Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

These Christmas popcorn balls are the perfect mix of sweet, chewy, and festive fun! Made with gooey marshmallows, colorful M&Ms, and sprinkles, they’re super easy to whip up and make a great treat for holiday parties or gifting!

I absolutely love baking during the holidays… t’s one of my favorite ways to get into the Christmas spirit!

My go-to favorite Christmas cookies are my grandma’s Gingerbread Boy Cookies, Red Velvet Christmas Crinkle Cookies, these sweet Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies, my Mom’s Peanut Butter & Kisses Cookies, savory Simple Shortbread Cookie Recipe Dipped In Chocolate and powdery Snowball Cookies aka Mexican Wedding Cookies!

But let’s be real, there are only so many cookies and fruitcakes you can make before it’s time to shake things up a bit. This year I decided to give a Christmas spin on my Best Caramel Popcorn Balls and add festive sprinkles and M&Ms!

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These candy-filled popcorn balls were sweet, fun, and so easy to make! They had gooey marshmallows, colorful M&M candies, and red and green sprinkles! They were soooo good…trust me, once you try these, you’ll be hooked!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is so quick and simple to make and is so fun to make with kiddos! You can completely customize the popcorn balls with whatever colors you prefer and add in extra goodies like colored sprinkles and M&Ms!

These popcorn balls also make really great homemade gifts for teachers and neighbors! Just place the popcorn balls a cellophane bag and tie a ribbon around the top…and wa-la! You have a tasty gift to give!

Ingredients & Supplies

• popcorn kernels – any brand will do…if you’d prefer to use microwave popcorn, go right ahead!
• vegetable oil – if you choose to pop your own popcorn kernels, then you will need vegetable oil in the pot that you cook the popcorn in. Follow the directions on your package of popcorn for how much oil you need
• salted butter – I always use salted butter for my recipes
• vanilla extract – a good quality, pure vanilla extract is preferred
• mini marshmallows – you will need a 10 ounce bag
• red and green M&Ms – if you’re unable to find the red and green only packages, buy a regular bag of M&Ms and sort the colors! (I always have luck finding them at Walmart!)
• Wilton Christmas sprinkles – red, green and white sprinkles!
• 2 pots with lids
• large mixing bowl
• spatula
• rubber gloves

Step-By-Step Instructions

• STEP 1: Heat oil in pot according to popcorn directions. Fill with popcorn, cover with lid and let pop (around 1/2 cup popcorn kernels to 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil)
• STEP 2: Pour popped popcorn into a large bowl
• STEP 3: In a pot, melt butter
• STEP 4: Once butter is melted, add mini marshmallows over low-medium heat, stirring constantly, until they are melted. The marshmallows should be very melted and runny!
• STEP 5: Stir in vanilla extract
• STEP 6: Pour the melted marshmallows into the bowl of popped popcorn

• STEP 5: Pour the melted marshmallows into the bowl of popped popcorn
• STEP 6: Put on rubber gloves and mix in red and green M&Ms and festive sprinkles
• STEP 7: Scoop a large handful of popcorn and shape into a ball with hands
• STEP 8: Place popcorn ball into a cellophane bag and tie with a red ribbon

Tips for Success

• Use gloves to prevent sticking when shaping the balls
• Add the M&Ms after mixing the hot marshmallow mixture to avoid melting the candies
• Experiment with different add-ins like crushed peppermint or white chocolate chips

You May Also Like These Recipes

• Gingerbread Boy Cookies
• Red Velvet Christmas Crinkle Cookies
• Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Mom’s Peanut Butter & Kisses Cookies
• Snowball Cookies aka Mexican Wedding Cookies
• Best Caramel Popcorn Balls