Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls
These Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls are the perfect snack or dessert! Packed full of salty pretzels, marshmallows and melted chocolate chips for the best sweet and salty treat!
What are popcorn balls?
If you can make rice krispie treats, then you can make popcorn balls! It is basically the same idea. These sweet and salty popcorn balls are just popcorn mixed with melted marshmallows, salty pretzels, and chocolate chips (that melt in the marshmallows and get gooey and delicious). Then after you mix all of the ingredients together, you can shape them into balls because it makes them way more fun to eat!
Ingredients for Popcorn Balls
- Popcorn kernels – I like to use the plain popcorn kernels and pop the kernels myself, but you can also use store-bought popcorn if that is easier for you. Just make sure it is plain, and not super salty and buttery. My favorite popcorn kernels are from Now Foods, which is what I used for these!
- Marshmallows – Make sure your marshmallows are gluten-free, I love Dandie’s brand.
- Butter – I used vegan butter, but any butter works!
- Gluten-Free pretzels – The pretzels add the perfect amount of crunch and saltiness!
- Chocolate chips – You can always leave these out and just have pretzel popcorn balls, but I love the addition of the sweet chocolate!
How to make popcorn balls
Step 1
If you are making your own popcorn, then you will want to pop the kernels. Put about 1/3 cup of unpopped kernels into a brown paper bag and fold over the the top twice. Microwave for about 2 to 4 minutes, stopping when you hear a few seconds between pops. Then, remove the bag from the oven. Do two batches of this to end up with a total of about 8 cups of popcorn. * It is important to sift out the unpopped kernels after cooking, you don’t want those in your popcorn balls!
Step 2
Preheat a large pot over medium heat, once hot, add the butter to melt. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows melt. Then add in the chopped pretzels and stir. You are going to want to work quickly and add the popcorn and chocolate chips next, folding the popcorn into the marshmallows until everything is combined. The chocolate will melt and cover the whole mixture.
Step 3
Once all ingredients are well combined, let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes to be able to use your hands. Then, take a handful of the mixture and use your hands to roll it into a 2-3 inch ball. Continue with the rest of the mixture, and enjoy!
Flavor Variations for Popcorn Balls
You can get creative with this kind of recipe! You could make s’mores with graham crackers instead of pretzels, add different candies, use a caramel sauce to make kettle corn balls, or even add in chopped cookies! The options are endless!
Don’t forget to use code CANDACE at NOW Foods for 20% off!
Sweet & Salty Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn (I used Now Foods popcorn)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 10 oz bag marshmallows
- 3/4 cup gluten-free pretzels roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- If you are making your own popcorn, then you will want to pop the kernels. Put about 1/3 cup of unpopped kernels into a brown paper bag and fold over the top twice. Microwave for about 2 to 4 minutes, stopping when you hear a few seconds between pops. Then, remove the bag from the oven. Do two batches of this to end up with a total of about 8 cups of popcorn. * It is important to sift out the unpopped kernels after cooking, you don't want those in your popcorn balls!
- Preheat a large pot over medium heat, once hot, add the butter to melt. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows melt. Then add in the chopped pretzels and stir. You are going to want to work quickly and add the popcorn and chocolate chips next, folding the popcorn into the marshmallows until everything is combined. The chocolate will melt and cover the whole mixture.
- Once all ingredients are well combined, let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes to be able to use your hands. Then, take a handful of the mixture and use your hands to roll it into a 2-3 inch ball. Continue with the rest of the mixture, and enjoy!