This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MinionsMovieNight #CollectiveBias

This simple and easy Caramel Popcorn Balls recipe has only 4 ingredients, including homemade Dutch Oven Popcorn! Check out my tutorial down below on illustrating the treat bags for the Caramel Popcorn Balls like the Minions movie characters! Enjoy these Caramel Popcorn Balls during your #MinionsMovieNight!

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Caramel Popcorn Balls

Hi Everyone, the third movie of one of our favorite series of movies came out on Blu-ray/DVD.

Which one?

Minions© 2015 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. – was released on December 8th, 2015.

We did not get to see it in theaters – after having a child, we don’t get the chance to go out of the theaters as much – so we were very much looking forward to seeing it in the comfort of our home and watching it together as a family.

For our Minions movie night, we went over to my hubby Eric’s sister’s house to ‘trim the tree’ with her family.

After the tree was trimmed (and much Caramel Popcorn was consumed…nom..), while we were getting ready to watch Minions, my daughter, somehow, found some goggles in their house from a previous year’s Halloween costume and put them on.

We recently watched Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 together before the Minions movie was released on Blu-ray/DVD, so Margo recognized the characters right away.

She was totally “twinning” for a few moments with the minions!

Illumination Entertainment’s Minions movie is the inspiration for my Caramel Popcorn Balls recipe.

I could see these at any kind of party and they are the perfect snack to munch on while watching a movie.

They are so yummy and addictive you can not just have one! – This makes me think of this analogy:  

Bananas are to minions as Caramel Popcorn Balls are to [⇒insert your name here!⇐].

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup yellow or white popcorn kernels, (yields 13-14 cups popped corn)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil, (can substitute canola oil), plus extra for forming popcorn into balls)
• 1 recipe Easy Caramel, (Dulce de Leche) (14 ounces/397 grams) (you can also use ready-made caramel sauce, also called Dulce de Leche from the grocery or specialty store)
• 1 cup large shelled peanuts, roasted and salted *omit if you prefer or have an allergy to peanuts

Kitchen Tools

• parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• rimmed baking sheets
• measuring spoons and cups
• 2-cup wet measure
• Dutch oven
• baking spatula
• cello treat bags with twist ties
• permanent markers in various colors

Web Story

Caramel Popcorn Balls Tutorial

Step 1 – Gather your Materials, Ingredients & Make the Popcorn!

Materials & Tools

*in addition to food ingredients listed in the printable recipe further below

• 14 treat bags with 14 twist ties (size 4 in. x 5.75 in. holds 1 per bag and size 2 in. x 9.5 in. holds 2 per bag)
• Permanent markers in silver/grey, black, green and brown – to draw their goggles, eyes & mouth.
• Chalkboard pen – to draw their eyes.
• Black yarn/string/twine – for their hair (secure with the twist tie).
• Scissors – for trimming the yarn.
• Ruled notebook paper – this is optional but I found that it helped to make the eyes even in size while drawing the eyes and goggles.

Make the Popcorn

• Using a Dutch oven (or similar large pot) on the stove top, melt 2-1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil with 3 popcorn kernels over medium-high heat with lid on.
• Listen for one or more of the kernels to pop, then add the 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels and cover immediately.
• Using oven mitts on both handles, shake the pot to evenly distribute the kernels in the oil.
• Stay close by and listen for the kernels popping, you can shake the pot again to make sure the kernels that haven’t popped are on the bottom, when they slow down to 1-2 pops at a time, remove from heat and turn off burner.
• Important: Make sure your face is not over the pot, when you do not hear anymore pops, remove the lid, so the hot steam can escape and allow the popcorn to cool.
• The cooking process of the popcorn should only take a few minutes. Transfer to a very large bowl, using a measuring cup and be careful not to touch the sides of the Dutch oven since it will still be hot.
• Important: Make sure to discard any kernels that did not pop as you transfer the popcorn to the bowl – you don’t want to accidentally bite down on one of those later!
• Full recipe directions and details are in the printable recipe box below.

Step 2 – Make the Caramel Popcorn Balls

• Over line a baking sheet with parchment paper (so that the parchment paper covers the edges as well, not just the bottom – this will keep the caramel from sticking to your baking sheet) and set aside.
• Pour caramel in a microwave safe container that is easy to pour. Heat for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds and pour all over the popcorn in the large bowl.
• Using 2 stiff baking spatulas, gently fold the popcorn and the caramel until the popcorn is evenly coated with caramel.
• Evenly sprinkle 1 cup of peanuts over the mixture and gently incorporate into the caramel-popcorn mixture.
• Evenly spread popcorn mixture onto the over-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 1 hour, take out halfway (30 mins) to turn over the popcorn to ensure even baking.
• While the popcorn is baking, line another baking sheet with parchment (does not need to be over-lined). This sheet will be used for the Caramel Popcorn Balls to further cool on after they are formed.
• When the popcorn is done, remove from oven, turn off oven and allow to cool only long enough to be cool enough to touch safely (about 5-10 mins). There is a narrow window of time for form them into balls because when they are cool, the caramel popcorn will become more brittle. So while, it’s still warm, put more coconut oil on your hands (or butter if you prefer) and take 1/2 cup amounts to form into balls, gently but firmly pressing them together to take shape. Place each Caramel Popcorn Ball on to the parchment-lined baking sheet to further cool.
• Full recipe directions and details are in the printable recipe box below.

