Every Easter, the same thing happens: you end up with a basket full of leftover Marshmallow Peeps, a sugar buzz, and absolutely no plan for what to do with them. We have the answer — and it only takes three ingredients.
These Marshmallow Peeps Popcorn Balls are the easiest, most festive spring treat you'll ever make. Gooey, colorful, sweet, and satisfying — they come together in under 10 minutes and look like you put in way more effort than you actually did. That's the Popped Las Vegas way.
Why This Recipe Works
The secret is the Peeps themselves. The sugar coating on the outside of each marshmallow adds a touch of extra sweetness and a gorgeous sparkle to the finished popcorn balls — no food coloring, no sprinkles required. Use three different colored Peeps and you've got a rainbow of snacks that are almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
For the best results, start with a premium popcorn base. We recommend freshly popped mushroom popcorn kernels — the round, compact variety that produces far fewer husks than regular butterfly kernels. More popcorn, less picking things out of your teeth, and every ball holds together beautifully. It's the same kernel type we use for all of our gourmet flavors at Popped Las Vegas (with the exception of our classic Butter Popcorn, which gets the traditional butterfly treatment for that light, movie-theater texture).
What You'll Need
- 30 Marshmallow Peeps (10 each of 3 different colors for a rainbow effect)
- 3 tablespoons butter (1 per color batch)
- 9 cups popped popcorn (3 cups per color) — mushroom kernels preferred for maximum crunch and fewer husks
How to Make Peeps Popcorn Balls
- Combine 10 Peeps of one color in a large pot with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until completely melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and immediately add 3 cups of popped popcorn.
- Stir until every kernel is evenly coated — work quickly before the mixture starts to set.
- Wet your hands or spray them with non-stick cooking spray.
- Roll the mixture into a ball, pressing firmly to help it hold its shape.
- Repeat with each remaining color to create several sparkly, different-colored popcorn balls.
- Let cool on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Tips for Perfect Popcorn Balls
Work fast. The marshmallow mixture sets quickly once you pull it off the heat. Have your popcorn measured and ready before you start melting — no running to the pantry mid-recipe.
Wet hands are non-negotiable. Don't skip this step. The mixture is sticky and you need the moisture barrier to shape the balls without everything gluing itself to your fingers (and the counter, and the cabinet handles...).
Keep them golf-ball sized. Smaller popcorn balls are easier to handle, easier to eat in one satisfying crunch, and less likely to fall apart. Larger ones are beautiful but need more patience.
Add mix-ins for extra flair. A handful of mini chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, or crushed graham crackers stirred in before rolling takes these over the top. The S'mores vibe is especially irresistible.
Too Busy to Make Your Own? We've Got You.
If the DIY thing isn't happening this spring — no judgment — Popped Las Vegas has you covered with gourmet popcorn that tastes like someone put in serious effort. Our S'mores Popcorn delivers that same irresistible marshmallow and chocolate combination in a ready-to-eat gourmet bag. Caramel corn, real graham cracker pieces, mini marshmallows, and a dark chocolate drizzle — no melting required, no sticky hands, all the joy.
Or browse our full gourmet popcorn collection for spring flavors that make incredible Easter basket stuffers, classroom treats, and gifts for the sweet tooth in your life. A Popped Las Vegas gift card is a seriously cute Easter basket addition too — we're just saying.
Happy spring. May your Peeps be plentiful and your popcorn balls be perfectly round.