These Easy Ghost Halloween Popcorn Balls are going to become a favorite with your kids I know! Such a fun Halloween treat idea and SO good to eat. Who doesn't want a treat with candy eyes??
WHAT IS A POPCORN BALL?
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 homemade popcorn balls around as much anymore and it is possible you have never heard of such a thing!
A popcorn ball is basically popcorn shaped into a ball and held together with a sweet sugary syrup mixture. There are so many ways to customize popcorn balls and they are so delicious to eat. Sweet and crunchy is just addictive.
I have seen that you can buy ready-made popcorn balls to hand out to trick or treaters.
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.
- Lightly Buttered Microwave Popcorn
- Light Corn Syrup
- Butter
- Mini Marshmallows
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- White Candy Melts
- Edible Candy Eyes
- Black Decorator's Icing
- Non-stick Cooking Spray
HOW TO MAKE EASY GHOST HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS
Once you get the hang of making popcorn balls it is very easy to do. The only drawback is it is a sticky job!
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 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 cooking 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
Now it is time 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 Halloween popcorn balls into individual clear bags and tie with some Halloween ribbon for adorable party treats!
GHOST HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS RECIPE
You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions for these ghost Halloween popcorn balls on the recipe card below so that you can get right to making them!
These Easy Ghost Halloween Popcorn Balls 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
I would appreciate it if you could SHARE this fun recipe on social media!
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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!