Caramel popcorn balls dipped in chocolate and lined with sprinkles are such a enjoyable and straightforward home made deal with. These popcorn balls are completely holiday-worthy and nice for customizing relying on the season!
If you happen to’re on the lookout for an identical scrumptious home made 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? Huge 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 essentially 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 scorching 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 best 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 youngsters concerned! These chocolate caramel popcorn balls are a good 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 alter up the sprinkles, and so on. to swimsuit nearly any event.
- Nice for gifting. I like giving chocolate caramel popcorn balls out as celebration favors and last-minute presents! Wrap them up and tie them with a ribbon, simple peasy.
What You’ll Want
You’ll want popcorn, in fact, and some additional elements which are more than likely hanging out within the pantry already. Along with the elements 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 quite a bit, 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 bundle (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. Normally, 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 may as well use chopped chocolate, which melts even smoother.
- Sprinkles – I exploit crimson and inexperienced Christmas sprinkles, however the great thing about this popcorn balls recipe is that you may customise the decorations for any vacation. Use crimson, white, and blue sprinkles for the 4th of July or orange sprinkles for Halloween popcorn balls!
The best way 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 while 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 may as well soften the chocolate over a double boiler on the stovetop.
- Form the popcorn balls. Now, it’s time to get somewhat messy! Be sure that the caramel-covered popcorn is cool sufficient to deal with. Then, grease your fingers with butter, and form the popcorn into balls. I normally make mine in regards to 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 after the other, 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 remaining.
Recipe Suggestions
- 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. If you happen to wait too lengthy, the caramel will begin to harden.
- Work rapidly. On that observe, as soon as the caramel popcorn is cool sufficient to the touch, work rapidly when shaping the balls whereas the caramel remains to be good and malleable.
- Grease your fingers. Make certain your fingers are buttered or greased with a little bit of cooking spray earlier than you form your popcorn. I preserve a dish with butter shut by so I can freshly grease my fingers earlier than shaping every ball.
Simple Variations
- Completely different chocolate. Dip the popcorn balls in white chocolate, melted peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips. You may as well use coloured sweet melts!
Go away them undipped. After all, when you’d desire to skip the chocolate, that’s effective, too! After shaping the caramel popcorn balls, coat them in sprinkles whereas the caramel remains to be heat. - Peppermint. As a substitute of sprinkles, dip the chocolate-covered popcorn balls into crushed sweet canes or peppermint sweet for an additional vacation model.
- Colours. Add a couple of drops of meals coloring to the caramel to dye these popcorn balls any coloration that matches your celebration 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.
The best way to Retailer
These chocolate caramel popcorn balls style one of the best on the day they’re made, however you possibly can wrap them in plastic wrap or parchment paper and preserve them at room temperature for as much as 3 days.
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Pop the popcorn. Pop the popcorn in keeping with the instructions on the bundle. Place the popped popcorn in a big bowl. Put aside.
Soften the caramel. Put the unwrapped caramel candies and butter in a medium-sized saucepan; cook dinner over medium-low warmth and stir till melted and easy.
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.
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.
Form the popcorn balls. Grease your fingers with butter and form the popcorn into the dimensions of a softball.
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 offered as courtesy. Values might range in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
