Halloween is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for fun, festive treats! If you’re looking for a simple yet delicious recipe to delight both kids and adults, look no further than this easy-to-make Halloween popcorn ball recipe.
Perfect for your next Halloween party, trick-or-treaters, or just a spooky snack at home. These popcorn balls are a great way to add a little extra magic to your Halloween festivities. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these crunchy and sweet treat in no time. Plus, they’re easy to customize with Halloween-themed sprinkles, candy eyes, or drizzles of chocolate, making them as fun to decorate as they are to eat.
Whether you’re planning a spooky movie night or a haunted house party, these Halloween popcorn balls will be a sure-fire hit that everyone will love!
Halloween Popcorn Ball Recipe
Popcorn balls are traditionally made with a cooked corn syrup and sugar mixture to hold them together. It tastes delicious with the salty popcorn but involves a bit more work than this easy to make recipe.
This recipe uses marshmallow mixture similar to what you would use to make Rice Krispie treats. You’ll be able to quickly mix this recipe up especially if you use ready made popcorn. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
Ingredients for Halloween Popcorn Balls
Popcorn – you can make popcorn using your favorite method or keep this recipe fast and easy by using ready made, store bought plain popcorn. You’ll need about 10 to 12 cups of popcorn which is about a 6 to 7 ounce bag of already popped popcorn. Try using a plain store bought popcorn such as Skinny Pop or butter flavored popcorn. Skip the types that are flavored (white cheddar) or the type that are kettle cooked.
Mini Marshmallows – these melt faster and easier than the larger sized marshmallows.
Butter – you can use salt or unsalted butter for this recipe.
White Chocolate Melting Wafers – the melted chocolate wafers will be drizzled over the top of the finished popcorn balls.
M&Ms – use your favorite type of candy such as the regular chocolate M&M’s or even peanut butter Reese M&M’s.
Parchment Paper – this is used to keep the popcorn balls from sticking to the baking sheet while they cool.
Optional Items:
You can also mix in other Halloween candies such as candy corn, Halloween colored sprinkles and even candy eyes (stick these to the outside of the popcorn balls after the chocolate has been drizzled over the top).
How to make Halloween Popcorn Balls
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.
If you are making your own popcorn you will want to make about 10 to 12 cups of finished popcorn. Set it aside to cool once you have made it before continuing with the recipe.
Place the popcorn (store bought, homemade or even microwave popcorn) in a large bowl and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the marshmallows.
With a rubber spatula, frequently stir the marshmallows until they are melted (about 3 – 5 minutes).
Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat the popcorn with the marshmallow mixture. Stir in the M&M’s.
Scoop out one cup of popcorn mixture and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Allow to slightly cool for about 1 minute.
Spray your hands with non-stick spray. Take each scoop of popcorn mixture and press the mixture together to form a ball shape. Place back on a baking sheet to finish cooling. Repeat to make 12 popcorn balls.
If desired, while the popcorn mixture is still warm, press additional M&Ms into the popcorn balls. You can also press additional Halloween candies into the popcorn balls if desired.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate wafers according to the package. Drizzle the melted chocolate over each ball. Allow the chocolate to firm up and the popcorn balls to completely cool before serving.
How to store Popcorn Balls
You can store the popcorn balls a few different ways.
Wrap them individually. Create a single serving treat by wrapping each popcorn ball in plastic wrap. Store them in an airtight container or place them into a cellophane treat bag until you are ready to serve them.
You can also place several wrapped popcorn balls into a large Ziploc storage bag.
Going to place the finished popcorn balls out to serve guests. Store them in a large storage bag until you are ready to serve them. They will stay fresh for about 3-5 days on the counter at room temperature. Keep them in a cool place to help reduce the chances of them sticking together.
Recipe Variations and Helpful Tips:
To keep the popcorn from sticking to your hands spray them with nonstick spray or rub a bit of butter, coconut oil or even vegetable oil over your hands before shaping the balls.
Gel Food Coloring – you can easily make these popcorn balls in a wide range of strange and spooky colors for Halloween. Use a bit of gel food coloring to add color to the marshmallow mixture before you pour it over the popcorn. Try a bit of orange, green, purple or even black.
Halloween Sprinkles – try adding some Halloween colored sprinkles to the popcorn balls. While you can mix them into the marshmallow I find that the colors can run. I prefer to sprinkle several pinches of them over the top of the white chocolate drizzle.
Candy Eyes – make your popcorn balls spooky but placing several candy eyes into the white chocolate drizzle before it firms up.
Other Fun Halloween Treats you may enjoy:
Pumpkin Frosting Dessert Board
Halloween Skull Charcuterie Dessert Board
Leftover Halloween Candy Cookies – here’s a great recipe that uses up some of those candy treats
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Halloween Popcorn Ball Recipe
Equipment
- Large sauce pan
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 10 to 12 cups Popcorn
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup M&M's
- 1/3 cup white chocolate melts
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- If you are making your own popcorn you will want to make about 10 to 12 cups of finished popcorn. Set it aside to cool once you have made it before continuing with the recipe.
- Place the popcorn (store bought, homemade or even microwave popcorn) in a large bowl and set aside.10 to 12 cups Popcorn
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the marshmallows. With a rubber spatula, frequently stir the marshmallows until they are melted (about 3 – 5 minutes).4 cups mini marshmallows, 2 tablespoons butter
- Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat the popcorn with the marshmallow mixture. Stir in the M&M's.3/4 cup M&M's
- Scoop out one cup of popcorn mixture and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Allow to slightly cool for about 1 minute.
- Spray your hands with cooking spray. Take each scoop of popcorn mixture and press the mixture together to form a ball shape. Place back on a baking sheet to finish cooling. Repeat to make 12 popcorn balls.
- If desired, while the popcorn mixture is still warm, press additional M&Ms into the popcorn balls. You can also press additional Halloween candies into the popcorn balls if desired.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate wafers according to the package. Drizzle the melted chocolate over each ball. Allow the chocolate to firm up and the popcorn balls to completely cool before serving.1/3 cup white chocolate melts
Nutrition
You might also like some of these recipes:
McCormick Spaghetti Seasoning Mix
Easy Crockpot Hashbrown Casserole
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