These Halloween popcorn balls recipe are going to become one of your kids' favorite treats! Such a fun treat idea for Halloween and SO good to eat. Who doesn't want a crunchy treat with candy eyes?? Scroll down below to learn how to make this perfect treat for the spooky season.
WHAT ARE POPCORN BALLS?
Popcorn balls were a huge thing when I was a kid. I remember making them at home and I remember getting homemade Halloween popcorn balls when we went out trick or treating. I don't see these homemade treats around as much anymore and it is possible you have never heard of such a thing!
Old fashioned popcorn balls are basically popcorn that has a ball shape and held together with a sweet sugary syrup mixture. There are so many ways to customize this easy popcorn ball recipe and they are so delicious to eat. Sweet and crunchy is just addictive!
HOW DO YOU GET POPCORN BALLS TO STICK TOGETHER?
Using a sticky binding agent, usually a sugar syrup mixture, popcorn balls are held together. A sugar syrup is the main component that keeps popcorn balls together. Sugar, light corn syrup, water, and occasionally butter or flavorings are heated to make this syrup. The “soft-ball stage” is the temperature at which sugar syrup becomes sticky.
TIPS FOR THE BEST POPCORN BALLS
Using a few techniques will help you make the best popcorn balls that are delicious and have the ideal texture. Here are some pointers for creating superior popcorn balls:
USE FRESH POPCORN
Just before making the popcorn balls, pop your popcorn. Stale popcorn doesn't hold its shape as well. And they don't taste good compared to freshly popped popcorn.
EVEN COATING
Make sure that each popcorn kernel gets covered equally with syrup. An easy way for gentle mixing, you can use a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula.
GREASE YOUR HANDS
To avoid a sticky mess, try putting some light grease of butter on your hands. This will prevent the syrup to stick on your hands. It is so much fun doing this but you also need clean hands!
STORAGE
The popcorn balls should be kept in an airtight container after they have cooled and hardened to preserve their freshness. To prevent them from sticking to one another, wrap each one in wax paper or plastic wrap.
INGREDIENTS FOR GHOST HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS
Popcorn balls don't traditionally have very many ingredients. Popcorn is cheap to buy and that is always a bonus. To make this recipe, you are going to need:
- Lightly Buttered Microwave Popcorn
- Light Corn Syrup
- Butter
- Mini Marshmallows
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- White Candy Melts
- Edible Candy Eyes
- Black Decorator's Icing
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
HOW TO MAKE FUN AND EASY GHOST HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS
Now that you have gathered all of your ingredients, it is time to make this yummy recipe. Follow the instructions below for the best results!
STEP ONE: POP POPCORN
Start off by popping two bags of microwave popcorn. When the popcorn is done popping pour it out into a large bowl and remove all the unpopped kernels. This is important to do so that no one breaks a tooth when they eat the popcorn ball!
STEP TWO: MAKE SYRUP
Grab a medium pot and place it on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the corn syrup, butter, mini marshmallows, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Heat this mixture, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil. If you don't stir this constantly it will start to burn on the bottom!! Let the mixture boil for about 2 minutes while you continue to stir it.
STEP THREE: COMBINE
Pour the syrup mixture over the popcorn in the large bowl. Stir it all together with a mixing spoon.
TIP: Spray the mixing spoon with non-stick cooking spray before you start stirring so that the syrup doesn't stick to the spoon!
Keep mixing until the popcorn is well coated in the syrup. Let this mixture cool for a few minutes.
STEP FOUR: MAKE BALLS
Spray your hands with the non-stick spray. Grab some of the popcorn mixture and start forming balls. Place the balls onto a sheet lined with parchment paper.
STEP FIVE: MAKE GHOSTS
The last step is to melt the white candy melts in the microwave according to package directions. Dip each popcorn ball into the melted candy so that it covers the bottom of the popcorn ball. Set each dipped popcorn ball back down onto the parchment paper.
When all the popcorn balls have been dipped place the tray into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so they can set up. Now put a small dot of decorator's icing on the back of the candy eyes and place the eyes onto the front of the popcorn balls to make the ghosts!
TIP: You can put these easy popcorn balls into a cellophane treat bag and tie with some ribbon for adorable and fun Halloween treats!
HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS RECIPE
Now that you know all about popcorn balls it is time to print the recipe or save the recipe. You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions for Halloween popcorn balls recipe via the recipe card below.
If you don’t have time to print it off right now, no worries! Just save the pin to your Pinterest account by clicking the pin button located in the recipe card below.
If you make this recipe and LOVE it…please come back and leave a 5-star rating. It would mean so much to me!
These Halloween Popcorn Balls Recipe are simple to make and will be a big hit with the kids.
- 2 bags lightly buttered microwave popcorn
- ½ cups Light corn syrup
- 1 cup Mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup Butter
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- White candy melts
- Candy eyes
- Black decorator’s icing
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Cook the two bags of popcorn, removing all of the unpopped kernels after they cook. Place the cooked popcorn into a large bowl.
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Place the corn syrup, butter, mini marshmallows, powdered sugar and vanilla extract into a pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Heat the mixture, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil.
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Boil the mixture, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
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Pour the corn syrup mixture over the popcorn in the large bowl. Stir the mixture with a mixing spoon that has been coated in cooking spray until well combined.
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Let the mixture cool slightly, spray your hands with cooking spray, and form the popcorn mixture into 14 balls. Place the popcorn balls onto a tray that has been covered with parchment paper.
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Heat the white candy melts in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute at a time on the defrost setting until completely melted and smooth.
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Dip the popcorn balls into the melted candy so that it covers all but the bottom of the popcorn balls. Set the dipped popcorn balls onto a parchment lined tray. Place the tray of popcorn balls into the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
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Once the candy has set, place a small dot of decorator’s icing on the back of two candy eyes, and place them on the front of each of the popcorn ball ghosts.
You can put these into individual clear bags for an adorable Halloween treat!
If you need some more fun Halloween ideas check these out:
- 2 Ingredient DIY Halloween Slime
- Halloween Costume Ideas for Sisters
- Easy Scarecrow Pudding Cups for Fall
- Bat Coloring Pages
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These are adorable, and so easy to make! My kids loved helping put them together
SO cute and festive for halloween! Can’t wait to make these this season.
These popcorn balls are serious so amazing!I love how cute they turned out. My daughters helped make them and they were so excited! They taste good, too!