Crunchy and sweet, these nostalgic Popcorn Balls are so easy to make in minutes. A fun treat for the holiday season.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time6 minutesmins
Cooling Time:15 minutesmins
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candied popcorn, popcorn ball
Servings: 12
Calories: 182kcal
Author: Kellie
Cost: $5
Equipment
baking sheet
Ingredients
12cupspopped popcorn
1cupsugar
½cuplight corn syrup
¼cupbutter
½tspkosher salt
1tspvanilla extract
½tspbaking soda
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
In a lightly greased roasting pan, spread out the popcorn and warm in the oven while you make the sugar mix.
In a saucepan mix the sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil (approximately 3 minutes) and continue cooking at a low boil for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat and add in the vanilla completely, this action may cause some bubbling.
Add in the baking soda, stirring completely.
Remove the pan of popcorn from the oven. Pour the mixture over the warmed popcorn.
Using a wooden spoon/spatula, mix the sugar mixture with the popcorn, about 2 minutes. Once combined, allow the mixture to cool, 2-3 minutes.
Set a parchment lined cookie sheet to the side.
To form the balls, grease your hands with cooking spray or softened butter and grab a large handful (about palm size) and press firmly to form the popcorn mixture into a ball. (If the balls don’t come together right away, put the glazed popcorn back into the oven for 2 minutes, rest for 1 minute and restart molding. Sometimes the mixture cools quickly.)
Place each ball on the parchment paper lined cookie sheet to set, approximately 10 minutes.
Serve at your next Movie Night!
Notes
Once the mixture is covered in the sugar coating, its important to let it set for at least 2 minutes. Since the pan was in the oven, it will keep the mixture pliable to mold into a ball.Use caution when molding, some spots might* have a few pieces of sugar mix that will still be hot to the touch.