• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Eating
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
      • Work with Me
    • Rules and Disclosures
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Press
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls

    Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls

    Published: Mar 30, 2016 · Modified: Dec 20, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Popcorn ball on a sheet of brown parchment paperAs life has gotten busier, we've had to set aside time to just be together as a family. So, Fridays have become our family night.

    On Fridays, we have a quick dinner, and then we play a board game or two. Then, it's time for my kids' favorite part - a movie and some popcorn!

    And my kids seriously love popcorn! Most nights we go with a classic flavor like butter, but once in a while, we go all out and make a special popcorn treat.

    Now, these Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls really aren't difficult to make, and if you can make a marshmallow cereal treat, then you can make these popcorn balls.

    Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls next to M&Ms and chocolate chips

    How to make popcorn balls

    • Have fun with the flavors of popcorn that you use to make them! I use plain (no butter, no salt) microwave popcorn. Marshmallow flavored popcorn would also be good.
    • You might be tempted to mix the M&Ms and chocolate chips in. Don't. Mixing them into the mixture will leave you with a chocolaty mess. It works much better to just press them into the outside of the popcorn ball.

    More popcorn ball recipes

    • S'mores Popcorn Balls
    • Easy Popcorn Ball Recipe
    • Dirt Balls (Halloween Popcorn Balls)

    If you’ve tried this sweet & salty popcorn balls recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes! You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Sweet & Salty Popcorn Ball Recipe

    Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls

    Easy marshmallow popcorn ball recipe 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 10 popcorn balls
    Calories: 350kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 3 oz bag JOLLY TIME Crispy n' White Popcorn
    • ¼ c . butter
    • 10 oz bag marshmallows
    • 1 c . pretzel pieces
    • 1 c . mini or regular M&M's
    • ½ c . mini chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Pop popcorn according to package directions.
    • Set aside to cool.
    • In a large pot, melt butter over low heat.
    • Add marshmallows, and cook, stirring regularly, until melted.
    • Remove any un-popped kernels from popcorn, and stir popped popcorn into marshmallow mixture.
    • Add pretzel pieces, and stir in to combine.
    • Using a 1 cup measuring cup for large popcorn balls or a ½ cup measuring cup for small popcorn balls, scoop out popcorn mixture.
    • Shape into balls. If the mixture sticks to your hands, spray your hands lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Press M&M's and mini chocolate chips into the outside of the popcorn ball.
    • Let cool to room temperature before serving.

    Notes

    *Nutrition values are estimates.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1popcorn ball | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
    « One-Skillet Baked Ziti
    Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread »
    19.9K shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina Hurt

      January 07, 2019 at 9:27 am

      Can I use different popcorn?? I cant find Jolly time brand around where I live.

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 07, 2019 at 9:55 am

        You can! Any plain (unflavored) popcorn will work. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Shush

      October 12, 2017 at 2:56 pm

      You just use one bag of popcorn to make 10 large balls?

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 15, 2017 at 10:21 am

        Yes, the popcorn balls are about 1 cup each.

        Reply
    3. Ali

      August 28, 2017 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      How far in advance can you make these before they are consumed? I would like to have them on a party dessert table.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 28, 2017 at 11:23 pm

        I think they taste best the day that they're made, but you could make them up to a day in advance. I wouldn't suggest making them any farther in advance than that.

        Reply
    4. Genevieve

      December 19, 2016 at 11:28 am

      Can I freeze these for freshness over the holidays?

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 19, 2016 at 12:07 pm

        I'm not sure! I've never tried to freeze them. Sorry that I can't be more help.

        Reply
    5. Dakota

      December 18, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      How many popcorn balls does this make?

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 19, 2016 at 12:06 pm

        You should get about 10-11 large popcorn balls, depending on how tightly you pack them.

        Reply
    6. Lanae Bond

      April 15, 2016 at 4:03 pm

      I have also wanted to make popcorn balls as a kid but for some reason never got a chance! I think I will finally make them this year and I will try your recipe!

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 16, 2016 at 11:16 am

        If you've never made them, now is the time! =) This type of popcorn ball is super easy to make, and I hope that you enjoy them. =)

        Reply
    7. Karly Campbell

      March 31, 2016 at 2:28 pm

      These look absolutely amazeballs- pun intended. My kiddos will love them! ...If I don't eat them all first. Oops :)

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 31, 2016 at 10:20 pm

        LOL - gotta do some quality control before the kiddos try them! ;) Thanks so much, Karly!

        Reply
    8. Rahul @samosastreet.com

      March 31, 2016 at 12:44 pm

      I would love to be able to grab one right through the computer screen. Sweet and salty are my favorite combination.

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 31, 2016 at 10:21 pm

        Well, we would get along just fine then! =)

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe:




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

    More about me →

    Summer Favorites

    • Zucchini Bread
    • Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
    • Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Homemade Funnel Cake
    • Golden Graham S'mores
    • Broccoli Salad

    Popular Posts

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Brownie Cookie Recipe
    • Whipped Buttercream Frosting without Powdered Sugar
    • Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Muffins

    Subscribe via email

    to stay in the loop on new posts!

    Footer

    As Featured In

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal
    • Rules and Disclosures

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Press

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 I Heart Eating

    19.9K shares