Popcorn Owls Recipe

Popcorn Owls Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Sweet and chewy popcorn balls are a "hoot" when they're formed into wide-eyed owls perfect for a Halloween party. "They take a little bit of assembly but draw a lot of compliments," writes field editor Emma Magielda from Amsterdam, New York.

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Popcorn Owls Recipe

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 10 min.

Yield: 5 Servings

25 10 35

Ingredients

5 quarts popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 to 2 tablespoons marshmallow creme
20 candy corn candies
20 orange candy slices
10 M&M's minis
Shoestring black licorice

Directions

Place popcorn in a large oven-proof bowl; keep warm in oven at 200° In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 250° (hard-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vinegar until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn; toss to coat.
When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into five 3-1/4-in. balls and five 4-in. balls, dipping hands in cold water to prevent sticking. Flatten bottom of popcorn balls slightly to allow them to sit flat. Place a small ball on top of a large ball, forming the owl's head and body.
Immediately decorate owl, using marshmallow creme to attach candies. Add candy corn for claws. Press the orange slices into sides for wings. Flatten and cut additional orange slices to make triangle ears and nose and 3/4-in. circular eyes. Press M&M's into orange circles to complete the eyes. Add a 3-in. licorice strip above the eyes. Yield: 5 owls.

Editor's Note: This recipe was prepared with popcorn popped in oil. we recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bring water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on the results of your test.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 each) equals 907 calories, 19 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 18 mg cholesterol, 750 mg sodium, 187 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Popcorn Owls in Taste of Home October/November 2002, p9