Looking for an inexpensive and sweet way to show someone you care? Why not make up some festive Valentine’s Day Popcorn Balls to share! I love sprinkling M&Ms in with my popcorn and adding them to a popcorn ball is even better! I added some red food color and Valentine’s M&Ms to make these popcorn balls really POP!
(Was that too corny? hehe)
Ingredients:
1 bag of marshmallows (approx. 10 oz)
1/2 c butter (1 stick)
1 tsp vanilla
popped popcorn
food coloring (optional)
1 c M&Ms or other candy
non stick baking spray
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray or coat with butter.
2. Pop enough popcorn to fill a 9×13 baking dish. Pop a couple extra cups so you can add to the mix if needed. It’s important to keep the popcorn warm in the oven while completing the following steps.
3.Melt the butter and marshmallows together in a large pot.
4. Once the marshmallows are fully melted, turn off the heat and add in the vanilla and food coloring. I started with a couple drops of red and then added more until I got the color I wanted.
5. Pull the baking dish full of popcorn out of the oven. Drizzle the marshmallow and butter mixture over the popcorn.
6.Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix up the popcorn and marshmallow mixture so that the popcorn is evenly coated. If you are using your hands (I do), spray your hands with the baking spray or cover them in butter – this is to protect your hands from the heat AND to keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking to you. After the popcorn and marshmallow mixture are thoroughly combined and cooled slightly, add in the M&Ms. You need to wait or the candy will melt and turn your popcorn balls brown from the chocolate.
7. Recoat your hands and grab a handful of popcorn and start forming it into a ball. You will need to squeeze firmly while making the balls. Make them any size you want to but make sure they are pressed together well or they will fall apart.
Wrap the balls in plastic wrap or bag them up – they’re yummy no matter what you do! Enjoy!
Valentine's Day Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 10 oz marshmallows 1 bag
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2.75 oz popcorn 1 bag
- food coloring optional
- 1 cup M&Ms or other candy
- non stick baking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray or coat with butter.
- Pop enough popcorn to fill a 9x13 baking dish. Pop a couple extra cups so you can add to the mix if needed. It's important to keep the popcorn warm in the oven while completing the following steps.
- Melt the butter and marshmallows together in a large pot.
- Once the marshmallows are fully melted, turn off the heat and add in the vanilla and food coloring. I started with a couple drops of red and then added more until I got the color I wanted.
- Pull the baking dish full of popcorn out of the oven. Drizzle the marshmallow and butter mixture over the popcorn.
- Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix up the popcorn and marshmallow mixture so that the popcorn is evenly coated. If you are using your hands (I do), spray your hands with the baking spray or cover them in butter - this is to protect your hands from the heat AND to keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking to you. After the popcorn and marshmallow mixture are thoroughly combined and cooled slightly, add in the M&Ms. You need to wait or the candy will melt and turn your popcorn balls brown from the chocolate.
- Recoat your hands and grab a handful of popcorn and start forming it into a ball. You will need to squeeze firmly while making the balls. Make them any size you want to but make sure they are pressed together well or they will fall apart.
- Wrap the balls in plastic wrap or bag them up - they're yummy no matter what you do! Enjoy!
Nutrition
For more Valentine’s Day fun check out these fun projects:
Valentine’s Day Fingerprint Frames
Bring on the Bling Valentine Ring
Linking up here, Home Stories A2Z, and My Repurposed Life.
Betty says
I use a box of jello, any red flavor instead of food coloring and skittles. We call it skittle corn. My kids love the stuff when they were kids. Green at Christmas, so on and so forth. Pop the corn and the make them just as you would Rice Krispy candy. Be sure to cool a bit to prevent nasty burns.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Jell-o is perfect for adding color and flavor! So fun!
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} says
Trish, these look amazing!
Your Popcorn Balls have been featured on Sugar & Slice Sunday. 🙂 Hope to see you at the new Valentine’s Day special link party.
-Lisa.
Sweet 2 Eat Baking
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much sweet Lisa!
Jen says
These look so yummy! Going to make them for my kiddos preschool tomorrow! About how many do you think the batch would produce?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It totally depends on the size Jen but I would say between 2 and 3 dozen. Make them small for the little ones 🙂
Kayla says
Do you really just cook the popcorn in the oven? I’m assuming you would cover them?
And how long do they have to sit?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
The popcorn has to be popped prior to going in the oven. The oven is just to keep the popcorn warm while you’re melting the marshmallows. Have fun!