Looking for a delicious treat? These popcorn balls are a must-try! Perfectly combining freshly popped popcorn, butter, and and homemade marshmallow, they're the ultimate snack. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something salty, these treats are sure to satisfy! Think of them as a delightful twist on rice krispy treats, but with the irresistible crunch of popcorn. Get ready to make them your new favorite Christmas popcorn balls! This post may contain affiliate links.

Christmas popcorn balls on a white stand

Why You'll Love Christmas Popcorn Balls

Full of flavor: The blend of sweet marshmallow flavor and salty popcorn ensures a taste explosion with every bite.
Easy to make: No complex cooking skills required - just a few simple steps to create these delightful treats.
Fun and festive: These popcorn balls are perfect for Christmas celebrations, making the holiday season even more exciting and memorable.
Versatile: They can be customized with your favorite add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles.
Great for gifting: Packaged in festive bags, they make wonderful homemade gifts for friends and family.

If you love popcorn, you have to try these other popcorn recipes, like Pink Popcorn Recipe with White Chocolate, to take it to the next level.

Ingredients

Popcorn
Granulated sugar
Light corn syrup
Butter
Salt
Vanilla
Baking soda
Wilton Color Gels in red and kelly green

How to Make Christmas Popcorn Balls

Make the Red Batch First

Add the popcorn to a large bowl.

Add sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt to a sauce pan. Heat over medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly. Once it begins to boil, stir constantly.

Remove the pan from the heat. Then add vanilla and baking soda. Add red food coloring and stir well.

Pour the hot mixture over the popcorn and mix well until everything is coated. Working fast, place a sandwich bag on each hand and spray them with nonstick cookie spray. Shape the popcorn into five 3" balls. Make them balls about the size of baseball. Set aside.

Make the Green Batch

Repeat the process except make the hot mixture green.

Serve the popcorn balls immediately or wrap in plastic wrap.

How To Store Marshmallow Popcorn Balls

These Christmas popcorn balls can be stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 2 weeks at room temperature. They also freeze well, so you can make them ahead of time and thaw when ready to enjoy.

Additional Ideas

Add crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist.
Drizzle melted white chocolate over the popcorn balls for a festive touch.
Use different colored food coloring to create a variety of colorful popcorn balls.
Add in your favorite mix-ins, such as chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit, to add even more flavor and texture to the popcorn balls.
Instead of traditional round shapes, try shaping the popcorn mixture into fun holiday shapes like stars, wreaths or trees.

Why Won’t my Popcorn Balls Stick Together?

Popcorn balls may not stick together for a variety of reasons. The most common is that the popcorn isn't sufficiently coated with the corn syrup mixture. Make sure the popcorn and corn syrup mix are thoroughly combined before forming them into balls or shapes.

Another reason is the mixture might have cooled too much before you started forming the balls. It should be hot when you work with it, so it cools and sets into the right shape.

If your popcorn balls still aren't sticking together, try using more corn syrup mixture for a stickier consistency. Alternatively, you can also add some melted marshmallows to the mixture for extra binding power.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Popcorn Balls

Use Fresh Popcorn: Freshly popped popcorn yields the best texture for popcorn balls. Avoid using pre-packaged microwave popcorn as it often contains additional flavorings and oils that can interfere with the binding process.
Stir Constantly: When melting the corn syrup mixture on the stove, make sure to stir constantly to prevent burning. This will also ensure your syrup is smooth and evenly heated.
Spray Your Hands: Before shaping your popcorn balls, spray your hands generously. This prevents the mixture from sticking and makes the shaping process easier.
Use a Scoop: For uniform popcorn balls, use a cookie or ice cream scoop to portion out the popcorn mixture. This will ensure each popcorn ball is the same size.
Cool Properly: Let the popcorn balls cool completely before wrapping or storing. This helps them maintain their shape and keeps them from becoming soggy.
Experiment with Flavors: Don't be afraid to experiment with different mix-ins and flavors. Nuts, dried fruit, spices, and even different types of candy can add a unique touch to your popcorn balls. Add extracts to the homemade marshmallow mixture. Always taste the mixture before shaping the balls to ensure the flavor is to your liking.

More Christmas Recipes

Christmas Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

12 cups popcorn, popped and lightly salted and divided
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
½ cup light corn syrup, divided
4 tablespoons butter, divided
½ teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla, divided
½ teaspoon baking soda, divided
wilton color gels in red and kelly green

Instructions

Line a baking sheet or flat surface with wax paper.
Place 6 cups of popcorn into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Add ½ cup sugar, ¼ cup corn syrup, 2 tablespoons butter and ¼ teaspoon salt to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once mixture begins to boil, continue to stir constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in ½ teaspoon vanilla and ¼ teaspoon baking soda. Add dollop of red color gels. Mix well until mixture is red.
Pour mixture on top of popcorn and mix well to evenly coat. Working quickly, place a sandwich bag (or plastic glove) on each hand and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Shape popcorn into five, 3" balls, about the size of a baseball. Let stand on wax paper to cool.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients and green color gels.
Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap.