Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls

Quick and Easy Light Popcorn Balls

3  Three ounce bags of light or butter flavored microwave popcorn (make sure you get popcorn with no diacetyl added) 

1 stick of margarine (1/2 cup).  Do not use butter or your marshmallow sauce will be too runny.
1/2 tsp vanilla
1  (16) ounce bag of mini marshmallows

Cooking Spray or margarine

Pop the popcorn in the microwave according to instructions on the bag.  Let cool.  Shake the bag so all the unpopped kernels go to the bottom of the bag.  Place in your largest bowl.  Gently pour the popped popcorn into the bowl, being careful not to let any unpopped kernels get through.

Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium high heat.  Stir in the marshmallows.  Reduce heat to low and cook for 7 minutes, or until the marshmallows have completely melted.  Stir frequently.  Remove from heat when creamy and add the vanilla and desired food color. 

Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat the popcorn well.  Lightly spray your hands with the cooking spray and take a handful of the popcorn mixture and press into a small ball.  You can use margarine on your hands instead.  Place on a clean surface and repeat above with remaining popcorn mixture.  Wrap each popcorn ball in a small section of plastic wrap. 

Enjoy!

For the holidays, I use a small amount of food color to match.  Orange for Halloween, red or green for Christmas, etc.
You can also add candy corn for Halloween or cinnamon red hearts for Valentine's Day.  They're fun to make and the kids love them.