The winter story lines are some of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. I love reading about Calvin’s crazy snowmen, toboggan trips, and resentful driveway shoveling. I also love how Calvin elevated the standard snowball fight to a high art. He made snow fortresses, packed gravel into some of his snowballs for extra sting, and even wrote a poem called The Snowball Prayer.

When I think of snowball-like food, I think of popcorn balls. So in honor of Calvin’s snowballs, I decided to make homemade popcorn balls in kid-approved flavors. Using a recipe for marshmallow popcorn balls I found on Creations by Kara, I created my own trio of flavors:

• Trail Mix: Peanuts, raisins, and M&Ms
• PB&J: Peanut butter, peanuts, and dried strawberries
• Blueberry Banana: Dried blueberries and banana chips

These were really fun and easy to throw together. The Mister brought them to a BBQ for work, and they were a big hit! I think the PB&J is my favorite, but the trail mix is a close second. So whip yourself up a batch the next time you’re craving a snack…or a snowball fight! 😉

A

Calvin’s Snowballs: Popcorn Balls in 3 Flavors

Oh lovely snowball, packed with care,
Smack a head that’s unaware!

Then, with freezing ice to spare,
Melt and soak through underwear!

Fly straight and true! Hit hard and square!
This, oh snowball, is my prayer.

— Calvin and Hobbes

INGREDIENTS:

• The Base
  • 6 cups popcorn
  • 1/4 cup butter (2 tbsp if making the PB&J balls)
  • 16 large marshmallows
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Choose a Filling to Mix In:
  • Trail Mix: 1 cup peanuts, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup M&Ms
  • Blueberry Banana: 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup coarsely crushed banana chips
  • PB&J: 1 cup dried or freeze-dried strawberries, 1/2 cup peanuts, 1/4 cup peanut butter (mix the peanut butter in with the butter while preparing the base)

 

Makes 10 popcorn balls

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside. Divide the popcorn evenly between 2 large mixing bowls. Divide the filling evenly between the 2 bowls and stir to combine. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Turn the heat down to low and add the marshmallows, stirring until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla (and the peanut butter, if you’re making the PB&J version).
2. Drizzle half the marshmallow mix over 1 bowl of popcorn and stir to combine. Pour the contents of the 2nd bowl into the 1st bowl. Drizzle on the rest of the marshmallow mix and stir until evenly coated.
3. With slightly wet hands, shape the popcorn mix into 2.5″ balls and place them on the wax paper until cool. Be sure to press them firmly into shape so they don’t fall apart.
   
   

   Trail Mix

   

   Blueberry & Banana

   

   PB&J

4. Wrap the cooled popcorn balls in plastic wrap and store until ready to eat.
5. Serve to your favorite tiger friend after a snowball fight!

   

 

 

Check out some of my other snow-inspired recipes!

Snow Candy

Fried Snowballs from James and the Giant Peach