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Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls

These sweet and crunchy Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls are a delightful treat perfect for sharing at parties or enjoying at home.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 12 balls
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 130
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 7 cups popped popcorn (unsalted)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup (or molasses for a richer flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted popcorn)
  • 1/2 stick butter (unsalted)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Sift through the popped popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. Transfer the popcorn to a large bowl and set it aside.
Making the Syrup
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, salt (if using), and butter. Mix the ingredients over medium heat until the butter melts and everything is perfectly combined.
Cooking the Syrup
  1. Cook the mixture until it reaches 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Check for the 'hard ball' stage by dropping a small amount of syrup in cold water; if it forms a hard ball, you’re good to go!
Adding Flavor
  1. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Coating the Popcorn
  1. Carefully drizzle the hot syrup over the popcorn while mixing simultaneously to ensure even coverage.
Shaping the Balls
  1. With buttered hands, shape the popcorn mixture into balls and place them on a sheet of parchment paper.
Cooling and Storing
  1. Allow the popcorn balls to sit for at least 15 minutes before placing each one in a sandwich bag to keep them fresh.

Notes

You can add colors to your popcorn balls with sprinkles or bits of candy. For a richer flavor, substitute molasses for corn syrup and consider adding almond or coconut extract.