Description
Colorful, chewy, and festive popcorn balls—perfect for holiday parties, gift bags, or cozy Christmas movie nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 cups popped popcorn (plain, unsalted)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red and green food coloring
- Holiday sprinkles or mini M&Ms (optional)
- Nonstick spray or butter (for hands)
Instructions
- Place popped popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt.
- Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Let boil for 2 minutes without stirring.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Divide mixture evenly into two bowls and tint one with red food coloring and the other with green.
- Quickly pour each colored mixture over half of the popcorn and stir to coat.
- Let cool slightly until safe to handle but still pliable.
- Grease your hands with butter or spray, then shape popcorn into balls.
- Optional: press sprinkles or mini M&Ms into the balls for decoration.
- Let set on wax paper until firm.
Notes
Store popcorn balls in airtight containers to keep them soft. Great for making with kids during the holidays!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popcorn ball
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: popcorn balls, christmas snack, holiday treats, kids recipe