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.
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!
Jo-Ann says
These are so pretty and look delicious. I pinned them. Thank you so much for sharing.
Michelle@yagottahaveahobby says
How cute! Happy National Popcorn Day!
Brenda says
These popcorn balls are too cute!! My grandma used to always make these for us when I was little. I love your addition of M&M’s – YUM!! Thanks for sharing!! Pinning 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks so much Brenda!
Tonia L says
I love popcorn balls! I haven’t made any for way too long and they look so cute in the bags for Valentine’s Day!
DesignDazzle.blogspot.com says
This looks so yummy, thanks for sharing!
Beth (www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com) says
YUM!! And I love that your popcorn balls have M&M’s in them!! They turned out so pretty! Thanks for linking up to TGIF! Have a GREAT week =-)
Beth
rebekahdawn says
My hubby loves popcorn balls – I don’t even think he would mind if they were pink!
Mary Ellen says
Funny I tried doing something similar today. I squished all my popcorn into a the Wilton heart shaped pan then flipped it out. It was pretty cute!
But mine didn’t taste very good… I was experimenting and I used some light corn syrup instead of butter since popcorn doesn’t have the sweetness of rice krispies. Way too sweet!
Classified Mom says
I am drooling and sharing this on facebook at the same time. Is this possible? Let’s see! Thanks for linking up to The Sunday Showcase!
The Crunchy Mamacita says
Such a cute idea! I would love for you to come by and link up to my Recipe Party at The Sweet Spot!
Kristina says
Visiting from I Heart Nap Time’s Sundae Scoop 🙂
Kristina
http://www.yomichaelmichael.com
Sass - aka - Kathy says
Very yummy! Consider sharing with my readers at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/02/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-11.html !
Happy Valentine’s Day,
Kathy
Emily says
super yummy and delish! I came over from Making the world cuter! Would love for you to link this up to my Tasty Tuesday Party which opens tonight! http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/
Krista says
I was planning on making cupcakes with my son for Valentine’s Day, but now we will be making these!!
Thanks!