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This guide takes you through the step-by-step process of making tasty popcorn balls. You'll only need a few basic ingredients and the process is easy and fun, making it a great activity for kids and adults alike. Popcorn balls make sweet treats for any holiday or special occasion.
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How to Make Popcorn Balls Tips
- Pop the popcorn directly before you begin making the balls. Fresh popcorn will result in better-tasting popcorn balls.
- Form the popcorn balls while the liquid mixture is still hot.
- For an easier formation process, grease your hands with vegetable shortening before forming the popcorn balls.
- Pack the popcorn balls loosely. If they are packed too tightly, they will be difficult to eat.
- For colored popcorn balls, add a few drops of food coloring to the liquid mixture before forming them.
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Introduction
- Popcorn balls are commonly associated with Halloween and the holiday season, but they can be enjoyed year-round. These delightful desserts are ideal for any celebration, but you don't need a special occasion to make them. The process of making popcorn balls is perfect for kids, making it a fun family activity.
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What You'll Need
- You don't need a lot of ingredients or equipment to make popcorn balls. This recipe will make about 20 average-sized popcorn balls. You can halve or double the recipe for more or less depending on your needs.
- Ingredients
- 2/3 cup popcorn kernels
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 3/4 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- Equipment
- Large saucepan with lid
- Small saucepan
- Spoon
- Spatula
- Parchment paper
- Plastic wrap
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Step 1: Pop the Popcorn
- Before you begin making the popcorn balls, you must first pop the popcorn kernels.
- Pour the vegetable oil into a saucepan. You can also use any other oil that has a high smoking point,GoodEatsFanPage.com: Oil Smoke Points such as soybean, olive or sunflower oil.PureZing: Healthiest Oils
- Set the stove burner to medium heat.
- Tilt the pan so the oil completely covers the sides and bottom. This will keep the kernels from sticking to the pan.
- Place a few kernels in the pan. If they pop, the pan is hot enough to proceed. If these test kernels don't pop, wait until the pan heats up a bit more.Cookography.com: Stovetop Popcorn
- Pour all the kernels into the pan.
- Put the lid on the pan. Tilt the lid slightly to allow steam to vent from the pan.Chowhound.com: Popping Your Own Popcorn
- Shake the pan gently from left to right so the heat reaches all the kernels. This also ensures that the oil will coat each kernel.DVO.com: Get Poppin'
- Remove the pan from the stove once the popping sounds cease. This usually takes approximately three minutes.Epicurious.com: Plain Popcorn
- Pour the popped popcorn into a bowl immediately.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients
- Once your popcorn is fully popped, you have a few things to do before you can begin forming the popcorn balls.
- Sift through the popped popcorn and remove any kernels that did not pop. It can be dangerous to bite into a popcorn ball that contains unpopped kernels.Kidsacookin: Chewy Popcorn Balls
- Combine the sugar, butter, molasses, corn syrup and salt into a sauce pan over medium heat.
- Keep the mixture over the heat for about three minutes, stirring continuously.DivineDinnerParty.com: Popcorn Ball Recipe
- Remove the pan from the stove top.
Step 3: Make the Popcorn Balls
- Now that all your ingredients are ready, you need to act quickly to form the popcorn balls.
- Pour the mixture over the popped popcorn.
- Coat all the popcorn with the liquid, using a spatula to do so.
- Grease your hands with vegetable shortening. This will prevent the coated popcorn from sticking to them as you form the balls.RecipeZaar.com: The Best Popcorn Balls
- Form the mixture into balls. The size of the popcorn balls is up to you.
- Place the balls on parchment paper and allow them to cool completely.MarthaStewart.com: Popcorn Balls
- Once cool, wrap each popcorn ball individually in plastic wrap. This makes for easy storage and travel.
Variations
- Once you've made standard popcorn balls, you can experiment with a variety of different types. In addition to common variations, you can also invent a few of your own!
- To make chocolate popcorn balls, melt a handful of chocolate chips into the liquid mixture.Steaks-Guide.com: Popcorn Balls
- For additional sweetness and a gooier consistency, add one cup of marshmallows to the stove top mixture.AllRecipes: Best Ever Popcorn Balls
- Stir jelly beans into the popcorn and liquid mixture before forming the balls.JellyBelly.com: Christmas Popcorn Balls
- For peanut butter lovers, add three tablespoons of peanut butter to the mixture.Popcorn.org: Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls
- Decorate the popcorn balls with candy corn or gummy worms for festive Halloween treats.HolidayCrafter.com: Halloween Candy Popcorn Balls DivineDinnerParty.com: Popcorn Ball Recipe
- For colorful popcorn balls, mix a few drops of your favorite food coloring into the liquid syrup mixture.BigOven.com: Popcorn Balls Recipe
Additional Popcorn Balls Recipes
- Old Recipe Book: Popcorn Snacks
- About.com: Quick and Easy Popcorn Balls
- ChefMom: Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
- Food Network: Popcorn Balls Recipe
- Taste of Home: Peanut Candy Popcorn Balls
- Eden Organic: Popcorn Balls
- CD Kitchen: Fruity Popcorn Balls
- Group Recipes: Chocolate Marshmallow Popcorn Balls