Popcorn ornament balls are fun and easy treats for the whole family to make, and they make great decorations for the tree, too! The best part is there are so many yummy and festive ingredients you can use to decorate them.

Ingredients:

10 cups popped popcorn

1 10 oz. package marshmallows

¼ cup butter, cubed

¼ tsp salt

miniature candy canes

decorations such as colored sugar, sprinkles, crushed candy canes, chocolate candies

1. Pop your popcorn. Remove unpopped kernels and place popcorn in a large bowl.
2. In a large saucepan, combine marshmallows, butter, and salt. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until melted. Alternatively, melt the marshmallow and butter in a glass bowl and microwave on high for about 1 minute 15 seconds, or until marshmallows melt; stir in salt.
3. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn. Toss with a rubber spatula. 
4. With greased hands (e.g., spray hands with no-stick cooking spray), shape and compress mixture into balls and place them on wax paper. Use caution, the mixture will be hot!
5. While popcorn balls are still warm, push in candies or roll over decorations such as sprinkles, colored sugar, and crushed candy canes. Then compress again to make sure it all sticks to the marshmallow.
6. Stick in  a miniature candy cane at the top of the ball.

Other fun variations:

• drizzle melted chocolate or candy melts on top
• mix in dried cranberries or other dried fruits and nuts
• when mostly cooled, mix in chocolate chips