Caramel Popcorn Balls for Halloween

Popcorn balls for Halloween are a such a well loved traditional Halloween treat.  It’s really a shame we can’t give out homemade popcorn balls to trick and treaters. But we certainly can feed them to all the little trick and treaters we know in our personal lives.

When my boys were all home I had a favorite large green fruit bowl that I would keep full of popcorn balls throughout the month of October.  These wormy caramel popcorn balls are a updated version with all the fun modern party supplies we just didn’t have a generation ago.

If you looking for a fun and simple Halloween treat look no further than these Halloween popcorn balls. They are easy to make, you don’t even have to make the popcorn (unless you want to of course), And they have fun squiggly worms inside them for extra giggles and gush.

How to Make Halloween Popcorn Balls

Popcorn Balls for Halloween Ingredients

• You will need 8 cups of caramel corn
• 3/4 bag of marshmallows
• 1 tbsp of butter
• 24 gummy worms
• Halloween cupcake liners, cake pop sticks and cellophane Halloween bags (dollar store)
• Printable “A special treat for Halloween with worms just for you!”  labels

How to Make Popcorn Balls for Halloween

Start by making the popcorn balls.  I used 8 cups of purchased caramel corn, but you can use regular popped popcorn if you like.

Butter the inside of a large bowl before adding the caramel popcorn.  Place the marshmallows and tablespoon of butter into the microwave 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.

Pour the melted marshmallows over the caramel corn and mix with a large buttered spoon until well coated. Adding the marshamallow to the popcorn is what helps the popcorn balls to stick together. If your popcorn balls are falling apart its likely because you need more marshmallow.

Layout the paper cupcake liners.

Note:   I have an anaphylactic allergy to food colouring, as the gummy worms are obviously coloured I am wearing prep gloves as a precaution.   Sorry if you find it distracting but I wanted the popcorn balls to be fun for the munchkins.  They did do a really great job of preventing me from getting sticky from the marshmallow.

To make the popcorn balls place about half a popcorn ball into your hand, add a gummy worm in the middle and then cover it with 1/4 of the popcorn.

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

Squeeze hard to make sure the popcorn adheres.

Place the finished popcorn ball into a cupcake liner.

Insert a stick and place inside a Halloween cellophane bag.

These popcorn balls are about half the size of a mammoth sized ones I use to make for my boys.  These ones are perfect for a little snack, 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 simple black thin dollar store ribbon.

My popcorn balls for Halloween recipe made a dozen smaller popcorn balls.

Can You Give Out Popcorn for Halloween?

Yes and No, doesn’t that answer the question for you. You can give out popcorn balls to trick and treaters at the door, but most parents are cautious of homemade treats from strangers. Personally I wouldn’t give them out to trick and treaters coming to my door because they are too much work to be thrown out uneaten.

Giving out popcorn balls to children who know you when the parents are there is great, as is bundling them up as I did for Halloween parties. If its a kids school party you could even place your phone number on the back of the free printable tags, in case leftovers are taken home.

Some other Halloween Treat Recipe Ideas

These are super simple cupcakes to make for Halloween.

Popcorn Ghosts

This really easy recipe for popcorn ghosts can be made with regular or pink popcorn. These little popcorn ghosts are beyond cut and I have included directions for little fondant barettes if you want girl ghosts.

Witch Cupcakes with Free Abracadabra Cupcake Topper Printables

These witch Halloween cupcakes are made with a cake mix or even purchased cupcakes. Add a candy frog and some abracadabra magic and you have a fun Halloween treat.

Black Cat Brownie Halloween Treats

With so many cookies, and cupcakes for Halloween, I made these black cat brownies for something a bit different.

Wormy Caramel Popcorn Ball Recipe for Halloween

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:3 minutes mins

Total Time:13 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 8 cups caramel corn
• ¾ bag marshmallows
• 1 tbsp butter
• 24 gummy worms

Decorating Supplies

• 12 cupcake liners Halloween themed
• 12 cake pop sticks
• 12 cellophane treat bags

Instructions

• Butter the inside of a large bowl, then add the caramel popcorn. 
• Place the marshmallows and butter into microwave. Microwave in 30 second at a time until the marshmallows puff.  Remove from the microwave and stir. 
  
• Pour the melted marshmallows over the caramel corn and mix with a large buttered spoon until well coated.
• To make the popcorn balls place about half a popcorn ball into your hand, add a gummy worm in the middle and then cover it with 1/4 of the popcorn.
  
• Add a second gummy worm and then fill in the rest with popcorn.  You want the gummy worms to show on the outside.
  

Decorating the Popcorn Balls

• Lay out the paper liners. Place the popcorn balls inside.
  
• Insert a cake pop stick and then place in a cellphone Halloween bag
  
• Cut and hole punch all the Halloween labels. Tie onto each bundle with Halloween coloured ribbon.
  

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Keyword: Halloween Treat

Servings: 12

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. Without too many little munchkins to share them with I was ablle to give mine to the kids next door for their Halloween party. Mom said they were eaten right away, which I found perfectly acceptable.