There’s something magical about biting into a colorful, sweet, and crunchy treat that instantly feels like Christmas. This Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe captures all that holiday spirit with its bright red and green M&Ms, delightful sprinkles, and gooey marshmallow coating. It’s an easy, fun snack to make and share that will bring smiles to everyone around your holiday table.

The image shows a wooden plate filled with round popcorn balls that have three layers of visible colors: the main layer is light cream popcorn, the second layer has small round candies in bright red and green, and the third layer includes tiny green and red sprinkles spread all over the popcorn balls. The popcorn balls are unevenly shaped but tightly packed, and the background has a white marbled texture with green ornaments and festive decorations in soft focus. 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’ve made these popcorn balls every holiday season for years, and they’re always a hit. They’re not just tasty—they’re also simple to make and totally customizable, making them my go-to festive treat to whip up with family or friends. Let me tell you why you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe again and again.

Quick and Easy: You only need a handful of ingredients and no fancy equipment to create festive magic.
Perfect Holiday Colors: The red and green M&Ms and sprinkles add an instant cheerful pop to your snack table.
Kid-Friendly Fun: Shaping the popcorn balls is a great activity for kids (and adults!) to get involved in the kitchen.
Customizable Sweetness: You can easily swap candies or add extras to make it exactly how you like it.

There are fourteen round popcorn balls placed on a round wooden board. Each ball has a white and slightly shiny popcorn base mixed with small red and green candy pieces and some colorful sprinkles. Around the board on a white marbled surface, there are small white marshmallows, red, green, and gold Christmas baubles, and some loose red, green, and white candy pieces scattered. To the left, there is a branch with red and dark purple berries and part of a black and white checked cloth is visible at the bottom left corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient plays a key role here, balancing texture, flavor, and that festive look. Let’s break down why these ingredients come together so well and offer some tips on picking the best versions for your batch.

Flat lay of half a cup of unpopped popcorn kernels, a small white ceramic bowl of melted unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with miniature white marshmallows, a small white ceramic bowl holding red and green M&M candies, and a small white ceramic bowl containing festive multicolored 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

Popcorn kernels: Fresh popped popcorn is light and airy, giving the balls that crunchy base without any extra fat or heaviness.
Unsalted butter: It melts smoothly and adds a rich flavor without overwhelming sweetness, helping the marshmallows coat the popcorn evenly.
Miniature marshmallows: These melt down to create that sticky, sweet glue that holds everything together. Mini ones melt faster too!
Red and green M&M candies: They add festive color and a chocolatey crunch, making the popcorn balls extra special.
Festive sprinkles: These give texture variety and a cheerful holiday vibe that looks great on any party table.

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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 how flexible this Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is because everyone’s taste is a little different. I often tweak the colors or swap the candy depending on what I have at home or who's coming over. You can easily put your personal spin on it without missing a beat.

Variation: One year, I swapped the M&Ms for crushed peppermint candies. It gave a lovely minty crunch that was a big hit with my husband who loves classic Christmas flavors.

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

Step 1: Pop the Corn Just Right

Start by popping your popcorn kernels using whatever method you prefer—air popper, stovetop, or microwave. The key here is to separate out any unpopped kernels so no one bites into a surprise! Set your fluffy popcorn aside in a large bowl while you get the marshmallow mixture ready.

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Gently

Heat the butter over medium-low heat in a big pot. Once it’s melted, toss in your miniature marshmallows. Stir constantly—this step requires your full attention to avoid burning. The marshmallows should melt into a smooth, glossy sauce in about 5 minutes.

Step 3: Coat the Popcorn with the Marshmallow Mix

Pour your warm marshmallow sauce over the popcorn. Gently fold everything together with a spatula, making sure all those popped kernels get a sweet, sticky coating without crushing them. You want every bite to have that perfect chew and snap.

Step 4: Add Your Festive Colors and Candy

Once the popcorn mixture has cooled just a bit but is still warm, fold in your red and green M&Ms and festive sprinkles. This is where the fun colors really shine through! Be gentle so the candies don’t melt too much at this stage.

Step 5: Shape and Set the Popcorn Balls

Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray before scooping about a cup of popcorn mixture. Then gently press it into firm balls—it helps to keep re-spraying your hands every few balls to prevent sticking. Let them sit at room temperature until fully cooled and set before digging in.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few little tricks that make all the difference when making this Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe perfectly every time. Here are my best tips to help you avoid frustration and maximize yummy results.

Use fresh popcorn: Stale popcorn tends to crumble or be chewy instead of crisp, so pop it fresh just before making the balls.
Keep heat low when melting marshmallows: Too much heat burns them quickly and gives a bitter flavor, so patience is key here.
Spray your hands often: This little habit made shaping much easier for me, and fewer sticky messes mean more fun.
Add candies last and cool moistly: If your candies start melting into a mess, press a few on the outside after shaping to keep them looking perfect and colorful.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe

Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to add a gentle dusting of extra festive sprinkles on the popcorn balls just before serving—it’s a simple touch but really makes them pop visually. For a grown-up twist, sometimes a tiny drizzle of white chocolate helps jazz things up and adds extra flavor depth.

Side Dishes

These popcorn balls are great alongside warm drinks like hot cocoa or spiced cider. They also pair nicely with a cheese and charcuterie board if you want a sweet contrast to savory flavors at your holiday gathering.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive presentation, wrap individual popcorn balls in clear cellophane tied with a bright ribbon. I’ve also arranged them in pretty holiday tins lined with parchment paper as gifts for neighbors and teachers. They always receive smiles and compliments!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Popcorn balls hold up really well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. I’ve found keeping them out of the fridge prevents the marshmallow coating from getting tough or sticky.

Freezing

You can freeze these popcorn balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag. Just thaw them at room temperature before serving, and they’ll taste almost as fresh as when you made them.

Reheating

I usually don’t recommend reheating because the marshmallow coating can soften too much, but if you want to refresh their chewiness, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave (wrapped in wax paper) helps without melting the candy decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use pre-popped popcorn for this recipe?

While it’s possible to use pre-popped popcorn, fresh popped popcorn tends to be lighter and crunchier, which helps the popcorn balls hold together better without becoming soggy. If you use pre-popped, make sure it’s very fresh and dry.

What’s the best way to prevent the candy from melting?

Adding candies after the mixture has cooled a bit helps reduce melting. Also, spraying your hands with cooking spray before shaping the balls prevents heat transfer, which can melt the candies. If some melting happens, pressing candies onto the outside after shaping helps preserve their look.

How large should I make the popcorn balls?

I usually make mine about 3 inches in diameter, which lets you get around 13 popcorn balls from the batch. If you prefer smaller sizes, around 2 inches, you’ll get closer to 16. It really depends on what you like and how many you want to serve.

Can I substitute the M&Ms for other candies?

Absolutely! You can swap the M&Ms for any small candies you prefer, like crushed peppermint, mini chocolate chips, or even holiday-themed gummy candies. Just keep in mind that some candies may react differently with the marshmallow coating, especially if they’re prone to melting.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Popcorn Balls Recipe is one of my all-time favorite holiday traditions. It combines nostalgia, fun colors, and delicious flavor all in one easy-to-make treat that everyone loves. I hope you’ll enjoy making (and eating!) them as much as I do—grab your ingredients, bring in the holiday spirit, and have a blast shaping these colorful balls with your favorite people!