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Easy Classic Christmas Popcorn Balls
5 from 153 votes

Easy Classic Christmas Popcorn Balls

Easy Classic Christmas Popcorn Balls mix air-popped popcorn with a warm syrup of butter, sugar, and corn syrup, flavored with vanilla and baking soda. Mini Christmas-colored M&Ms add festive color and sweetness. The mixture is quickly formed into balls while warm, then cooled to hold their shape. These popcorn balls offer a chewy, sweet treat that’s practical to make for holiday gatherings or snacking.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Additional Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 12 Popcorn Balls
Calories: 200 kcal
Course: Dessert, Snacks
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels about 12 cups popped, whole kernel; unpopped
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup butter salted
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 2 oz M&Ms candy about 1/4 cup, Christmas colored; mini

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Spray a roasting pan with cooking spray, set aside, and pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Pop the popcorn using air popper or your other favorite method of popping popcorn. Add popcorn to a large oven safe pan and add to oven to keep warm.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt butter on medium and add sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Whisk to combine the sugar and bring to a simmer, stir constantly and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
  4. Turn down to low from heat and add vanilla and baking soda and whisk until well combined.
  5. In a small bowl, add mini M&Ms.
  6. Remove popcorn from oven. Separate out 1/2 of the popcorn into a large bowl and set aside. With the remaining half that's in your pan, pour 1/2 of the syrup over the popcorn and mix well.
  7. With gloved hands, gather a palm full of popcorn and firmly press between your palms to form balls. Work quickly because once it all cools too much, you wont be able to form the balls. Set balls on a large plate and complete this with this half of the popcorn.
  8. Gently stir your syrup mixture on stove to ensure that it's not burning.
  9. At this point you can start to add some mini M&Ms to the slightly sticky balls at this point, but don't worry about fully filling them yet.
  10. Add remaning popcorn to the pan and pouring remaining syrup over it and mix well. Form into balls.
  11. Add more mini M&Ms by using some of the syrup at the bottom of your pan as "glue" to stick on more candies to the popcorn balls. Do this before the syrup cools completly a hardens.
  12. Let popcorn balls cool completely and then wrap individually in plastic wrap and store for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Wrap cooled popcorn balls individually in plastic wrap to keep fresh up to 5 days.
  • For richer syrup flavor, replace up to half the granulated sugar with brown sugar if desired.
  • If using unsalted butter, increase kosher salt in syrup to ¾ teaspoon for balance.
  • Dark corn syrup may be used but darkens syrup color and adds molasses notes.
  • Mini M&Ms can be swapped for other festive candy or sprinkles according to preference.
  • If not using gloves, let the syrup cool slightly and spray hands with cooking spray to prevent sticking and burns.

Nutrition Information

Calories 200kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 14mg (5%) Sodium 177mg (7%) Potassium 21mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 31g (62%) Vitamin A 168IU (3%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Popcorn Balls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 200

% Daily Value*

Calories 200kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 177mg 7%
Potassium 21mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 31g 62%
Vitamin A 168IU 3%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.