Step 3 – Decorate Treat Bags & Package!

• Line up the treat bag on to of the ruled notebook paper.
• Using a white chalkboard pen, make one or two circles for eyes (depending on the character), centered where the popcorn ball will be.
• Using a black permanent marker, make small dots for the pupils in the center of the white circles and another circle outlining the pupil. Fill in the eye with the appropriate eye color for that character.
• Using a silver permanent marker, outline the goggles.
• Using a black permanent marker, draw in the side straps on the goggles.
• Using a black permanent marker, outline the eyes and goggles to add detail where you wish.
• Allow marker to dry before handling the bag.

Behind the Scenes Notes

Below is a collage of photos of the sculptural, ceiling-hung, paper decor inspired by the color of the minions.

I made them complement this recipe and they are made out of coffee filters and suspended by twine.

The yellow ombre effect is from water and yellow food dye dripped and sprayed onto the coffee filters.

These decorations are easy and inexpensive to make and also a fun kids activity.

If you make Caramel Popcorn Balls and post a picture on social media, be sure to #lifeslittlesweets and link back to the post, thank you in advance!

If you make this recipe, and like it, please give it a rating in the recipe card below and let us know in the comments at the end of the post.

Check out our Recipe & DIY indexes, visit our Home page to view our latest posts & categories, visit our Blog page to see our posts in consecutive order and, our Shop to see our favorite kitchen tools!

Thank you for reading and following along!

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Continue to Content

Caramel Popcorn Balls

Yield: 14 Caramel Popcorn Balls

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This easy and simple Caramel Popcorn Balls recipe has only 4 ingredients, including homemade Dutch Oven Popcorn! Check out my tutorial down on illustrating the treat bags for the Caramel Popcorn Balls like the Minions movie characters!

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup yellow or white popcorn kernels, (yields 13-14 cups popped corn)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil, (can substitute canola oil), plus extra for forming popcorn into balls)
• 1 recipe Easy Caramel, (Dulce de Leche) (14 ounces/397 grams) (you can also use ready-made caramel sauce, also called Dulce de Leche from the grocery or specialty store)
• 1 cup large shelled peanuts, roasted and salted *omit if you prefer or have an allergy to peanuts

Instructions

1. Make the Popcorn: Using a Dutch oven on the stovetop, melt 2-1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil with 3 popcorn kernels over medium-high heat with the lid on. Listen for one or more of the kernels to pop, then add the 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels and cover immediately. Using oven mitts on both handles, shake the pot to evenly distribute the kernels in the oil. Stay close by and listen for the kernels popping, you can shake the pot again to make sure the kernels that haven't popped are on the bottom, when they slow down to 1-2 pops at a time, remove from heat and turn off the burner. Important: Make sure your face is not over the pot, when you do not hear anymore pops, remove the lid, so the steam can escape and allow the popcorn to cool. The cooking process of the popcorn should only take a few minutes. Transfer to a very large bowl, using a measuring cup, and be careful not to touch the sides of the Dutch oven since it will still be hot. Important: Make sure to discard any kernels that did not pop as you transfer the popcorn to the bowl - you don't want to accidentally bite down on one of those later!
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (so that the parchment paper covers the edges as well, not just the bottom) and set it aside. Pour caramel in a microwave-safe container that is easy to pour. Heat for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds, stir, heat for 30 seconds, and pour all over the popcorn in the large bowl. Using 2 stiff baking spatulas, gently fold the popcorn and the caramel until the popcorn is evenly coated with caramel. Evenly sprinkle 1 cup of peanuts over the mixture and gently incorporate into the caramel-popcorn mixture. Evenly spread popcorn mixture onto the over-lined baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, take out halfway (30 mins) to turn over the popcorn to ensure even baking. While the popcorn is baking, line another baking sheet with parchment (does not need to be over-lined). This sheet will be used for the Caramel Popcorn Balls to further cool on after they are formed.
3. When the popcorn is done, remove it from the oven, turn off the oven and allow it to cool only long enough to be cool enough to touch safely (about 5-10 mins). There is a narrow window of time to form them into balls because when they are cool, the caramel popcorn will become more brittle. So while it's still warm, put more coconut oil on your hands (or butter if you prefer) and take 1/2 cup amounts to form into balls, gently but firmly pressing them together to take shape. Place each Caramel Popcorn Ball onto the parchment-lined baking sheet to further cool.
4. While those are cooling you can decorate the treat bags (decorating the treat bags can also be done ahead of time). For decorating the clear treat bags like the Minions movie characters ("Stuart," "Kevin" and "Bob"), view the illustration tutorial and pictures within this post. Once the Caramel Popcorn Balls are fully cool, put them into the treat bags to store until they are ready to be eaten! Enjoy your #MinionsMovieNight!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 96Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best.

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

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