Popcorn Balls

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 20 min.
Yield 20 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Our popcorn balls recipe is pure nostalgia. The crunchy, sticky, sweet treat is impossible to resist.

Ingredients

  • 7 quarts popped popcorn
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring, optional

Directions

  1. Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200° oven.
  2. In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage).
  3. Remove from the heat. Add butter, vanilla extract and, if desired, food coloring; stir until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.
  4. When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands into cold water as needed to prevent sticking.

Nutrition Facts

1 popcorn ball: 177 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 203mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein.

Having an old-fashioned popcorn ball will make you feel like a kid again. You'll find one batch of this sweet treat goes a long way. —Cathy Karges, Hazen, North Dakota
Recipe Creator

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