Let's Party and Have a Ball! ... A Birthday Cake Popcorn Ball!

Yes, it's true. I like making other treats beside cupcakes =] These are too easy and too delicious to not share how to make them! There was NO special occasion for these. I just really really REALLY wanted to try them out! =] BUT they are absolutely perfect for any party, especially birthdays and baby showers. You can easily dress them up with the colors of the cupcake liner you sit them on and the sprinkles you shower on top! I used my Minnie's Bakeshop Sprinkles for these that I found at The Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland!

Birthday Cake Popcorn Balls

Adapted from Ashley's Homemade Adventures

Yields about 15 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick – plus more for hands [I used the other half and just let it sit to room temp for my hands])
• 1 (10 oz) package of mini marshmallows
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Funfetti cake mix
• 12 cups popped popcorn (1/2 to 3/4 cup yellow corn kernels)
• sheet of wax paper
• sprinkles
• cupcake liners

 Directions:

1. Pop the popcorn into an extra large bowl. I use a hot air popper like the one below. I found mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $20. They are so quick and easy to use! Make sure there are no unpopped kernels in your bowl after popping.

2. In a large saucepan (2 quart or larger if you have it), on low heat, melt 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter. Mix in salt and then add marshmallows. Stir every 45 seconds to 1 minute until melted like below. The next steps should be done quickly because once the mixture begins to cool, it gets VERY VERY sticky.

3. Add Funfetti Cake mix and stir into melted marshmallow mixture until clumps are gone. Add popcorn and stir with a rubber spatula to prevent as much breaking of the popcorn as possible. It will be sticky and stringy like the picture below.

4. Lay the sheet of wax paper on flat surface. Grab small amounts off the other half butter stick, and rub on palms of hands to coat. Pull a handful of popcorn marshallow mixture from the pan and roll into a ball, about the size of a baseball and place on wax paper. Add sprinkles right away so they can stick. Continue to make balls grabbing a little more butter for your hands as needed. Especially on the tips of your fingers.

5.Remove each ball from wax paper and place on your cupcake liners and VOILA!