Easter Bunny Tail Popcorn Balls
These popcorn balls are a hit at Easter parties, but honestly, they’re just fun whenever you want to make kids (or adults) smile. The basic idea is simple – popcorn balls with a pink marshmallow coating and a white candy tail stuck on.
They’re not fancy or complicated, but they work because everyone loves the combo of sweet and salty, plus they’re just cute without being fussy. I like making them when I need a treat that travels well – they hold together better than regular popcorn and won’t get crushed in a container like cupcakes might.
Servings: 12-15 popcorn balls (about 3″ diameter each)
Time Taken:
Prep time: 20 mins (including popping corn)
Active working time: 25-30 mins
Setting time: 1 hour
Total time: About 2 hours
What you need for Easter Bunny Tail Popcorn Balls
Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe
- 16 cups popped popcorn (about 2/3 cup kernels)
- 1 (10 oz) package marshmallows
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 (16 oz) package white chocolate chips
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- Pink or blue food coloring (optional)
- Non-stick cooking spray
How to make Easter Bunny Tail Popcorn Balls
1. Start by popping popcorn – you’ll need about 2/3 cup kernels to get 16 cups popped. Pick through the popped corn carefully to remove any unpopped kernels (nobody wants to bite into those!). Transfer the popcorn to your largest mixing bowl.
2. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside – this will be your workspace for shaping the balls later.
3. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it’s mostly melted, add the marshmallows. Keep stirring constantly with a rubber spatula until the marshmallows are about 90% melted – they should be very soft and glossy but still have some lumps. Take it off the heat right away (overcooking will make tough popcorn balls).
4. Pour the warm marshmallow mixture over your popcorn and start folding it in with your spatula. When it’s getting evenly distributed but still warm, spray your hands with cooking spray and get in there with your hands to mix thoroughly. You want every piece of popcorn coated but try not to crush the popcorn.
5. While the mixture is still warm, start forming balls about the size of a tennis ball. Place them on your greased baking pan. If the mixture gets too stiff to work with, pop it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften it up.
6. Once you have all your balls formed, melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst until smooth. The chocolate should be fluid but not hot – around body temperature is perfect.
7. If you want colored coconut, put 1 cup of coconut in a zip-top bag with a drop or two of food coloring. Shake and massage the bag until the color is evenly distributed. Spread the plain and/or colored coconut on plates.
8. Working with one ball at a time, dip the bottom half in white chocolate, then immediately roll in coconut. Set back on the pan. The chocolate should start setting up within a few minutes.
9. Let the popcorn balls sit at room temperature for about an hour until the chocolate is completely firm. Store them in an airtight container, and they’ll stay fresh for 2-3 days – if they last that long!
🔍 Recipe Notes & Tips
- Use fresh marshmallows – stale ones don’t melt as smoothly
- Air-popped or plain microwave popcorn works best
- Keep a bowl of cold water nearby to dip hands in if mixture gets too sticky
- Work in batches if needed – don’t let mixture cool completely
- Double-check for unpopped kernels – they’re easy to miss and can ruin someone’s day
- If coconut won’t stick, your chocolate is too hot – let it cool a bit
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Pair with milk or hot chocolate for kids
- Serve alongside pastel lemonade for spring parties
- Great with coffee or tea for grown-ups
- Avoid serving with red drinks – stains show on the white coating
🎯 Make it Work for
- Easter: Use pastel coconut colors
- Halloween: Orange coconut with black sprinkles
- Christmas: Red and green coconut with sparkly sprinkles
- Birthday parties: Match coconut to party colors
- Baby shower: Pink or blue coconut coating
📦 Storage & Leftovers
- Keep at room temp in airtight container
- Best eaten within 2-3 days
- Don’t refrigerate – makes them too hard
- Can freeze undecorated balls for up to 1 month
- Separate layers with wax paper to prevent sticking
