Prep Time: 30 minutes • Total Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 20 balls
Make this Christmas Popcorn Balls recipe for an easy holiday treat! Kids love these sweet popcorn balls on a stick. They’re a fun addition to holiday movie night snacking, for giving as gifts, or for enjoying anytime throughout the season.
Ingredients
- 12 cups popped popcorn
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- candy sprinkles
- drinking straws (or substitute with candy canes or peppermint sticks)
Directions
- Pop popcorn according to the package directions. Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200°F oven.
- In a medium saucepan, bring butter, corn syrup, and sugar to a boil for two minutes. Be sure to stir often.
- After two minutes of boiling, stir in vanilla.
- Pour mixture over top of popcorn, stirring to coat evenly.
- Mix in sprinkles.
- Allow popcorn mixture to cool for 15 minutes before forming into balls.
- Grease hands with a small amount of butter. Shape popcorn mixture into approximately 3-inch balls, applying just enough pressure so that the popcorn balls hold their shape.
- Place popcorn ball on a prepared baking sheet. Immediately insert a paper straw or peppermint stick into the center of the popcorn ball, pushing it all the way down until it reaches the opposite end. Decorate straws with festive labels.
- Serve immediately or store each ball wrapped in a piece of wax paper to keep them separated.
For a fun twist, in step 5, add different mix-ins such as chocolate pieces, candy, crushed peppermint, nuts, mini marshmallows, or dried fruit.
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