Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn Balls

These Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn Balls are a delicious chewy, gooey treat!  They're a perfect treat for little ones, school parties or a Harvest Festival!

Nothing will make you flashback in time like a batch of chewy, gooey popcorn balls.  A simple caramel syrup is combined with mini-marshmallows to create a treat that will be a hit with your little ones, and appreciated by adults, too!

When I was a kid (you know... a hundred years ago), these were a common treat at Halloween parties or Fall Festivals at church. It seems like everything was less complicated back then... apple bobbing (which is totally gross to think about now), ghost stories, scavenger hunts and popcorn balls!

But even the popcorn balls were simpler back then... I don't remember the exact recipe but the main ingredients were Karo syrup and popcorn 🙂  These are a little fancier than that maybe, but they're oh-so-good and still not difficult to make!  Even the kids can help!!

Packaged individually in cellophane treat bags and tied with a ribbon or adorned with a festive Fall leaf, they would be perfect for a class treat or party favor. You could also make smaller balls for little hands—or as a fun snack size for parties.

Children will love to help form the popcorn balls. For safety’s sake, make sure they stay away while you’re stirring the hot mixture into the popcorn, but once it’s combined it cools quickly. Slightly damp or buttered hands (or disposable gloves) make the job of forming the balls go quickly.

Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn Balls

Here's what you'll need:

• 4 quarts popped corn (about ⅔ cup kernels)
• ½ cup salted butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups mini-marshmallows
• Optional: chopped candy corn, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, caramel bits, mini M&M's

When you have all of your ingredients ready and the popcorn popped, here's how you'll make the coating for the Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn Balls:

Start by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey, and salt in a 3 quart pot.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Cook at a low boil (adjust the heat if necessary) for 4 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove the pan from heat and add the vanilla and marshmallows. Stir well until all of the marshmallows have melted.

Pour the hot marshmallow mixture over the popcorn (be very careful – it will be extremely hot!) and stir with a silicone spatula or spoon until all of the popcorn has been coated.

If you choose to add candy or nuts, you can either add them now or sprinkle different additions in as you form each ball, for more variety.

Use slightly damp or buttered hands to form the balls, or you can use disposable gloves. Scoop up a large handful of popcorn mixture and press it together between your hands to form a ball shape about 2 ½ inches in diameter.  You should get about 12 balls per batch.

Place each completed ball on a parchment covered baking sheet and allow them to sit at room temperature for an hour before putting in bags or storing in a food container.

Add Candy to Make them more Festive & Delicious!

And that's it... so easy and fun!

I have the full Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn Balls printable recipe below!  And I'd love to hear from you - Do YOU make popcorn balls?

Print

Recipe

More Fall Treats You'll Love