You'll be the hit of your Halloween or class party with this easy marshmallow Halloween Popcorn Balls recipe. It’s a simple salty, and sweet Halloween treat that comes together in about 20 minutes.
Popcorn balls are the perfect Halloween treats! A little salty. A little sweet. And oh, so fun to eat! We like to say they're spooky good!
Make them for movie night or any time you need a crunchy, sweet, fun treat.
There is never a shortage of frightening good Halloween goodies around here. Have you tried our Easy 4-ingredient Bat Treats? Or maybe you’re an Oreo fan, so you would love a Mummy Oreo Pop? Spider Brownies are also creepy good!
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What are popcorn balls?
Popcorn balls are delicious edible treats you make with popcorn and either marshmallows or caramel to hold them together. They are so easy! You can include candies and sprinkles for a festive look.
It’s like sticky Rice Krispies treats, but with popcorn!
Ingredient Notes
Making popcorn balls for Halloween is easy. Here's what you need.
- ½ cup of kernels or 12 cups of popcorn - do not pop it too far in advance as it tends to go stale.
- ½ teaspoon salt - this compliments the sweetness of the balls perfectly.
- ¼ cup butter - you can use salted or unsalted butter.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 -5 cups mini marshmallows or a 10-ounce bag
- ¾ cup Reese's Pieces candy
- ¾ cup candy corn - if you can find it, mini candy corn is perfect for this recipe.
- 2 tablespoons of Halloween sprinkles
The full printable recipe is below in the recipe card.
You'll also need a large baking pan, parchment paper, and a silicone spatula or wooden spoon.
Instructions
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prep for this easy recipe.
STEP 1 - MAKE POPCORN. Pop popcorn in an air popper or on the stove and remove any kernels. Place popcorn in a large bowl and add salt.
PRO TIP: To easily remove the kernels that didn't pop, place the popcorn on a baking rack in a baking pan. The kernels will fall through, leaving just the popcorn!
STEP 2 - MAKE MARSHMALLOW MIXTURE. In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Next, add in the vanilla and marshmallows. Stir constantly for about 3 minutes until marshmallows melt and turn creamy.
STEP 3 - COMBINE MARSHMALLOWS AND POPCORN. Pour the melted marshmallows over the popcorn in your mixing bowl and stir to evenly coat the popcorn.
STEP 4 - ADD CANDY. Let the mixture cool slightly, and then stir in half of the Reese’s Pieces and candy corn.
STEP 5 - FORM BALLS. Separate the popcorn into 10 sections, shape each into a 3-inch ball, and place them in the prepared pan. Use non-stick spray on your hands as needed to prevent the marshmallow mixture from sticking.
STEP 6 - ADD MORE CANDY. Let the balls sit for a minute on the parchment-lined pan, and then press the additional candy into the balls and roll them in Halloween sprinkles.
PRO TIP: If using straws for handles, now is time to press them into the top of the balls.
STEP 7 - LET SIT. Let the balls sit and firm up for about an hour.
You're now ready to eat your fun fall treat!
Helpful tips
- Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray or coconut oil to prevent the marshmallow from sticking while forming into balls.
- You can use plain microwave popcorn instead of popping it yourself. Just make sure you have about 12 cups.
- Since you're just melting marshmallows, you do not need a candy thermometer.
Add-ins
- If you’d like colored Halloween Popcorn Balls, stir in 4 drops of purple, green, or orange food coloring to the marshmallow mixture. Gel food coloring is what we recommend since it mixes in easily. You can find it in the baking aisle at the grocery store or baking section at Target, Walmart, or Michaels.
- You can include other treats like crushed chocolate pretzels, candy eyeballs, or M&Ms into your popcorn balls or drizzle them with white chocolate.
PRO TIP: If you’re serving your Halloween treats at a party with young kids, insert a paper straw cut in half into each ball so it has a little handle for tiny hands.
How to store Halloween popcorn balls
To store your balls, you have a few choices:
- Wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container.
- Place several balls in a large Ziploc bag or airtight container.
- Place your popcorn balls in individual plastic treat bags to serve at parties.
They will stay fresh for about 3-5 days on the counter at room temperature. No refrigeration is required.
Recipe FAQs
Believe it or not, yes, you can freeze popcorn balls! Once tightly wrapped, store them in an airtight freezer-safe container, and they’ll keep for up to 4 weeks in the freezer. Thaw them at room temperature, unwrap, and serve them at your next Halloween party!
If your popcorn balls aren’t sticking together, you need to make sure the marshmallow mixture is cooled and set enough. Sometimes it helps to form the balls with your hands and then go back in a few minutes and press them together again.
More fun Halloween treats
- Mummy Pretzels - a simple and easy Halloween favorite you can make in minutes.
- Pumpkin Oreo Pops - so cute and so easy to whip together with Oreos and candy melts.
- Halloween Monster Mouths - a fun and healthy treat to serve at Halloween parties or bring to work for co-workers.
- Mummy Brownies - a Halloween treat the kids can help make!
Love these easy popcorn balls for Halloween? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
Halloween Popcorn Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 - 5 cups mini marshmallows (or a 10-ounce bag)
- ¾ cup Reese's Pieces candy
- ¾ cup candy corn
- 2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Pop popcorn in an air popper or on the stove and remove any kernels. Place popcorn in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt.PRO TIP: To easily remove the kernels that didn't pop, place the popcorn on a baking rack in a baking pan. The kernels will fall through, leaving just the popcorn!
- In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Next, add in the vanilla and marshmallows. Stir constantly for about 3 minutes until marshmallows melt and turn creamy.
- Pour the melted marshmallows over the popcorn in your mixing bowl and stir to evenly coat the popcorn.
- Let the mixture cool slightly, and then stir in half of the Reese’s Pieces and candy corn.
- Separate the popcorn into 10 sections, shape each into a 3-inch ball and place them in the prepared pan. Use non-stick spray on your hands as needed to prevent the marshmallow mixture from sticking.
- Let the balls sit on the parchment-lined pan for a minute, and then press the remaining candy into the balls and roll them in Halloween sprinkles. (Press straws into the top if using.)
- Let the balls sit and firm up for about an hour, and then enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray or coconut oil to prevent the marshmallow from sticking while forming into balls.
- You can use plain microwave popcorn instead of popping it yourself. Just make sure you have about 12 cups.
Kara says
Marshmallow popcorn balls are my favorite, but the Reese's pieces made these even more addicting! I used the candy eyes like you did, and my kids loved them!
Jessica says
I made these as a trial run for Halloween this year, and my kiddos gobbled them up! It's safe to say we'll be making them again for Halloween! Thank you!
Kristyn says
So fun & festive!! Love the little candies mixed in with the popcorn. They sure are a hit!
Erin Henry says
A total hit at fall or Halloween parties for sure! Enjoy the recipe!
Melissa says
Yum - so delicious and such a fun treat! Making them our annual Halloween party this year!
Erin Henry says
Thanks for trying the recipe, Melissa! We love it and I know you will too!