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Festive popcorn balls with red and green sprinkles are arranged on a white plate, with a blurred festive background.

Easy Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Author: Jessica Haggard
Gooey, crunchy, and coated in a sweet caramelized syrup, these Christmas popcorn balls are a nostalgic homemade treat that comes together with simple ingredients and almost no effort. Shape them, wrap them in cellophane, and you have a festive gift or party favor that looks like it took far more time than it actually did.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Desserts, Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 637 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ⅓ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 cups popped popcorn keep warm in a large bowl in a 250 F oven
  • 1 cup red and green M&Ms
  • ¼ cup Christmas sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, water, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a full boil. Stop stirring and continue cooking until the temperature reaches 270 °F (hard ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
    A saucepan on a stovetop contains melted butter being stirred into hot liquid with a spatula.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
    A saucepan filled with dark brown sauce sits on a light, textured surface.
  • Carefully pour the hot syrup over the warm popped corn and mix with a fork to coat evenly. Cool slightly before adding the M&Ms and Christmas sprinkles.
    A metal bowl filled with popcorn mixed with red and green candy-coated chocolates and red, green, and white sprinkles.
  • Let the mixture cool just until safe to handle, then quickly form into balls using lightly buttered hands.
    Hands shaping a ball of popcorn mixed with colorful sprinkles over a metal bowl filled with more popcorn mixture.

Notes

Shape the popcorn while the syrup is still warm, since it sets quickly.
Press the popcorn together gently so it holds its shape without becoming hard.
Serve: Enjoy with hot drinks and a holiday snack or dessert tray. Insert a lollipop or peppermint candy stick into each popcorn ball before it sets fully for easy grab-and-go snacking. Wrap each popcorn ball in clear cellophane. Then, tie with red and green ribbons, for gifting.
Store: Once cooled, wrap each ball individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Avoid heat and humidity to keep them perfectly chewy.

Nutrition

Calories: 637kcalCarbohydrates: 120gProtein: 13gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 305mgFiber: 14gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 157IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 4mg
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