Easy Halloween Popcorn Balls Recipe
Ingredients:
18 to 20 cups of popped popcorn
1 Tbsp butter, softened (plus extra for hands)
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
½ cup dark corn syrup, like Karo
1 tsp white vinegar
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 (12-oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Candy toppings or sprinkles
Directions:
Preheat oven to 200°F. Put popcorn in a large aluminum roasting pan and place it in the oven to warm.
Butter the sides of a heavy saucepan with 1 tablespoon butter. Then add sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
Clip a candy thermometer to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Boil at a steady rate, stirring occasionally, until thermometer reaches 250°F.
Remove thermometer and remove pan from heat. Stir in vanilla. Remove popcorn from the oven. Quickly pour syrup over popcorn. Stir gently with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to coat popcorn. Let cool for a few minutes until the popcorn can be handled.
Working in batches, add popcorn to a mixing bowl and mix in candy and sprinkles. Butter hands and quickly shape popcorn into 3-inch balls, pressing gently to hold together. Place on waxed paper.
Melt chocolate chips in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring at 20-second intervals until smooth. Dip popcorn balls halfway into the melted chocolate. Sprinkle chocolate with chopped candy or sprinkles. Cool on waxed paper.
Notes:
To give them as gifts, place each treat on a cupcake liner and then place it in a clear treat bag tied with ribbon.
Nutritional Facts:
Per serving: 319 cal, 13g fat, 5mg chol, 3g prot, 52g carbs, 43g sugar, 2g fiber, 207mg sodium.
Recipe courtesy of Parade.com