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Purple People Eater Halloween Popcorn Balls Recipe

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  • Author: Megane
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 popcorn balls
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Purple People Eater Halloween Popcorn Balls are a fun and spooky treat perfect for Halloween parties or festive gatherings. Made with freshly popped popcorn coated in a purple marshmallow mixture, these popcorn balls are decorated with Bugles as horns and large candy eyeballs to resemble cute monsters. The recipe is easy to follow and yields 12 vibrant, flavorful popcorn balls that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale

Popcorn

  • 5 Tablespoons popcorn kernels (to make 10 cups of popped popcorn)
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Marshmallow Mixture

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 10 ounces mini marshmallows
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • purple food gel (or food coloring)

Decorations

  • 12 Bugles
  • 12 large candy eyeballs

Instructions

  1. Pop the popcorn: Heat the vegetable oil and popcorn kernels in a large stock pot over medium heat with the lid partially ajar. Cook until the popping slows to minimal pops, approximately 7 minutes. Remove the popped popcorn to a bowl and set aside.
  2. Melt butter and marshmallows: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mini marshmallows, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir continuously until the marshmallows are fully melted and combined, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat immediately to prevent burning.
  3. Add purple coloring: Stir purple food gel or food coloring into the melted marshmallow mixture. Make the color a bit darker than desired as the white popcorn will lighten it slightly.
  4. Combine popcorn and marshmallow mixture: Add the popped popcorn to the marshmallow mixture and mix well to coat every kernel evenly with the purple marshmallow coating.
  5. Form popcorn balls: Run your hands under cold water, then grab approximately 3/4 to 1 cup of the coated popcorn. Press it firmly into a round ball shape, similar to making a snowball. Place the formed popcorn balls on parchment or wax paper to cool and set.
  6. Decorate with horns: While the popcorn balls are still sticky, gently press 2 Bugles into the top of each ball at a slight angle and towards the front to resemble horns. Bugles are ideal for this due to their horn shape and texture.
  7. Add eyes: Press one large candy eyeball onto the front face of each popcorn ball to give them whimsical monster eyes.
  8. Let set: Allow the decorated popcorn balls to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes or until they are no longer sticky and firm enough to handle.

Notes

  • You can use plain bagged popcorn instead of making your own, but avoid any that are flavored or seasoned as it will change the taste of the final treat.
  • On average, 1 Tablespoon of kernels yields about 2 cups of popped popcorn.
  • Bugles are corn snacks shaped like horns and perfectly suited to mimic monster horns, but you can substitute with any similar horn-shaped snack if desired.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 popcorn ball
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 8g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg

Find it online: https://comfortplates.com/purple-people-eater-halloween-popcorn-balls-recipe/