Easy 3 Ingredient Marshmallow Popcorn Balls (No Corn Syrup)

These easy marshmallow popcorn balls are the perfect old-fashioned treat.  They are super easy to make, featuring just three simple ingredients!

Sweet and chewy, these delicious fall treats combine butter, marshmallows, and vanilla for an old-fashioned dessert everyone will love. 

Jump to Recipe

Certain treats just take me down memory lane, when life was slower and homemade treats were shared during the holidays.  

These homemade popcorn balls are made from simple ingredients–we’ve avoided the corn syrup and food coloring in this recipe and stuck to traditional ingredients like butter, vanilla, marshmallows, and popped corn. 

My ten-year-old daughter, Cecelia, created this recipe on Halloween.  As the wind whipped through Halloween night and feet crunched through damp leaves, she set these nostalgic treats on the porch for trick-or-treaters.

Check out my popular kettle corn recipe and this 3 ingredient fudge for more simple recipes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These popcorn balls are quick and easy to make.  Here’s why you’ll love them:

• This holiday treat was made with just 3 simple ingredients, all easy to find at the store
• This is a fast and simple recipe; it comes together in just a few minutes
• This is an excellent recipe if you are looking for last-minute recipes for the holiday season
• This sweet treat is reminiscent of years gone by and can be shared by young and old alike!

Ingredients

• 8 cups of popped popcorn
• 16-ounce bag of mini marshmallows
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (this is optional)

How To Make Easy Popcorn Balls

This easy stove-top recipe is simple to make and comes together quickly. It’s the perfect snack for Halloween or weekend movie nights. Here’s how to make it: 

First, cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a large bowl, pop enough popcorn to have 8 cups. (This should be 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels.)

Over medium heat in a large saucepan, melt 1/4 cup salted butter.  Add the entire bag of marshmallows, stirring until completely melted. If using, add in a teaspoon of vanilla and stir until combined. 

Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn until it is well coated with the marshmallow mixture. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes, but not too long. 

Next, coat your hands with butter or nonstick cooking spray.  Form the popcorn into soft balls (about the size of a one-cup measuring cup), and set on waxed paper or parchment paper.  They will be sticky!

Form 8 popcorn balls and set them on the tray. You’re all done! It’s really that easy. 

Variations

If you like, decorate your popcorn balls with edible eyes so they look like ghosts or goblins, coat them with festive sprinkles, or add some chocolate chips to the mixture!

Halloween Popcorn Balls

Just add eyes to turn to these popcorn balls into a spooky, fun Halloween treat!

Baking Tips

• Instead of using a baking sheet, you can stick the popcorn balls into cupcake liners. The liner will make it easy to share this delicious treat with friends or family. 
• Remove any popcorn kernels you see prior to dumping the popcorn into the marshmallow mixture.
• Make sure to coat your hands with lots of butter or nonstick cooking spray  in order to prevent the sticky popcorn balls from sticking to your hands!
• You can use an air popper or microwaved popcorn for this recipe.

How To Store

 These old-fashioned popcorn balls are best eaten fresh (ideally on the same day they are made).  However, you can store them in an airtight container or in plastic wrap for up to a week.

I hope you enjoyed this easy recipe. Let me know in the comments if you tried the recipe, and please leave a 5-star review if it worked out for you!