Popcorn Witch Recipe

Popcorn Witch Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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The materials needed to make this candy-studded witch are on the simple side—just ingredients for popcorn balls, plus candies, pretzels, colored cellophane and a few other available supplies. Then it's merely a matter of forming your centerpiece…and waiting for grins to start popping up on October 31. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Popcorn Witch Recipe

Prep: 45 min. + cooling

Yield: 1 Servings

45 45

Ingredients

Materials Needed
5 quarts popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water
2/3 cup corn syrup
Green liquid food coloring
11 pieces of candy corn
2 pretzel sticks
2 pieces of purple cellophane or plastic wrap—one 15 x 12 inches and one 6-inch square
2 pieces of red shoestring licorice—one 24 inches and one 12 inches
One 10-inch wooden skewer
7 pieces black rope licorice—8 inches each
1 ice cream sugar cone
2 tablespoons vanilla frosting
2 brown M&M's
1 pretzel rod
1/4 cup potato sticks
1/2 cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs

Directions

Directions: Place popcorn in a large roasting pan and keep warm in a 200° oven.
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugars,
water and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 235° (soft-ball stage). Remove from
the heat and add food coloring. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly. Cool for 10 minutes.
FORMING FEET: With hands dipped in cold water, shape 2 cups of popcorn into a 6-inch heart about 1/2 inch thick on a covered
corn around rounded edges of heart (see photo 1 below left).
FORMING BODY: Firmly shape 5 cups of popcorn into a 6- x 3-inch cylinder. Center over feet.
For arms, firmly cover half of each pretzel stick with 1/2 cup of popcorn. Insert uncovered ends of pretzel sticks into body (see photo 2 below).
For dress, center the 15- x 12-inch cellophane piece over body. Gather at waist and tie with the 24-inch piece of red licorice (see photo 3 below).
FORMING HEAD: Firmly shape 2 cups of popcorn into a 3-1/2-inch ball. Add a few more pieces to form a pointed chin. Attach head by carefully inserting skewer through top of head into body and base (see photo 4 above right). If there is any popcorn remaining, shape into 1-1/2-inch balls; cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
For hair, cut black licorice into 1/8-inch strips to within 1/2 inch of one end. Attach to head with toothpicks.
With a sharp serrated knife, carefully cut sugar cone 3 inches from pointed end. Cover
3-inch pointed end of cone with the cellophane square. Tie the 12-inch piece of red licorice around cone bottom to secure; place
hat on head. With frosting, attach M&M’s for eyes and the remaining piece of candy corn for nose. Spread frosting on 1-1/2 inches of one
end of pretzel rod. Attach potato sticks (see photo 5 below). Lean broom against witch as shown in photo at far left. Sprinkle crumbs on covered board for dirt. Arrange reserved popcorn balls around witch. Yield: Yield: 14-16 servings (1 witch and 4-6 popcorn balls).

Crafter Thoughts: You might also try fashioning smaller figures for individual trick-or-treat party favors. This craft can be adapted to suit other
occasions. First, dye the popcorn any color you like. Second, create whatever
shape you like—bunny, reindeer, turkey, etc.—following the basic instructions here. Finished size: The witch is 11 inches tall x 6 inches wide.