These fun and colorful Christmas Ornament Popcorn Balls are not only a tasty snack but also a charming addition to your holiday festivities. Shaped like ornaments and coated in colorful sparkly sugar, these popcorn balls are perfect for gift-giving, decorating your holiday table, or simply enjoying with family and friends.
They are actually very easy to customize. You can add food coloring to the marshmallow mixture to make the balls any color you like, or you can decorate them with just about any sprinkles or sugar you want.
What You Need
- Freshly popped popcorn
- Marshmallows
- Butter
- Light corn syrup
- Sprinkles or decorative candy (for embellishment)
- Food coloring (red, green, or your choice)
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Cookie sheet or parchment paper
- Plastic gloves (optional for handling)
Helpful Tips
- Use plain, unsalted popcorn to ensure that your ornament balls are sweet and flavorful. Avoid using flavored popcorn, as it may alter the taste of the final product.
- Once the marshmallow mixture is ready, work quickly to form the popcorn balls before the mixture cools and hardens. If it gets too cool, it will be difficult to shape.
- Feel free to get creative with colors and decorations! Use different food coloring to create themed ornaments, or add your favorite candies and sprinkles for a fun touch.
- Store your popcorn balls in an airtight container to keep them fresh. They can also make great gifts when wrapped in cellophane and tied with a festive ribbon!
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Christmas Ornament Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 1 bag Kettle corn microwave popcorn
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter plus more for your hands
- 2 teaspoons cold water
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn using your preferred method (air popper, stovetop, or microwave) and place it in a large mixing bowl. Make sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the granulated sugar and corn syrup. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Allow it to boil for about 2 minutes without stirring.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the mini marshmallows until fully melted and combined.
Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popped popcorn and gently stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until all the popcorn is evenly coated. - Allow the mixture to cool slightly (but not too long!). With lightly greased hands or plastic gloves, scoop out a portion of the popcorn mixture and shape it into a ball, about the size of a golf ball. Repeat until all the mixture is shaped into balls.
- While the popcorn balls are still slightly warm, roll them in sprinkles or decorative candy to add festive flair. Place the finished popcorn balls on a cookie sheet or parchment paper to cool completely.
Notes
- You need to roll the balls at just the right time for them to stick together well. The mixture shouldn't be too warm or too cooled. If they aren't staying together, let it cool a bit more and try again.
Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.