cookie Bars

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 10 votes

Popcorn Balls

Homemade popcorn balls are awesome! I have many fond memories of eating them as a kid during the holidays, especially during Halloween. They are so easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Cooling Time10 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Candy, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas, Halloween, kids, sweet, treats

Servings: 15 people

Calories: 186kcal

Author: Matt Taylor

Equipment

• Large bowl or roasting pan
• Wooden or Silicone spoon
• Medium Pot
• Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat
• Plastic wrap, to wrap and store them

Ingredients

• 20 cups of popcorn which is about 3/4 cup unpopped kernels
• 2 tbsp water 30ml
• 1/4 cup butter salted or unsalted (57g)
• 3/4 cup corn syrup 250g
• 1 cup mini-marshmallows or 12 large ones 50g for mini and 84g for large
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar 240g to 300g
• Food coloring optional
• Shortening or oil for hands

Instructions

• Start by popping the popcorn. 3/4 cup of kernels will yield right around 20 to 21 cups of popped popcorn which is perfect.

  Place it in a very large bowl or roasting pan.
• In a medium, pot add the water, butter, corn syrup, marshmallows, and powdered sugar. If you want them really sweet add 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar.
• Place the pot on the burner and set the heat to medium (350 F/176 C.) Continuously stir as everything melts together. Once it starts to boil keep stirring and add in your desired color of food coloring, start with a few drops and then go from there.

  Now allow it to keep boiling while stirring for about 2 minutes. No need to use a candy thermometer. Then remove it from the heat.
• Now pour the hot candy over the popcorn. Use a really large bowl or roasting pan. Then stir and mix until the popcorn gets evenly coated.

  Stirring it will also help it to cool down. It needs to be cool enough to handle.
• Once it is cool enough, add some shortening or oil to your very clean hands and then grab some popcorn and shape it into a ball.

  Place it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. You will need to work fairly quickly because once the candy cools down it will harden.
• Once they are all formed, allow them to cool completely at room temperature. The cool thing is when they cool, they will not be sticky anymore on the outside.
• Once they have cooled completely and are no longer sticky, wrap them in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap won't stick to them. Now they can be stored at room temperature. They will last up to a week but are definitely the best the day they are made. Enjoy!

Video

How to Make Popcorn Balls | Easy Homemade Popcorn Ball Recipe

Notes

Tried this recipe?Mention @WPRecipeMaker or tag #wprecipemaker!

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal

Do you like this recipe? Share and Pin it! Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.