Easy & Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Updated on: December 17, 2025

Festive Christmas popcorn balls adorned with colorful candies and sprinkles, perfect for a holiday recipe.

The holidays bring so much joy, and delicious treats are a big part of that! Today, we’re making cheerful Christmas Popcorn Balls. This simple recipe creates delightful, sweet, and crunchy desserts, much like a festive version of classic Rice Krispies treats. You will love how easily these fun, sweet, and crunchy popcorn treats come together. They are perfect for holiday snacking or sharing.

Table of Contents

Often associated with fall festivals and Halloween, the earliest known recipe for popcorn balls appeared in a cookbook in 1861, making them a long-standing festive treat.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

These festive treats quickly become a holiday favorite. Here are some reasons why you will absolutely adore making these Christmas Popcorn Balls:

Simple and Quick: Make them in under 20 minutes, perfect for busy schedules.
Holiday Gatherings: They are an ideal dessert or snack for any festive party.
Family Fun: Get everyone involved in making these fun, edible crafts.
Delicious Texture: Enjoy the perfect balance of gooey marshmallow and crisp popcorn.
Customizable: Easily change the candies and sprinkles to match any holiday theme.
Unique Treat: Offer a charming alternative to traditional holiday cakes and cakes.

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients to create your festive Christmas Popcorn Balls:

Popcorn kernels: ½ cup, which yields about 10-15 cups of popped popcorn.
Unsalted butter: ½ cup.
Mini marshmallows: 10-ounce bag.
Christmas M&M’s: 1 cup.
Christmas sprinkles: ⅓ cup.

Notes & Substitutions

Popcorn: You can use air-popped, stovetop, or microwave popcorn. Just ensure it is plain and unsalted for the best flavor balance in these delicious Christmas popcorn balls. Pre-popped bags also work well if they are unflavored.
Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the overall sweetness of your popcorn treats. If you only have salted butter, reduce any added salt in other components, though none is explicitly called for here.
Marshmallows: Any brand of mini marshmallows works perfectly. They melt down smoothly for that classic gooey texture.
M&M’s: Choose festive red, green, and white Christmas M&M’s to boost holiday cheer. Regular M&M’s or other small, hard candies work if you prefer.
Sprinkles: Use fun, holiday-themed sprinkles to add extra color and sparkle. Jimmies, nonpareils, or even edible glitter will make your festive popcorn treats stand out.

Equipment

You won’t need many special tools for this easy Christmas popcorn balls recipe. Here’s what you will need:

Large mixing bowl
Medium-large pot
Rubber spatula
Non-stick cooking spray
Optional: Popcorn popper (if not using pre-popped or microwave popcorn)

Instructions

Making these Christmas Popcorn Balls is super easy and a lot of fun. Follow these steps for perfect, festive treats every time.

Pop the popcorn kernels. Use your preferred method for popping ½ cup of popcorn kernels. This usually yields about 10-15 cups of popped popcorn. A stovetop method or an air popper works wonderfully. If using microwave popcorn, choose a plain, unbuttered variety.
Remove unpopped kernels. After popping, carefully remove any unpopped kernels to prevent a hard bite in your soft popcorn treats. Pour the popped popcorn into a large mixing bowl and set it aside, ready for the marshmallow mixture.
Melt the butter. In a medium-large pot, melt ½ cup of unsalted butter over medium-low heat on your stovetop. Keep the heat gentle to prevent the butter from burning.
Add marshmallows. Once the butter is fully melted, add the entire 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows to the pot. Stir the mixture occasionally with your rubber spatula. Continue stirring until the marshmallows melt completely and become smooth and gooey.
Remove from heat. Promptly remove the pot with the marshmallow mixture from the heat. You want it warm and pliable, but not boiling hot.
Pour over popcorn. Pour the warm, melted marshmallow mixture evenly over the popped popcorn in your large mixing bowl.
Gently stir. Use your rubber spatula to gently stir the popcorn and marshmallow mixture. Continue stirring until all the popcorn pieces are fully coated with the sweet, gooey marshmallow. Take care not to crush the popcorn too much.
Cool slightly. Allow the coated popcorn mixture to cool slightly. It should be warm enough to handle comfortably, but not so hot that it melts the M&M’s in the next step. About 2-3 minutes of cooling usually works.
Fold in candies and sprinkles. Once the mixture cools a bit, add 1 cup of Christmas M&M’s and ⅓ cup of Christmas sprinkles. Gently fold them into the popcorn using your rubber spatula. Distribute them evenly throughout the mixture for colorful Christmas Popcorn Balls.
Spray your hands. Lightly spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray. This is a crucial step to prevent the sticky marshmallow mixture from adhering to your hands as you form the balls. Reapply as needed.
Form the popcorn balls. Grab about a cup of the popcorn mixture. Use the palms of your hands to gently shape it into a ball. Do not press too firmly, as this can compact the popcorn too much. Aim for a light, airy shape.
Gently press for shape. Continue forming the rest of the mixture into individual popcorn balls. Place them on parchment paper or a greased baking sheet to cool.
Cool completely. Let the Christmas Popcorn Balls cool completely at room temperature. This setting time helps them firm up and hold their shape before you serve or store them. Then, enjoy your festive homemade treats!

