These easy popcorn balls are colored and popped all at once in the Instant Pot. It's an easy and mess-free recipe made using just one pot!
Colored Popcorn Balls in the Instant Pot
Making these popcorn balls are so simple and making them all in one pot really takes the mess out of things!
It's as simple as adding all of the ingredients into the pot except the popcorn kernels and mini marshmallows, allowing the pot to read, "hot" and adding in the kernels.
After the popcorn has popped, remove the ones that didn't pop (there are always a few!), and add the mini marshmallows to the pot and cover with a glass lid. This allows the marshmallows to melt and it makes it easy to make the popcorn balls!
Related: Frosted Animal Crackers
Adding the Dye for the Popcorn Balls
I make my popcorn balls in one step and it really cuts back on the amount of work it takes to make these delicious treats!
After the butter, corn syrup, and oil have melted and mixed together, I then add one color to one side of the pot and the 2nd color to the 2nd side of the pot.
Make sure not to stir the colors you choose together if you don't want to create new colors! Once the pot reads, "hot", the popcorn kernels are added and stirred gently to color them. Then, place the lid on top and watch the magic happen!
Mixing in the Mini Marshmallows
After placing the popcorn back into the pot, add in the mini marshmallows and stir to mix well. Cover the pot with the lid again and allow it to sit long enough for the marshmallows to melt into the popcorn. Stir a few more times to make sure every all of the popcorn is sticky.
Shaping the Popcorn Balls
Once the popcorn mixture has cooled enough to touch, shape the popcorn into 3 inch balls and place them onto parchment paper so that they have a chance to sit and harden.
One cup of popcorn kernels makes about 7 3-inch balls but you can make mini balls and get about 14 popcorn balls from the batch!
📖 Recipe
Colored Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- 3 tablespoon canola oil - or coconut oil
- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- 6 drops blue food dye
- 10 drops red food dye
- 2 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- cooking spray - for hands
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE and add the oil, butter, and light corn syrup.
- Stir and allow the Instant Pot to reach the HOT setting.
- Add the blue food dye to one side of the pot.
- Add the red food dye to the other side of the pot.
- Gently stir each side separately making sure not to blend the colors.
- Add the popcorn kernels to the pot and stir gently to coat.
- Place a glass lid on the Instant Pot and wait until there are just a few seconds between popping. (just as you would in the microwave)
- Press cancel, pour out the popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels.
- Return the popcorn to the pot and add the mini marshmallows and stir until mixed well.
- Place the lid back on the pot and allow the marshmallows to melt slightly.
- Once the popcorn mixture has cooled enough to touch and the marshmallows have melted shape into 3 inch balls and place on parchment paper.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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- Fried Blackberry Pies (Air Fryer Option)
- Instant Pot Italian-Style Pot Roast Sandwiches
Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
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