Tips on How to Make Popcorn Balls

1. If using add-ins, add them after you combine the popcorn and caramel-syrup recipe of your choice. Stir well, then form into balls.
2. It's easiest to form popcorn balls while mixture is hot-- get helpers to make the process move along quickly.

3. Keep a bowl of cold water handy to cool your hands if hot popcorn mixture starts to burn.

4. Taking out the unpopped kernels is key-- unless you want to break a tooth. An easy way to do this is to use your hands to scoop the popped popcorn into another container. All of the unpopped corns will fall to the bottom.

5. For colored popcorn balls, pour a few drops of food coloring into the caramel or marshmallow mixture before adding to popcorn. Make the color brighter than you need, as the pale-colored popcorn will dilute any coloring.

6. Resist the urge to over-pack your popcorn balls. Tightly packed popcorn balls are hard and not very tasty.

Popcorn Ball Recipe Decorations and Add-Ins

Popcorn balls can be decorated for any occasion: Halloween, Christmas, birthdays... you name it.

Popcorn Ball Decoration Ideas:

Food coloring for colored popcorn balls
Edible glitter
Melted white, milk, or dark chocolate (drizzled)
Melted peanut butter or butterscotch chips (drizzled)
Candies, such as candy corns, jelly beans, red hots, etc.
Black licorice for "spider legs"
Gummy "body parts"
Gummy worms

Popcorn Ball Add-ins:

Nuts (peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, etc.)
Chocolate or white chocolate chips
Peanut butter or butterscotch chips
Toffee bits
Melted peanut butter (add to caramel/marshmallow mixture)
Sprinkles
Cocoa powder or baking chocolate (add to caramel/marshmallow mixture)
Mini or regular M&M's
Graham cracker pieces
Dried fruit
Sweetened flaked coconut
Alternative flavoring extracts: coconut, almond, rum, maple, peppermint, etc.