Description
Spooky Ghost Popcorn Balls are a fun and festive Halloween treat made by coating popped popcorn with melted marshmallows, shaping them into balls, and topping with white candy coating and candy eyeballs for a ghostly effect. Perfect for parties and kids, these sticky, sweet popcorn balls are easy to make and delightfully spooky.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn Balls
- 16 cups popped popcorn (use plain, air-popped or microwave popcorn)
- 4 cups mini marshmallows (can substitute with regular marshmallows)
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter (melted margarine can be used as a substitute)
Decoration
- 12 oz white candy melts (can substitute with white chocolate chips)
- 1 cup candy eyeballs (gummy spiders or Halloween sprinkles can be used instead)
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn: Start by popping enough popcorn to fill about 16 cups, removing any unpopped kernels. Transfer the fluffy popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
- Melt marshmallows and butter: In a medium pot over medium heat, combine the mini marshmallows and butter. Stir constantly until the mixture is fully melted and smooth, about 5-7 minutes.
- Coat the popcorn: Carefully pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn. Gently stir until all the popcorn is fully coated with the sticky marshmallow mixture.
- Shape popcorn balls: Lightly butter your hands to prevent sticking, then take portions of the popcorn mixture and shape them into golf ball-sized balls. Place the shaped balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cool and firm up: Allow the popcorn balls to cool and firm up for 30 minutes to 1 hour before decorating.
- Melt candy coating: Melt the white candy melts according to the package instructions until smooth and ready for dipping.
- Decorate popcorn balls: Dip the tops of each popcorn ball into the melted candy coating and immediately sprinkle candy eyeballs on top before the coating sets.
- Set the coating: Let the candy coating fully set before serving or storing the popcorn balls to ensure the decoration stays in place.
Notes
- Use plain popcorn without butter or salt for best flavor with marshmallow coating.
- If mini marshmallows are not available, cut regular marshmallows into smaller pieces to melt more easily.
- Lightly buttering your hands will make shaping the balls easier and less sticky.
- You can substitute candy eyeballs with gummy spiders or festive Halloween sprinkles for variety.
- Store popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh for a few days.
- Be careful when melting candy melts to avoid overheating and burning the chocolate.
