Popcorn-Balls Recipe

Halloween is always such a special and fun-filled part of the Fall season.  Parents, children,  grandparents, and friends all experience the fun.   And, of course part of the fun is all the good food provided for Halloween parties, and for Trick-or-Treaters.

My mother always cooked Popcorn-Balls for all of us every Halloween, and also a lot of other times during the year.  So, of course, I made them for my children, and now for the grandchildren.  In fact, my grandson Dillon requested Popcorn-Balls for the first thing he wanted to eat when his braces were removed.

Popcorn-Balls Recipe 

3 bags microwave popcorn 

2 cups sugar                                 2/3 cup water

2/3   cup light Corn Syrup           1 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter                               2 teaspoons vanilla

• Microwave 3 bags of popcorn and place into large container.
• Place all of the above ingredients (except popcorn) in another large cooking pot, stir and begin cooking.  (The ingredients boil up high.) 
• Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally,  until a medium-hard ball forms in cold water. 
• Remove from heat.
• Add vanilla and stir real well.
• Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring the popcorn to mix well.
• If desired, for a Halloween treat,  add Candy-Corn and mix well.
• Cool enough to handle.
• Shape with buttered hands into balls.
• Store in sealed zip-lock bags.
• Or, serve in decorative Halloween bags.

My very health-conscious daughter Debi recommended this particular kind of microwave popcorn.

As in the below photo,  use a larger pot for cooking the ingredients.  It would be better to use a pot with a long handle in order to make pouring easier.  I found that out when I used the pot below.

 Have popcorn popped and ready.

 After cooked ingredients have reached the medium-hard stage, slowly pour over popcorn and stir quickly coating all of the cooked popcorn.  Add the Candy Corn if you wish.

Hobby Lobby had these Halloween treat bags which were just the right size to make individual treats.

 Popcorn-Balls make a nice treat for the Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween.

Don't you just love the whimsical fun of Halloween?

Well! I hope where ever you are that you have a fun Halloween,  and that you will come back for a visit to Sweet Southern Days real soon.   Wishing  you blessed days.