There’s just something magical about those sweet, crunchy spheres that capture the very essence of holiday cheer. This Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is a delightful blend of gooey marshmallows, colorful candies, and that irresistible popcorn crunch that makes every bite feel like a celebration in your mouth.

There is a wooden plate filled with round popcorn balls, each made of light-colored popcorn mixed tightly with small red and green candy pieces and sprinkles, giving them a festive look. The popcorn balls are placed close together, showing their bumpy texture with the colorful candies spread evenly on each one. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with holiday decorations nearby, including red and black checkered cloth, pine cones, a white wooden stand with red snowflake designs, and a few green Christmas ornaments scattered around. 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 Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember making these popcorn balls with my family when I was a kid — the kitchen filled with the warm scent of melted marshmallows and butter, laughter, and sticky fingers everywhere. This Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe feels like a hug in food form, and it's so fun to make with friends or family.

Perfect Holiday Treat: The colorful M&Ms and festive sprinkles instantly brighten up your snack table.
Easy and Quick: It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, so you can whip it up even during a busy holiday season.
Kid-Friendly Fun: Kids love helping with shaping the balls—and tasting the gooey marshmallow mix!
Versatile and Customizable: You can switch out candies or add nuts and dried fruit to make it your own.

The image shows twelve round popcorn balls arranged closely on a round wooden board. Each popcorn ball has a light creamy color with colorful red and green candy pieces mixed evenly throughout, adding bright spots of color. The popcorn balls have a slightly bumpy texture from the popcorn and candies. Around the wooden board on a white marbled surface, there are scattered small marshmallows, red and green round candies, and tiny sprinkles. The background includes red and green Christmas ornaments and a cluster of berry-like decorations on branches, giving it a festive look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this recipe comes from simple pantry staples coming together to create something festive and irresistible. Each ingredient serves a purpose—popcorn gives crunch without heaviness, butter and marshmallows provide the glue and sweetness, and those red and green M&Ms along with sprinkles bring that unmistakable holiday vibe.

Flat lay of a small pile of shiny unpopped yellow popcorn kernels, a few cubes of pale yellow unsalted butter, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with soft miniature white marshmallows, a small white bowl holding bright red and green M&M candies, and another small white bowl with colorful festive 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

Unpopped popcorn kernels: Fresh popping means you avoid stale popcorn and get that perfect light crunch.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps melt the marshmallows smoothly; unsalted lets you control the sweetness balance.
Miniature marshmallows: Melt easily to hold the popcorn together with a perfect chewiness.
Red and green M&M candies: Classic Christmas colors that add a sweet bite and visual pop.
Festive sprinkles: Adds texture and a fun holiday sparkle, making these popcorn balls truly special.

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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

I love making these as-is, but sometimes I switch it up to suit different occasions or dietary needs. This recipe is a great canvas to make truly yours!

Variation: One of my favorite twists is adding chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for a little crunch contrast—just sprinkle them in with the candies before forming the balls.
Diet-Friendly Option: You can swap out the M&Ms for allergen-friendly or vegan candies to suit everyone's needs.
Seasonal Spin: Try adding dried cranberries or chopped peppermint sticks for extra festive flavors.

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

Step 1: Pop the Perfect Batch of Popcorn

I always use a stovetop popper or air popper for the freshest popcorn possible. Once popped, take a few moments to gently pick out any unpopped kernels—you don’t want any surprises when biting in! Set the fluffy popcorn aside in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Gently

In a large pot over medium-low heat, I melt the butter first—watch for it to just bubble lightly and not brown. Then, toss in the miniature marshmallows. Stir constantly; patience is key here to get a smooth, glossy marshmallow mixture without burning or clumping.

Step 3: Combine and Coat Your Popcorn

Pour the luscious marshmallow mixture over your popcorn, then gently fold and stir with a spatula. The goal is full coating without crushing the popcorn. Let it cool just enough so it’s still pliable but not scorching hot—that’s perfect for handling.

Step 4: Fold in Your Festive Add-Ins

This is when the red and green M&Ms and sprinkles join the party. Use a rubber spatula to fold them in gently so the colors distribute nicely without crushing the candies. This step adds that classic Christmas pop of color and sweetness.

Step 5: Shape Your Popcorn Balls

Keep some non-stick cooking spray handy to coat your hands as you shape the balls to prevent stickiness. Scoop roughly one cup of the mixture and press gently but firmly into round balls. If you find the mixture sticking too much, spray your hands again. You’ll get about 13-16 balls, depending on size.

Step 6: Let Them Cool and Set

Lay your popcorn balls on wax paper or a clean surface and allow them to cool completely at room temperature. They’ll firm up and hold together perfectly, ready for gifting or snacking!

Top Tip

From making these popcorn balls several times, I’ve learned a few things that make all the difference between a so-so batch and a showstopper.

Use fresh popcorn: Stale popcorn can turn chewy and damp when coated, so always pop fresh kernels for crispness.
Don’t rush melting the marshmallows: Keep your heat on medium-low and stir constantly to avoid scorching, which can make the coating tough.
Spray those hands often: The marshmallow mixture is sticky business—regularly spraying your hands with non-stick spray saves you a sticky mess.
Press candies on after shaping: If your M&Ms start to melt in the mix, gently press a few onto the outside after forming to keep their shape and color intact.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

festive popcorn balls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to add a sprinkle of extra festive sprinkles or even some edible glitter dust on top to make these popcorn balls sparkle under holiday lights. Sometimes, I wrap each ball with cellophane and tie with a festive ribbon—it makes them look like little Christmas gifts!

Side Dishes

Popcorn balls are perfect alongside hot cocoa or spiced cider for a cozy snack time. They also pair beautifully with simple nuts or a cheese board for a fun holiday party spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For my last holiday party, I arranged popcorn balls in a festive gift box lined with tissue paper, and they were a total hit. You can also stack smaller balls on a skewer to create a "popcorn ball tree" centerpiece—cute and tasty!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay wonderfully fresh and chewy for up to 5 days, though they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

I’ve frozen these popcorn balls wrapped individually in plastic wrap and stored them in a freezer-safe bag. They thaw well overnight in the fridge and still taste fresh and perfectly chewy.

Reheating

If you want to freshen them up a bit after freezing, give them a quick zap in the microwave for about 10 seconds to soften the marshmallow coating—just be careful not to overheat.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use pre-popped popcorn for this recipe?

You can use pre-popped popcorn if you make sure it’s fresh and not stale. However, freshly popped kernels usually yield a better texture and flavor since you avoid any sogginess or loss of crunch.

How do I prevent the M&M’s from melting?

The warmth of the marshmallow mixture and your hands can cause some melting. To avoid this, you can fold in the candies gently once the mixture cools a bit or press some candies onto the outside of the balls after shaping.

Can I make this recipe vegan or allergy-friendly?

Yes! Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, and use vegan marshmallows and allergy-friendly candies. There are many plant-based options available in most grocery stores now.

How long do the popcorn balls stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the popcorn balls will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days. Beyond that, they might start to dry out or lose their chewy texture.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe feels like my ultimate nostalgic holiday treat, the kind of thing that sparks joy and makes memories. Whether you’re making them for a party, gifts, or just a cozy night in, I promise you’ll love the ease and festive fun they bring to your kitchen. Go ahead, grab your marshmallows and popcorn—let’s make some magic!