Whether you’re nine or ninety-nine, this nostalgic treat is a delight!
Growing up in a typical American suburb, trick-or-treat night was always a big deal. The costume prep, planning the route, and watching the weather forecast (where I grew up, it could be dry, rainy, or even snowy!) were all part of the week leading up to “The Big Night.” There was one house I always saved for last, and it was the house right across the street from my own. An older couple lived there, and they always had a special treat for us kids who lived on the block. Every year, I looked forward to Mrs. Higgins’ popcorn balls. Sweet, a bit gooey, and a little salty, popcorn balls will always be associated with Halloween for me.
Popcorn balls aren’t just for Halloween, however. These delicious treats are great to serve at classroom parties, tailgates, and picnics. Popcorn balls are naturally gluten-free and nut-free for those with dietary restrictions. You can customize according to season with fun accents like colored marshmallows (pink for Valentine’s Day or a themed party) or tossing in mix-ins. For instance, red-and-green M&M’s for a holiday treat or rainbow sprinkles for extra color. Popcorn balls can be made ahead of time and stored until ready to use, whatever the occasion.
Whether plain or fancy, popcorn balls are a fun, nostalgic treat. If you have little ones in the kitchen, this is an easy recipe where you can get them involved: have them help form the balls once the basic mixture is ready. It’s a little messy, but overall, a quick and easy process. You can make them as big or as small as you like. My favorite size is between a tennis ball and a baseball: just big enough to fit in your palm. The final product is a wonderful contrast of a little crunchy and a little soft, plus sweet and salty. Irresistible!
Popcorn prep
Since you need ten cups of popped popcorn, it’s best to make stovetop or air-popped popcorn. These methods produce the freshest, simplest popcorn, which works best for popcorn balls. Avoid any butter or seasoning; you need just plain popcorn. If microwave popcorn is your only option, make sure you use a natural variety with few additives or flavorings. For even easier assembly in step four, keep the popcorn warm in a preheated 200°F oven while you make the marshmallow mixture on the stove. When the popcorn is slightly warm, the marshmallow mixture will adhere and bind even better. Just use caution when handling the warm ingredients!
How do I store leftovers?
Once the popcorn balls have cooled on the wax or parchment paper, you can place them in an airtight container or resealable bag and store at room temperature. They will keep for 3-4 days this way. You can also wrap each ball individually in plastic wrap and freeze them in a Ziploc bag for longer storage. Packed this way, popcorn balls will keep for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving suggestions
For a fun party table, serve popcorn balls along with other treats like Caramel Apples and M&M’s Cookie Bars. For a unique presentation, stack the popcorn balls into a pyramid on a platter or wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap and pile them up into a big basket for grab-and-go. If you want to make your popcorn balls even more decadent, consider drizzling them with Chocolate Ganache in step five, once they’ve cooled a bit.
Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 10 cups popcorn freshly popped
- 4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- Extra unsalted butter for greasing hands
Instructions
- Place 10 cups of plain popped popcorn into a large bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels.
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt unsalted butter with salt, and vanilla. Add mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted marshmallow mixture evenly over the popcorn. Stir gently with a spatula to cover all the popcorn.
- Lightly grease your hands with extra unsalted butter (or wet your hands with water or cooking spray). Quickly press portions of the mixture into balls about the size of a baseball.
- Place the formed popcorn balls on wax or parchment paper. Let them cool completely, then store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Enjoy your homemade popcorn balls as a fun snack for any time of day.
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