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Make your Christmas Popcorn Balls truly perfect with these helpful tips. You can also solve common issues easily.

Perfect Popping: Always ensure your popcorn is fully popped and free of unpopped kernels. Burnt popcorn ruins the flavor of the entire batch. Discard any overly browned pieces.
Achieving Gooeyness: Melt marshmallows over medium-low heat. Stir constantly. Remove them from heat immediately once smooth. Overcooking marshmallows results in hard, brittle popcorn treats.
Non-Stick Hands: Reapply non-stick cooking spray to your hands frequently while forming the popcorn balls. This prevents sticking and makes shaping much easier.
M&M Melt Prevention: Wait for the marshmallow-coated popcorn to cool slightly before adding M&M’s or other chocolate candies. This stops them from melting and streaking.
Customizing Sizes: Adjust the amount of popcorn mixture you grab to make smaller, bite-sized Christmas popcorn balls or larger, more substantial ones.
Flavor Boosts: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or a pinch of orange zest to the melted marshmallow mixture for an extra layer of flavor. A touch of cinnamon also complements the holiday theme.
Preventing Sticking: Work quickly once you mix the popcorn and marshmallow. The mixture becomes harder to shape as it cools. If it gets too stiff, gently warm it over low heat for a few seconds to regain pliability.

Serving, Storage & Variations

These Christmas Popcorn Balls are wonderful as they are, but you can also customize them or store them for later enjoyment.

Serving Suggestions: Arrange your vibrant Christmas Popcorn Balls on a festive platter. They look lovely alongside other holiday cookies and candies. You can also place them in individual clear treat bags for easy gifting.
Proper Storage: Wrap each cooled popcorn ball individually in plastic wrap. This helps maintain freshness and prevents them from sticking together.
Shelf Life: Store the individually wrapped popcorn balls in an airtight container or a large Ziploc bag at room temperature. They stay fresh and soft for up to 5 days.
Holiday Variations: Add crushed candy canes or peppermint pieces to the mixture along with the M&M’s for a minty twist. White chocolate chips also add a nice touch.
Drizzle Topping: Melt white or dark chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled popcorn balls for an elegant finish. Let the drizzle set before serving.
Nutty Crunch: For extra texture, fold in a ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds with the candies. Toast the nuts first for enhanced flavor.
Different Candies: Feel free to use other holiday-themed candies, such as gummy bears, gummy worms, or even sprinkles in different color combinations for other occasions.

Nutrition

Here’s a general nutritional breakdown for one of these delicious Christmas Popcorn Balls. Please remember that exact values can vary based on specific ingredient brands and preparation methods.

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	206 kcal
Carbohydrates	30g
Protein	2g
Fat	9g
Saturated Fat	6g
Trans Fat	0.3g
Cholesterol	17mg
Sodium	24mg
Fiber	1g
Sugar	21g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat	2g
Potassium	17mg
Vitamin A	206 IU
Vitamin C	0.1mg
Calcium	18mg
Iron	0.4mg

Serving: 16 balls

FAQ

Got questions about making these fun, festive treats? Here are some quick answers to common questions about Christmas Popcorn Balls.

How do I prevent sticky hands? Use non-stick cooking spray generously on your hands. Reapply it as often as needed while shaping.
Can I use pre-popped popcorn? Yes, you certainly can! Ensure it is plain, unsalted, and unbuttered to best control the flavor of your popcorn balls.
Why are my popcorn balls hard? Your marshmallow mixture likely cooled too much before you formed the balls. Work quickly after mixing, or gently rewarm the mixture slightly if it becomes too stiff.
How long do they take to set? These delightful treats usually take about 15-30 minutes to set completely at room temperature, depending on your kitchen’s temperature.
Can I make them ahead of time? Absolutely! You can prepare these up to 5 days in advance. Just wrap each one individually and store them in an airtight container.

For optimal quality, especially with marshmallow-based treats, proper storage in an airtight container helps maintain freshness and prevents them from drying out.

Are they gluten-free? The core ingredients (popcorn, butter, marshmallows) are typically gluten-free. Always check the labels of your specific M&M’s and sprinkles to confirm they meet your dietary needs.

Conclusion

This Christmas Popcorn Balls recipe offers a simple and delightful way to bring festive cheer into your home. With minimal effort, you can create a batch of colorful, sweet, and crunchy treats that are perfect for any holiday celebration. We encourage you to try making these easy popcorn treats and share the joy with your loved ones. We’d love to see your creations!