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Marshmallow Popcorn Balls

Think rice krispy squares but made out of popcorn and round. The orange is just for extra Halloween fun. You can totally leave them white or go with another color. We’ll leave the stylistic choices up to you.

Is it Halloween yet? These are a great treat for Halloween, but are equally good any time of year.

I’ve shown you the full-out step-by-step process of making Traditional Popcorn Balls, complete with photo tutorial. If that was a bit too much for you (we know, candy-making can be overwhelming), today’s popcorn balls are for you!

Orange Pumpkin Popcorn Balls with green stems made of candied gummy fruit strips; balls are sitting on a purple cloth napkin.

What Are Marshmallow Popcorn Balls?

These guys are made in exactly the same was as rice krispy treats. Except you use popcorn instead of rice krispies. And they’re round instead of square.

We’ve taken these popcorn balls to a whole new level of insane by making them orange and sticking a green candy on top. They totally look like pumpkins, right? But you can leave out the food coloring. Or go with a totally different color. We’ll leave stylistic choices up to you.

Maybe you want to make them look like ornaments for Christmas, or use team colors for a game day treat. Get creative!

What Do I Need?

This recipe calls for some popped popcorn. You can buy microwave popcorn, or buy already-popped popcorn, or you can make popcorn on the stove like this, or in a paper bag in the microwave like this.

Other than that, you just need marshmallows and butter. And the food coloring and candies if you want them to look like my pictures.

Quick tip: Put a lollipop stick in the pumpkin’s bottom. There will be fewer sticky fingers during and after the treat-eating.

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Pumpkin Popcorn Balls Made with Marshmallows

Marshmallow Popcorn Balls Recipe

Contributor: Christine Pittman

Think rice krispy squares but made out of popcorn and round. The orange is just for extra Halloween fun. You can totally leave them white or go with another color. We’ll leave the stylistic choices up to you.

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 16 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 green gummy candy fruit slices
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 Tbsp. neon orange gel food coloring
  • 10.5 oz. bag mini marshmallows
  • 14 cups popped popcorn

Instructions

  1. Lightly oil a large baking sheet.
  2. Cut each gummy candy into 4 curved strips.
  3. In a large pot melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in the food coloring until evenly blended. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until smooth and evenly orange. Add the popcorn and stir gently but thoroughly until all coated. Remove from heat.
  4. Moisten hands with water and begin to shape popcorn into 2 and ½ inch balls. You’ll get about 16 of them. Moisten your hands regularly to stop them from sticking to the mixture. (I keep the tap running gently throughout to make it easy to get them wet regularly).
  5. Place balls on the prepared baking sheet as you go. Immediately insert the green candy strips into the tops of the balls before they set. Let set for 30 minutes before serving. These are best eaten on the day they were made.

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This post originally appeared in September 2015 and was revised and republished in October 2023.