Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Step 1
Pop 2 qts. popcorn - air-popped is best - and put in a large pan. Keep popcorn warm by placing it in a warm (about 200 degrees F) oven.
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Step 2
Put sugar, corn syrup, butter, 1/3 cup water and salt in a medium saucepan.
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Step 3
Place pan over medium heat and stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil.
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Step 4
Stop stirring and let syrup cook until it reaches 270 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
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Step 5
Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.
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Step 6
Take popcorn out of oven and pour hot syrup over popcorn a little at a time, stirring constantly, until all popcorn is coated.
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Step 7
Let popcorn cool slightly, until you can handle it easily.
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Step 8
Grease your hands with butter and form popcorn into balls.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 1/9/2008 We add peppermint flavoring (instead of vanilla) and add red food coloring. Instead of making balls, we pour the goop over the popcorn in a big dutch oven roasting pan and then we all sit around and eat out of the same bowl. Makes for good sharing time.
Anonymous said
on 1/9/2008 There is a device out there somewhere that prevents having to use your hands at all. It comes in two pieces (hollow hemispheres), each with a handle on the end. One of the pieces has a lip around the edge that guides the other piece into place to form perfectly shaped balls. You just spray them with cooking spray and your hands never have to get sticky. Plus, the balls are all the same size and shape. I had one that I used for many years, but loaned it out and never got it back. And it was a gift, so I don't know where to go to replace it.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Coat your hands with butter (best flavor
solution) or spray with non-stick cooking spray or rub a little veg oil
on them before you start to form balls.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Add food coloring to the syrup mixture for various holidays:
orange for Halloween; green and red for Christmas; green for St. Patrick's Day; and red or blue for the Fourth of July.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 An easy way to keep your hands clean while forming your popcorn balls is to dip your hands in a bowl of cold water before handling the hot, syrup-coated popcorn. This tip also helps to keep your hands from burning on the hot mixture.