Introduction: Easy Popcorn Balls
Three ingredients, three minutes, and three easy steps - that's all you need to make these easy, gooey, chewy popcorn balls. Say goodbye to your candy thermometer! Arrivederci, corn syrup. Smell ya later, elusive hard-ball stage! Your microwave is your new best friend. So pop some corn, grease up your hands, and let's get ballin'.
Step 1: Ingredients
Are you ready for this list?
1: Popcorn (1/2 cup kernels or one 3.5-ounce package plain microwave popcorn)
2: Marshmallows (1 10-oz bag)
3: Butter (1/4 cup)
Boom! You're done.
Step 2: Mix It Up
1: Pop your popcorn. I like to then either scoop or pour it out into a big bowl so I can get rid of the kernels and burned bits at the bottom. Popping my corn on the stove while microwaving the other ingredients cut my time down to a cool three minutes.
2: Melt your butter in a large bowl in the microwave (took me about 50 seconds). Add marshmallows, and microwave for two minutes, stirring after one. (three minutes!)
3: Fold popcorn into mixture and form into balls (ok, this can take a few extra minutes, but it's crazy fun, so who cares!) I got twenty two 2" balls from this. *tip: grease your hands well before forming popcorn balls, and be sure to get in between those fingers!
Bam! Done!
Step 3: Play With Your Balls
As you can see, I got a little crazy with my popcorn balls after the first half dozen. I added candy corn for some, m&ms for others. You can add anything you can think of. For my next batch, I think I'll add a bag of Rolos with the marshmallow mixture before I add the popcorn. Buttery, chocolatey, caramel corn popcorn balls? Yes please!
What kind will you make? Post your pictures in the comments below, and I'll hit you up with a 3-mo PRO membership!
Participated in the
Halloween Food Challenge
19 Comments
5 years ago
These were so easy to make, and so delicious! I added a couple squirts of fruit punch flavoring (the kind you put in your water) to the melted butter before adding the marshmallows. They ended up having a nice fruity flavor and a pretty pink color. Definitely be sure to grease your hands very well or the popcorn will just stick to your hands and will never form into balls. I'm so excited to start experimenting with this quick and easy recipe...adding candy and sprinkles, the possibilities are endless. I am so glad that my 3 year old asked for popcorn for her birthday which led to me searching for soft popcorn ball recipes so I could find this one. I have a feeling this is going to become a go-to dessert in our house for many, many events.
7 years ago
They taste great. However, I had a big gooey mess and could not form balls. I just pressed them into a pan and hope that they will dry out enough to cut into squares. Any ideas as to what I can do differently to create the balls. Thank you for taking the time to post this recipe.
7 years ago
I made it, however I have no photos since they turned out like trash. I think I may have misread the instructions I realized I had not.
1. They do not make microwavable bowls that large where I live,
2. No matter how much I greased my hands they would always stick.
3. They didn't even stay in a ball shape.
So now I have a few huge lumps of popcorn and marshmallow sitting in my fridge and a ginormous mess to clean.
9 years ago on Introduction
I used campfire-sized marshmallows, and they worked out just as good! Yummy midnight snack!
11 years ago on Step 2
great! did with my son - he loved it! will add pic later
11 years ago on Introduction
Great recipe! Turned it into an adventure in decorating for my 2 and 4 year old. We decided to go with popcorn ball snowmen or at least a 2 and 4 year old renditioning.
12 years ago on Introduction
So I needed a quick and easy little treat to give to my church class and this is by far the easiest, yummiest treat! Thanks Scooch!
12 years ago on Introduction
Cute and delicious a perfect party snack!
12 years ago on Introduction
Aaaaaaaand there goes this week's gym workout
:D
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Those three minutes of making time can still be utilised; no need to feel bad about tasty food! :D
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Who says I feel bad about this? :D
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
+1
12 years ago on Introduction
A lovely simple recipe that my little one could help mama with AND use her hands..wow! ...I used rainbow drops to add color , drizzled melted chocolate on in zig zags and it was loved by adults , kiddies and was safe enought for 1 yr olds to nibble.. a big hit.
12 years ago on Introduction
Looks DELICIOUS. And easy, which is a great plus.
12 years ago on Introduction
It's pretty much Rice Krispies treats made with popcorn? It seems so obvious, yet it took so long for someone to put that together.
12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. It looks so yummy and pretty!
Sunshiine
12 years ago on Introduction
Mmmmmm!
12 years ago on Introduction
You should make a pumpkin spice flavor, and drizzle white chocolate with regular to make zebra!!
12 years ago on Introduction
These look delicious!!! You always post so many amazing looking recipes, one after another :)