I just love these homemade popcorn balls. How can you not like popcorn, covered in a yummy candy coating?
Growing up we used I remember eating popcorn balls quite a bit. There was always one house in my neighborhood that would hand them out for Halloween, trick-or-treating. Definitely fond memories of the good-ole-days.
You definitely can’t go wrong with these popcorn balls. They are cheap and so easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!
Ingredients
- 20 cups of popcorn which is about 3/4 cup unpopped kernels
- 2 tbsp water 30ml
- 1/4 cup butter salted or unsalted (57g)
- 3/4 cup corn syrup 250g
- 1 cup mini-marshmallows or 12 large ones 50g for mini and 84g for large
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar 240g to 300g
- Food coloring optional
- Shortening or oil for hands
Instructions
Start by popping the popcorn. 3/4 cup of kernels will yield right around 20 to 21 cups of popped popcorn which is perfect.
Place it in a very large bowl or roasting pan.
In a medium, pot add the water, butter, corn syrup, marshmallows, and powdered sugar. If you want them really sweet add 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar.
Place the pot on the burner and set the heat to medium (350 F/176 C.) Continuously stir as everything melts together. Once it starts to boil keep stirring and add in your desired color of food coloring, start with a few drops and then go from there.
Now allow it to keep boiling while stirring for about 2 minutes. No need to use a candy thermometer. Then remove it from the heat.
Now pour the hot candy over the popcorn. Use a really large bowl or roasting pan. Then stir and mix until the popcorn gets evenly coated.
Stirring it will also help it to cool down. It needs to be cool enough to handle.
Once it is cool enough, add some shortening or oil to your very clean hands and then grab some popcorn and shape it into a ball.
Place it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. You will need to work fairly quickly because once the candy cools down it will harden.
Once they are all formed, allow them to cool completely at room temperature. The cool thing is when they cool, they will not be sticky anymore on the outside.
Once they have cooled completely and are no longer sticky, wrap them in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap won't stick to them. Now they can be stored at room temperature. They will last up to a week but are definitely the best the day they are made. Enjoy!
Print the FULL recipe here on my website
Watch the video tutorial here: