There's something magically nostalgic about these festive, sticky, and sweet treats that scream holiday cheer. This Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is not just a snack; it's a joyful tradition wrapped up in colorful candies and sprinkles that’ll bring smiles to your family and friends.

The image shows a wooden plate filled with round popcorn balls that have three layers of visible colors: the main layer is light cream popcorn, the second layer has small round candies in bright red and green, and the third layer includes tiny green and red sprinkles spread all over the popcorn balls. The popcorn balls are unevenly shaped but tightly packed, and the background has a white marbled texture with green ornaments and festive decorations in soft focus. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Making Christmas popcorn balls is one of those simple pleasures that feels both old school and totally festive. I get such a kick out of mixing gooey marshmallows with crunchy popcorn and seeing the colorful red and green M&Ms pop up in every bite—it really amps up the holiday spirit!

Totally Kid-Friendly: It’s a fun, no-bake treat that kids can help make (with some supervision)—messy hands and all!
Quick to Whip Up: From start to finish, you’re looking at just about 30 minutes—perfect when time’s tight but you want something special.
Customizable Colors and Candy: Swap out sprinkles and candies to suit your holiday vibe or dietary preferences.
Great for Gifting: These popcorn balls wrapped in clear cellophane make charming homemade gifts that everyone will appreciate.

There are fourteen round popcorn balls placed on a round wooden board. Each ball has a white and slightly shiny popcorn base mixed with small red and green candy pieces and some colorful sprinkles. Around the board on a white marbled surface, there are small white marshmallows, red, green, and gold Christmas baubles, and some loose red, green, and white candy pieces scattered. To the left, there is a branch with red and dark purple berries and part of a black and white checked cloth is visible at the bottom left corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe works together to create that perfect balance of sweet, crunchy, and colorful holiday fun. Here's why I trust these staples and a few tips on picking the best ones:

Flat lay of half a cup of unpopped popcorn kernels, a small white ceramic bowl of melted unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with miniature white marshmallows, a small white ceramic bowl holding red and green M&M candies, and a small white ceramic bowl containing festive multicolored sprinkles, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Popcorn Kernels: Popping fresh popcorn guarantees crispness and volume; I always toss out any unpopped kernels for safety.
Unsalted Butter: The fat from butter adds richness and helps melt the marshmallows evenly without overpowering the sweetness.
Miniature Marshmallows: These melt faster and give you that sticky, gooey glue that holds everything together beautifully.
Red and Green M&M Candies: Use festive colors to instantly brighten up the popcorn balls; if you want to avoid melting, press some on after forming.
Festive Sprinkles: Sprinkles add fun texture and that signature holiday sparkle—feel free to mix and match shapes and sizes!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One thing I love about this Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is how easy it is to make your own. You don’t have to follow the recipe to a T—adjust candies, sprinkle mixes, or even the size of your balls depending on what you like and who you’re sharing with.

Nutty Twist: Sometimes, I toss in chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra crunch. Just fold them in with the popcorn before shaping.
Chocolate Lovers: Melted white or dark chocolate drizzled over the finished balls makes an elegant touch; kids and adults alike rave over this addition.
Healthy Swap: Use natural fruit sprinkles or dried fruit bits instead of candy for a slightly less sweet version.
Smaller Sizes: For parties or stocking stuffers, I make bite-sized popcorn balls—perfect finger food for mingling.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Step 1: Pop Your Kernels to Perfection

I usually pop the kernels on the stove for that classic, fresh flavor, but an air popper works great too. Once popped, spread the popcorn out on a baking sheet to cool briefly, and pick out any unpopped kernels—nothing worse than biting into one of those!

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Slowly

In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter first. Once melted, add the miniature marshmallows. Keep stirring gently and often—pay close attention here so the marshmallows melt smoothly without burning. You want a glossy, stretchy syrup—not a scorched mess!

Step 3: Combine Popcorn and Marshmallow Mixture

Remove the pot from heat and pour that sticky marshmallow goodness right onto your popcorn. Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold to coat every kernel evenly. Be patient—if you're too rough, your popcorn can get crushed, and you want those balls light and fluffy.

