Description
These Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls are buttery and molded together with a sweet simple syrup. A reminder of Halloweens years ago, when kids were allowed to receive wonderful homemade treats. Make these wonderful little treats for the little goblins in your life!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 7 cups popped popcorn, unsalted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup (or molasses for molasses popcorn balls)
- 1 teaspoon salt (If you use salted popcorn, omit the salt)
- 1/2 stick butter, unsalted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Sift through the popped corn and remove any unpopped kernels. Transfer popcorn to a large bowl and set aside.
- Add the sugar, water, corn syrup, salt, and butter to a medium saucepan and mix over medium heat until the butter has melted and all ingredients are combined.
- Cook to 250 degrees on a candy thermometer or when mixture forms a hard ball when dropped in cold water. Click the following link to see how to test candy in cold water, https://mycountrytable.com/test-candy-cold-water/
- Add the vanilla and mix to blend it in.
- Drizzle the hot syrup in a thin stream over the popcorn while mixing at the same time. Mix until all of the popcorn is covered with the syrup.
- Using buttered hands shape popcorn into balls and place on parchment paper. Allow popcorn balls to sit on the parchment paper for 15 minutes and place each one in a sandwich bag.
Popcorn balls will stay fresh for up to 5 days if kept in sealed sandwich bags.