This year, get the kids into the kitchen and make these Spooky Halloween Popcorn Balls! They have something to satisfy every taste. Both salty and sweet, gooey, and crunchy. Halloween Popcorn Balls are the ultimate Halloween treat! If you're looking for another kid-friendly treat, check out my Gourmet Caramel Apples recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
Why make Halloween Popcorn Balls? Well, for one thing, they're fun to make! The kids will enjoy helping you add the finishing touches like adding the candy eyeballs and sprinkles. Involving the kids in the kitchen is a great way to introduce them to cooking, as you create fall traditions that your kids will look forward to year after year. It will also give them something to look back on and cherish many years from now.
Another great thing about this Halloween Popcorn Balls recipe is that it can be easily modified. Stick to the recipe, or use ingredients that you have at home.
Halloween Popcorn Balls are the perfect treat to take to Halloween parties or Halloween celebrations at school. However, you can bet that even the adults will enjoy these tasty Halloween treats!
What Goes Into This Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Popcorn — This Halloween Popcorn Balls recipe calls for 2 large bags of microwave popcorn, which yields approximately 16 cups of popped corn. You'll only use 12 cups to make the popcorn balls, so you or your little helpers can snack on the rest. Another option is to use kettle corn, a mixture of the two, or pop the corn the old-fashioned way. You'll need approximately ½ of a cup of kernels which will yield more popcorn than you need.
- Marshmallows — You need 6 cups of mini marshmallows. Although mini marshmallows melt faster, you can use large marshmallows if that's all you have.
- Candy — I added M&Ms, white chocolate chips, candy corn, and Halloween sprinkles. You can also use Reese's Pieces, butterscotch, or dark chocolate chips.
- Cinnamon — At the last minute, I decided to add cinnamon and it really worked with the other ingredients in the recipe. I'm listing it as optional so if you want to leave it out you can.
How to Make Halloween Popcorn Balls
Step 1 | Pop Popcorn
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside until needed.
Pop the popcorn either in the microwave (according to package directions) or pop kernels in a pot. You'll need 10-12 cups of popcorn.
Step 2 | Melt Marshmallows
Add butter, marshmallows, and white chocolate chips to a large pot and melt over low heat. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if using, as you stir with a rubber spatula.
Step 3 | Add Popcorn And Candy Corn
Once the mixture is melted, add popcorn and mix quickly to combine. Turn off the heat but keep stirring to completely coat the popcorn with the melted marshmallows. Add candy corn and continue to mix.
Step 4 | Add M&M's And Sprinkles
Finally, mix in the M&M's and sprinkles. Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and shape the mixture into approximately fifteen 4" balls. Place the popcorn balls onto the parchment-covered cookie sheet. Have someone else press two eyeball candies into each popcorn ball while you form the rest.
A special thanks to my friend, Connie, for assisting with the candy eyeballs!
Step 5 | Wrap Popcorn Balls
Wrap the cooled Halloween Popcorn Balls with plastic wrap if not eating them right away. This will keep them from getting stale. Store at room temperature.
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
Here are some reasons why popcorn balls might not stick together:
• Too much popcorn
• Not enough marshmallows
• Too many mix-ins
• Allowing the melted marshmallows to cool off too much or not working fast enough
Besides adding more melted marshmallows or gently reheating the mixture, you can try adding corn syrup to the marshmallow/butter/popcorn mix. The corn syrup will act like glue to bind the popcorn ball ingredients together. 
Popcorn balls do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored at room temperature as long as they are wrapped in plastic wrap. You can also store them in individual sandwich bags. This will help to keep them from sticking to each other.
You can make popcorn balls ahead of time and freeze them in freezer bags. Bring the frozen popcorn balls to room temperature and enjoy!
- Since the marshmallow mixture is sticky, spraying the parchment paper, your hands, and the spatula helps make forming the Halloween popcorn balls more manageable.
- If you are serving the marshmallow balls to individuals without nut allergies, you can add chopped nuts to the marshmallows mixture.
- Toffee bits would also be delicious in this recipe.
- Adding the candy too soon will cause the candy to melt, which is ok. If you don't want the candy to melt give it a few minutes before adding them, especially the M&Ms. Just keep in mind it will take more effort to get them to stick to the popcorn balls.
- If using kettle corn, add a pinch of salt to the mixture before forming the balls.
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Spooky Halloween Popcorn Balls
Equipment
- cookie tray
- large pot
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1½ bag salted popcorn or kettle corn (approximately 10-12 cups)
- 6 cups mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup butter
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 cup candy corn
- ½ cup M&M's or Reese's Pieces
- 1 tablespoon Halloween sprinkles
- 15 candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside until needed. Pop the popcorn either in the microwave (according to package directions) or pop kernels in a pot. You'll need 10-12 cups of popcorn.
- Add butter, marshmallows, and white chocolate chips to a large pot and melt over low heat. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if using, as you stir with a rubber spatula.
- Once the mixture is melted, add popcorn and mix quickly to combine. Turn off the heat but keep stirring to completely coat the popcorn with the melted marshmallows. Add candy corn and continue to mix.
- Finally, mix in the M&M's and sprinkles. Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and shape the mixture into approximately fifteen 4" balls. Place the popcorn balls onto the parchment-covered cookie sheet. Have someone else press two eyeball candies into each popcorn ball while you form the rest.
- Wrap the cooled Halloween Popcorn Balls with plastic wrap if not eating them right away. This will keep them from getting stale. Store at room temperature.
Notes
- Since the marshmallow mixture is sticky, spraying the parchment paper, your hands, and the spatula helps make forming the Halloween popcorn balls more manageable.
- If you are serving the marshmallow balls to individuals without nut allergies, you can add chopped nuts to the marshmallows mixture.
- Toffee bits would also be delicious in this recipe.
- Adding the candy too soon will cause the candy to melt, which is ok. If you don't want the candy to melt give it a few minutes before adding them, especially the M&Ms. Just keep in mind it will take more effort to get them to stick to the popcorn balls.
- If using kettle corn, add a pinch of salt to the mixture before forming the balls.
Kim says
These popcorn balls were delicious. Gooey and chewy. Be prepared to enjoy all the different flavors.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kim! I'm glad you enjoyed them as much as I did! 😉
Kelly Methey says
What a fun recipe to make with the kids or the grands! Can’t wait to do this with our little ones. They will love helping! An added bonus, they sound delicious!
Hilda Sterner says
The adults around here loved them!