Caramel popcorn balls dipped in chocolate and lined with sprinkles are such a enjoyable and simple do-it-yourself deal with. These popcorn balls are completely holiday-worthy and nice for customizing relying on the season!
In the event you’re on the lookout for an analogous scrumptious do-it-yourself deal with, attempt my marshmallow popcorn balls, subsequent! I additionally love gifting these popcorn balls with a jar of spiced nuts as a festive, simple meals reward.
These chocolate caramel popcorn balls have at all times been successful with the entire household. My father? Massive fan. He at all times mentioned that these caramel popcorn balls reminded him of his youth. In the meantime, my daughter at all times had probably the most enjoyable dipping the chocolate-covered popcorn balls into the sprinkles! They’re really a household affair (and a scrumptious one at that). I make these popcorn balls yearly across the holidays and we make a day out of it, full with sizzling chocolate and a Mariah Carey soundtrack.
Why You’ll Love These Caramel Popcorn Balls
- Simple to make. Making popcorn balls at all times feels a bit like arts and crafts in one of the simplest ways. It’s very simple, and my model makes use of caramel candies for additional comfort. There’s no have to boil your individual sugar to make caramel from scratch except you wish to.
- Get the children concerned! These chocolate caramel popcorn balls are an effective way to rope little ones into Christmas “baking”! There’s not really any baking concerned, and it’s a great deal of enjoyable to form and dip the popcorn balls into chocolate after which pile on the sprinkles.
- Adaptable. Popcorn balls aren’t only for Christmastime, and there are many methods to vary up the sprinkles, and many others. to swimsuit nearly any event.
- Nice for gifting. I really like giving chocolate caramel popcorn balls out as social gathering favors and last-minute presents! Wrap them up and tie them with a ribbon, simple peasy.
What You’ll Want
You’ll want popcorn, after all, and some additional components which might be probably hanging out within the pantry already. Along with the components I cowl beneath, you’ll additionally want popsicle sticks! Scroll right down to the printable recipe card for the whole checklist with quantities and recipe particulars.
- Popcorn – This recipe requires 14 cups of plain, popped popcorn. This feels like so much, however actually, 14 cups of popped popcorn = 1 cup of kernels, which is sufficient to make 10 popcorn balls.
- Caramel Candies – I at all times have a package deal (or 5) of Brach’s Milk Maid Caramel Sweet in my cabinet this time of the yr. Any chewy caramel sweet will work on this recipe. Usually, you’ll have to unwrap them individually.
- Butter – This may be salted or unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
- Chocolate Chips – Semisweet or darkish chocolate chips, melted in a double boiler or the microwave. You too can use chopped chocolate, which melts even smoother.
- Sprinkles – I exploit crimson and inexperienced Christmas sprinkles, however the fantastic thing about this popcorn balls recipe is which you could customise the decorations for any vacation. Use crimson, white, and blue sprinkles for the 4th of July or orange sprinkles for Halloween popcorn balls!
Easy methods to Make Popcorn Balls
Confession time: The primary time I made these chocolate caramel popcorn balls, I burnt the caramel. I appeared away for what felt like a second and bam! Burnt. It occurred SO FAST. So, let this be a warning that melting caramel on the stovetop requires your full consideration. Total although, the steps are tremendous simple:
- Put together the caramel popcorn. Pop your plain popcorn, both air-popped or within the microwave. Subsequent, soften the unwrapped caramel candies in a saucepan with softened butter. Afterward, pour that over the popcorn, and toss to coat. Let that cool a short time you put together the chocolate for dipping.
- Soften the chocolate. Warmth the chocolate chips within the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between till they’re melted and easy. You too can soften the chocolate over a double boiler on the stovetop.
- Form the popcorn balls. Now, it’s time to get a little bit messy! Make it possible for the caramel-covered popcorn is cool sufficient to deal with. Then, grease your palms with butter, and form the popcorn into balls. I often make mine concerning the measurement of a softball, however you may make them smaller, it’s as much as you.
- Dip in chocolate. Press a popsicle stick into every popcorn ball. One by one, dip the balls into the melted chocolate after which instantly into the sprinkles. Set the dipped caramel popcorn balls apart on wax paper when you end the remainder.
Recipe Ideas
- Don’t let the caramel corn cool for too lengthy. The caramel actually wants solely a minute or two to chill off earlier than you can begin shaping your popcorn balls. In the event you wait too lengthy, the caramel will begin to harden.
- Work shortly. On that notice, as soon as the caramel popcorn is cool sufficient to the touch, work shortly when shaping the balls whereas the caramel continues to be good and malleable.
- Grease your palms. Ensure that your palms are buttered or greased with a little bit of cooking spray earlier than you form your popcorn. I maintain a dish with butter shut by so I can freshly grease my palms earlier than shaping every ball.
Simple Variations
- Totally different chocolate. Dip the popcorn balls in white chocolate, melted peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips. You too can use coloured sweet melts!
Go away them undipped. After all, if you happen to’d favor to skip the chocolate, that’s effective, too! After shaping the caramel popcorn balls, coat them in sprinkles whereas the caramel continues to be heat. - Peppermint. As a substitute of sprinkles, dip the chocolate-covered popcorn balls into crushed sweet canes or peppermint sweet for one more vacation model.
- Colours. Add a number of drops of meals coloring to the caramel to dye these popcorn balls any coloration that matches your social gathering theme.
- Combine-ins. Stir mix-ins like M&Ms or mini marshmallows into the popcorn earlier than shaping. Watch out to not overdo it, although, as too many add-ins can forestall the popcorn from sticking.
- Halloween. Make Halloween popcorn balls with orange sprinkles, and you’ll even fold sweet corn or Reese’s Items into the caramel popcorn.
- Extra holidays and events. Roll the chocolate caramel popcorn balls in crimson, white, and blue sprinkles for Memorial Day and July 4th, pink or blue sprinkles for child showers, or any colours you’d like relying on the event.
Easy methods to Retailer
These chocolate caramel popcorn balls style the very best on the day they’re made, however you possibly can wrap them in plastic wrap or parchment paper and maintain them at room temperature for as much as 3 days.
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Pop the popcorn. Pop the popcorn based on the instructions on the package deal. Place the popped popcorn in a big bowl. Put aside.
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Soften the caramel. Put the unwrapped caramel candies and butter in a medium-sized saucepan; prepare dinner over medium-low warmth and stir till melted and easy.
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Mix. Take away the caramel from the warmth and pour it over the popcorn. Combine till all of the popcorn is nicely coated. Let stand for a few minutes to chill.
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Soften the chocolate. Within the meantime, put together your chocolate chips by melting them both within the microwave or over a double boiler. Soften them till easy.
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Form the popcorn balls. Grease your palms with butter and form the popcorn into the dimensions of a softball.
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Dip! Stick a popsicle stick in every popcorn ball and dip every popcorn ball into melted chocolate, then roll in sprinkles. Place on waxed paper till the chocolate is about. Serve.
Energy: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 5g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Ldl cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could fluctuate based on the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
