When we were kids, my cousins and I used to help our Grandpa make popcorn balls every Halloween for the trick-or-treaters and sometimes for Christmas. It was so much fun watching him pour the hot marshmallows over the giant cast iron bowl full of freshly popped popcorn (which I don't recommend dropping on your foot, it will give you a black and blue toenail for a week before it falls off completely), stick his arms in up to his elbows to mix it all up, while sitting there not-so-patiently in anticipation of dipping our own hands in to start making the balls.
After Grandpa passed, we decided to keep the tradition going and each take turns making popcorn balls for the rest of the group. Some years it happens, some years it doesn't, but when it does...it's a really great thing.
This year my cousins Sarah, Jane and I decided to make popcorn balls and share the tradition with our kiddos. They had a lot of fun getting nice and sticky, and we had a lot of fun reminiscing and enjoy our far too rare family gatherings.
You too can make popcorn balls a new family tradition!
1/3 stick butter
1 bag large marshmallows
2 bags popped micro popcorn OR about 8-10 cups air popped corn.
Food coloring of your choice
This is basically like making rice krispie treats but you use popcorn instead of cereal.
1. Melt your butter in a large bowl in the microwave
2. Add the bag of marshmallows to the melted butter and stir them up.
3. Melt the marshmallows until smooth, removing from micro to stir every 45 seconds or so
4. Stir in food coloring of your choice. Photos below are the neon colors, very fun!
5. After your popcorn is popped, put in large bowl while attempting to keep the seeds apart from the popped corn. (i.e. you really don't want to be responsible for breaking a loved ones tooth).
6. Pour hot colored marshmallow goo over popcorn and stir with a large spatula or wooden spoon. Make sure you stir it well and get all the goo that has fallen to the bottom of the bowl.
7. Put some water in a separate bowl and dip your hands in - with wet hands, grab a handful of popcorn and squeeze into balls.
8. Lather, dip, repeat.
9. Place balls on wax or parchment paper to cool/dry. Once cool, place in baggies and give to everyone you know - they will love you for it!! (Or you can do what we did and just eat them all day, not share with anyone, and end the day with a stomach ache when the karma takes effect).
Enjoy!!
