Traditional Popcorn Balls Recipe

Traditional Popcorn Balls RecipePhoto by: Taste of Home Traditional Popcorn Balls Recipe Rating 5

Kids of all ages enjoy these old-fashioned holiday treats. One batch goes a long way.—Cathy Karges, Hazen, North Dakota

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Traditional Popcorn Balls Recipe
  • Prep/Total Time: 20 min.
  • Yield: 20 Servings
20 20

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

  • Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200° oven.
  • In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 235° (soft-ball stage).
  • Remove from the heat. Add the butter, vanilla and food coloring if desired; stir until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.
  • When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cold water to prevent sticking. Yield: 20 servings.

Editor's Note: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 each) equals 177 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 203 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 1 g protein.

Originally published as Traditional Popcorn Balls in Taste of Home December/January 1999, p54

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Reviews for Traditional Popcorn Balls (3)

Traditional Popcorn Balls Recipe

Traditional Popcorn Balls

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Reviewed on Sep. 13, 2011 by curtisfamily93

Tastes Great! but I couldnt get mine to stay into balls....so I just layed it out on a sheet pan and voila Caramel Corn ;)


Reviewed on Feb. 18, 2011 by marilyn23

I have made these 3 times now and they turn out perfectly every time. It is a great old-fashioned treat. I put sandwich bags over my hands when shaping them, which prevents a person's hands from getting too sticky when forming them into balls.


Reviewed on Sep. 25, 2009 by Coupon_Queen

These came out wonderful. My son and I had fun making them too, we got sticky popcorn all over the kitchen. I'm thinking of wrapping them in orange colored cellophane with green ribbons to look like pumpkins.

 
 
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