Christmas Popcorn Balls (No-Bake)
This easy, no-bake Christmas Popcorn Balls recipe is the ultimate festive treat! Made with popcorn, gooey melted marshmallows, butter, and colorful holiday M&Ms, these sweet, chewy, and crunchy treats come together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for gifting, bake sales, or fun family kitchen projects during the holidays.
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- large pot or Dutch oven
- rubber spatula
- Wax Paper or Parchment Paper
- measuring cups and spoons
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Ingredients
- 15 cups freshly popped popcorn (about ½ cup unpopped kernels)
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows
- 1 cup red and green holiday M&Ms
- ¼ cup holiday sprinkles
- optional ½ teaspoon peppermint or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for flavor
- as needed non-stick cooking spray or butter for greasing hands
Instructions
- Pop your popcorn using an air popper, stovetop, or microwave method. Measure 15 cups and remove any unpopped kernels to avoid crunch mishaps.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add the mini marshmallows and stir continuously until melted and smooth. Remove from heat immediately to avoid scorching.
- Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the prepared popcorn in a large bowl. Stir gently with a greased rubber spatula until all the popcorn is evenly coated.
- Allow the mixture to cool for about 5–10 minutes, just until warm to the touch. Gently fold in the M&Ms and sprinkles. Do not overmix to avoid melting the candies.
- Grease your hands generously with non-stick spray or butter. Scoop about 1 cup of the mixture and gently press into a firm ball. Place each ball on wax or parchment paper to set. Reapply grease as needed.
- Let the popcorn balls cool completely at room temperature for about 1 hour, until fully set. Serve immediately or wrap individually in cellophane for gifting.
Notes
Expert Tips:
• Avoid store-bought buttered popcorn—it can make the treats greasy or salty.
• To prevent sticking, reapply non-stick spray or butter to your hands frequently while shaping.
• For festive variety, press extra M&Ms and sprinkles onto the outside of each ball after shaping.
• If forming balls feels too sticky, press the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan and cut into squares once cooled. Storage:
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze individually wrapped popcorn balls for up to 4 weeks. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
• Avoid store-bought buttered popcorn—it can make the treats greasy or salty.
• To prevent sticking, reapply non-stick spray or butter to your hands frequently while shaping.
• For festive variety, press extra M&Ms and sprinkles onto the outside of each ball after shaping.
• If forming balls feels too sticky, press the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan and cut into squares once cooled. Storage:
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze individually wrapped popcorn balls for up to 4 weeks. Thaw at room temperature before serving.