Popcorn Ball Spiders

31 Days of Fun Fall Ideas- #28

DISCLAIMER:  These are not technically spiders as my 9 1/2 year old informed me because they only have six legs.  Well, A.) I didn't think about that. B.) I had limited pipecleaner and it was late C.) I don't really like to stare at bugs/ insects whatever they might be and D.) I obviously forgot even if my daughter has- and I quote, "known that since kindergarten." I will continue to call these little creatures spiders in this posting, but if it bothers you, you can refer to them as 'bugs' or add 2 more legs.

Popcorn Ball Spiders

1/4 cup butter
1 10.5 oz bag mini marshmallows
1 package orange jell-o mix
3+ quarts popped popcorn (approx. 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
candy corn
pipe cleaners
google eyes


Sort popped popcorn to remove any unpopped kernels. Place popcorn in a large bowl. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and lightly spray with oil spray or rub with butter. Set popcorn bowl and cookie sheet aside. In a sauce pan over medium low heat, melt butter, add marshmallows and continue to heat until melted.  Then add dry Jell-o mix and pour over popcorn, stirring until well coated.  Wait a few minutes, then, use water to wet hands or butter to lightly butter hands to keep popcorn mixture from sticking. Then, shape a handful of popcorn into a ball and place on wax paper.  Gently press one candy corn into the center of each popcorn ball, this will become the 'nose' of the spider. Let set at least 1 hour, then wrap in cellophane bag or plastic wrap and tie off end by wrapping 3 (or 4) pieces of pipe cleaner together around the top. Glue on eyes close to candy nose.

NOTE: I used a hot glue gun, but let the glue cool before pressing them onto plastic to prevent melting through the plastic wrap.

ANOTHER NOTE: The kids (and their friends) liked the orange flavoring added to the popcorn, but if you are not interested in flavoring the popcorn, just omit the jell-o.  The recipe is the same as Rice Krispies, only using popcorn instead of cereal.