Description
Holiday magic sparkles with Classic Christmas Popcorn Balls, blending nostalgic sweetness and festive cheer. Sticky marshmallow coating and colorful sprinkles create delightful treats perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 10 cups (80 g) popped popcorn
- 1 package (10 ounces / 280 g) mini marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons (60 g) unsalted butter
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Decorative and Preparation Ingredients:
- Red and green sprinkles or mini candies (optional)
- Nonstick cooking spray or butter (for hands)
Instructions
- Empty freshly popped corn kernels into a spacious mixing vessel, carefully discarding any unpopped stragglers to ensure a smooth texture.
- Activate a large saucepan over medium flame, gently melting butter until it transforms into a silky liquid.
- Introduce mini marshmallows to the warm butter, stirring continuously until they dissolve into a creamy, uniform mixture.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and a whisper of salt into the marshmallow base, creating a fragrant and balanced foundation.
- Cascade the molten marshmallow blend over the awaiting popcorn, using a flexible spatula to embrace and coat each kernel thoroughly.
- For festive flair, sprinkle in colorful confetti-like candies or seasonal sprinkles, folding them delicately throughout the mixture.
- Prepare your hands by lightly coating them with nonstick spray or butter to prevent excessive sticking during shaping.
- Gather approximately one cup of the coated popcorn and compress gently, forming cohesive spherical shapes with tender pressure.
- Repeat the molding process until all the mixture is transformed into charming popcorn orbs.
- Arrange the freshly crafted balls onto a sheet of wax or parchment paper, allowing them to cool and solidify naturally.
- Once firm and set, these delightful treats are primed for immediate enjoyment or elegant gifting.
Notes
- Experiment with different seasonal sprinkles or colored candies to match your holiday theme, creating festive and eye-catching popcorn balls that sparkle with Christmas cheer.
- For a gluten-free version, double-check that your marshmallows and any added candies are certified gluten-free, ensuring everyone can enjoy this sweet treat.
- Prevent sticky hands by keeping a small bowl of cold water nearby while shaping the balls, which helps prevent the mixture from clinging to your fingers and makes forming perfect spheres easier.
- Store popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, keeping them soft and fresh for multiple servings of holiday snacking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 32 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg