Easy Popcorn Balls Recipe for Halloween

Popcorn balls are a fun treat I think of every October, I remember when people still gave them to trick and treaters but my Mom never allowed me to eat them. She would make traditional popcorn balls for me using corn syrup and a candy thermometer. I don’t make corn syrup popcorn balls, my recipe is from the 1970s and uses marshmallows.

When my boys were all home I had a favorite large green fruit bowl that I would keep full of popcorn balls throughout October, the large football player friends all loved that bowl of popcorn balls. Today I am going to share my tried and true marshmallow popcorn ball recipe, the perfect Halloween treat for movie night, and then an even easier version using purchased caramel corn.

I then had some fun making them special for Halloween using gummy worms, and a free printable tag you can use as well.

What type of popcorn is best for popcorn balls?

I don’t think it matters how you make the popcorn. You can use air-popped popcorn, or on the stovetop like I did. The Air popper doesn’t require oil, making perfect popcorn for popcorn balls. Stove-top popcorn is done on the stove in a large saucepan with vegetable oil added. The oil will add a little bit of flavor to your popcorn balls.

Or you can use microwave popcorn, I suggest sweet and salty or natural flavors. The heavily buttered variety of microwave popcorn may not mix well with the other ingredients. This popcorn is a little bit chewier than the other varieties but when you’re talking about marshmallows and yummy gummy worms I don’t think it matters too much.

I used Orville Redenebacker popcorn as you can get at almost any grocery store, and it’s inexpensive. Follow the directions of your popcorn package for popping your popcorn.

Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls Recipe

This recipe makes 15 large-sized homemade popcorn balls or 20 small balls for wrapping

Easy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls Ingredients

Instructions

Pop the popcorn first, and set it aside.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Grease the inside of a large mixing bowl with butter and set it aside.

Mini marshmallows melt faster than full-sized marshmallows which reduces the chance of scorching them. If you can’t find mini marshmallows cut large ones into small chunks before adding to the pan.

In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. As soon as the butter melts add the mini marshmallows and stir to coat all the marshmallows with butter. Let the marshmallows melt stirring regularly.

Once the sweet marshmallow mixture is melted, add the vanilla extract and stir.

While the marshmallows slowly melt transfer the popcorn to the large greased mixing bowl. To remove as many unpopped kernels as possible while transferring, scoop the cups of popcorn off from the top of the bowl, counting the cups and checking for kernels as you go. Most of the unpopped kernels will be found at the end, at the bottom of the original bowl.

Careful because the melted candy is hot, drizzle over the popcorn. Stir it very well with a wooden spoon. Make sure the hot marshmallow mixture has spread out over the popcorn, to cool the candy before placing your hand in it to form the popcorn balls.

To form the traditional popcorn balls (without Gummy Worms)

Rub your hands with butter and cautiously scoop up some of the popcorn mixture. Lightly squeeze the popcorn forming it into a ball shape. Place it on the parchment paper, and repeat until you run out of popcorn. Let them cool to room temperature.

That is how to make the easy popcorn balls using popped corn. The next way is even easier.

Easy Caramel Corn Popcorn Balls 

This recipe starts with purchased caramel corn. No popping is required.

This recipe will make 12 small popcorn balls that will fit into Halloween cellophane bags.

Caramel Corn Popcorn Ball Ingredients

How to Make Caramel Popcorn Balls

Butter the inside of a large bowl before adding the caramel popcorn.

Melt a tablespoon of butter into a large bowl and microwave on medium in 30-second increments until the marshmallows puff up and melt. Remove from the microwave and stir. While stirring the marshmallows they will quickly become a thick sauce.

Drizzle the melted marshmallows over the caramel corn and mix with a large buttered spoon until well coated.

If making them plain, rub your hands in butter and gently scoop out a hand of popcorn. Squeeze softly to form the ball, set on the parchment paper.

Decorating with Gummy Worms for Halloween

Whether you make classic or caramel popcorn balls to decorate them with gummy worms, begin by rubbing your hands with butter. Place about half a popcorn ball into your hand, add a gummy worm in the middle, and then cover it with a little more popcorn.

Note:   In the images, I am wearing gloves as I have an anaphylactic allergy to food coloring. Gummy worms are full of food colors so I wear the prep gloves as a personal precaution.  You don’t need to, I’m sorry if you find it distracting.  

Add a second gummy worm and then fill in the rest with more of the popcorn mixture. You want the gummy worms to show on the outside.

Squeeze to form ball shapes.  Place the finished popcorn ball into a cupcake liner and let it cool to room temperature.

Insert a stick and place it inside a Halloween cellophane bag.

These little popcorn balls are about half the size of the traditional popcorn balls I use to make for my boys. These are perfect for a little snack and fit into plastic wrappers for Halloween parties. and so easy to share at a Halloween party.

The little Halloween labels have space at the bottom if you want to write a name on each one.  The labels are tied one with a simple black thin dollar store ribbon.

How to Store Popcorn Balls

Once your popcorn balls have cooled to room temperature, wrap them in plastic wrap, or use the treat bag and free ribbon printable.

After wrapping the popcorn balls in plastic wrap, place them in an airtight container, at room temperature is fine.

I like to serve them the same day if possible, but they are still delicious if eaten within a day or two.

Some other Halloween Recipes

These are super simple cupcakes to make for Halloween.

Do you have any memories of popcorn balls? Some people say they even eat them for Christmas although we never have. I hope you find the printable and packaging idea helpful as well.

Have a Happy Halloween

Leanna