Step 4: Add the Festive M&Ms and Sprinkles

Once the mixture has cooled slightly (so it’s not scalding hot), fold in the red and green M&Ms along with the sprinkles. This step is key to keeping the candies colorful and from melting too much inside.

Step 5: Shape Your Popcorn Balls

Spray your hands generously with non-stick cooking spray before starting. I recommend keeping a spray bottle nearby because this part gets sticky fast. Scoop about one cup of the mixture and gently but firmly press it into a ball. Don’t press too hard or you’ll lose the airy texture. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

Step 6: Let Them Set

Place your popcorn balls on a parchment-lined tray and let them cool completely at room temperature. This sets the shape perfectly—and gives you time to admire your handiwork!

Top Tip

Making these popcorn balls felt tricky at first, especially managing that sticky marshmallow mixture. After a few tries, I figured out some simple tips that helped me every time—and I’m sharing them so you don’t have to guess.

Hand Spray Is Essential: Don’t skip spraying your hands with non-stick spray. I learned the hard way that sticky fingers make shaping a nightmare!
Low Heat for Marshmallows: Always melt marshmallows over low to medium heat and stir often to prevent burning or scorching.
Add Candies at the Right Time: Mix in your M&Ms and sprinkles only after the marshmallow mixture cools slightly to avoid melting the candy coating too much.
Press Extra Candies On: If your candies start melting, press a few onto the outside of your formed balls immediately—makes them look festive and prevents candy-melt mess.

How to Serve Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Christmas Popcorn Balls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

Personally, I love to keep it simple with extra sprinkles and a few whole M&Ms pressed to the outside for eye-catching color. Sometimes I add a little edible glitter or festive shaped sugar decorations for parties—it instantly elevates the look and makes them extra special.

Side Dishes

These popcorn balls are a fun, standalone treat but pair nicely with hot cocoa and peppermint sticks for a cozy holiday snack table. I've also served them alongside simple cheese boards to balance the sweetness with savory bites.

Creative Ways to Present

Wrapping each popcorn ball in colorful cellophane tied with ribbons makes for an adorable homemade gift. For parties, I sometimes stack them like a Christmas tree on a large platter with greenery or candy canes surrounding the base—instantly a festive centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature—this keeps them fresh and maintains the perfect chewy-crunchy texture for about 5 days. Just keep them away from heat and humidity!

Freezing

Freezing popcorn balls isn’t my favorite because the texture can suffer, but if you need to, wrap each ball tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw them overnight at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

I usually skip reheating because these are best enjoyed fresh or at room temp. If they get a little firm, a few seconds in the microwave (wrapped in a paper towel) softens them nicely without turning them into a gooey mess.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use pre-popped popcorn for this recipe?

While you can use pre-popped popcorn, fresh popped popcorn tends to hold up better and results in lighter, fluffier popcorn balls without a stale or chewy texture. Just make sure to remove any unpopped kernels.

How do I prevent the M&Ms from melting?

Add the M&Ms and sprinkles after the marshmallow mixture has cooled slightly, and avoid stirring them too vigorously. Also, pressing some M&Ms onto the outside of the popcorn balls immediately after forming helps keep that iconic candy shell intact.

Can I make these popcorn balls gluten-free?

Absolutely! Plain popcorn kernels and most marshmallows are naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to check that your sprinkles and M&Ms are certified gluten-free to keep the entire recipe safe.

What size should I make the popcorn balls?

The recipe suggests about 1 cup of popcorn mixture per ball, which makes nice 3-inch sized balls. You can make them smaller for bite-sized treats or larger for sharing; just know the yield will vary.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is one of those simple joys that never fails to bring the warmth and sparkle of the season straight into your kitchen. It’s cozy, colorful, and a fantastic excuse to get everyone involved in holiday prep—plus, who can resist that sweet, crunchy bite? Give it a go, tweak it to your liking, and trust me, these popcorn balls might just become your new favorite festive tradition.