It’s spooky season y’all! And these Popcorn Balls are good for the event. They’re barely salty, candy, chewy, and tremendous enjoyable to make! I at all times get a nostalgic feeling after I share recipes that have been common throughout my childhood and this one isn’t any exception. This budget-friendly snack comes along with only a few easy components, and in lower than half-hour we’ve a enjoyable Halloween deal with that can brings again the sensation of being a child yet again!😊
However don’t restrict this tasty popcorn ball recipe to only halloween, they’re additionally good for Christmas, soccer video games, or any particular social gathering event!
What Are Popcorn Balls?
If you happen to’ve by no means heard of Popcorn Balls then you definately’re in for a deal with! They’re a traditional candy snack that’s been round for years and is commonly loved by each children and adults alike. They’re made by melting just a few candy components collectively, like sugar and marshmallows, after which pouring the recent sugar combination over freshly popped popcorn. Then that is the place the enjoyable actually begins.
You’ll be able to add totally different add-ins like sprinkles or crushed candies, then form and type the coated popcorn into fun-sized popcorn balls! You’ll usually see these in shops through the holidays like Halloween or Christmas, however they’re a lot extra enjoyable to make at dwelling!
Listed below are the principle components it is advisable to make these candy, chewy, popcorn balls:
- Popcorn Kernels – We’re making do-it-yourself popcorn associates! Sure, the sort that you simply make on the stovetop. Stovetop popcorn has a significantly better taste than microwave popcorn and it’s a complete lot cheaper. We’ll share some transient directions for making stovetop popcorn under, however should you’re on the lookout for a full step-by-step, take a look at our How one can make Stovetop Popcorn weblog publish.
- Sugar and Corn Syrup – A mixture of sugar and corn syrup creates the mushy sweet that coats the popcorn balls. Utilizing a little bit corn syrup along with the sugar helps stabilize the combination so it doesn’t crystalize, making this recipe way more foolproof and ideal for newbies.
- Butter – Butter offers the sweet coating a pleasant wealthy taste and helps soften the sweet only a bit.
- Marshmallows – Marshmallows add further sweetness and provides the popcorn balls a gooey, chewy, texture just like Rice Krispie treats.
- Vanilla extract – And just a bit vanilla extract for further taste!
Popcorn Ball Variations
Popcorn balls are available in numerous enjoyable shapes, sizes, and variations. Listed below are a some concepts if you wish to put a little bit further razzle-dazzle in your popcorn balls:
- Festive Sprinkles – These popcorn balls aren’t only for halloween. Have a good time any event with colourful sprinkles like purple & pink for valentines day or purple, inexperienced, and white for Christmas! So as to add sprinkles, roll the popcorn balls within the sprinkles simply after forming, whereas the sweet continues to be heat so it sticks.
- Melted Chocolate – We performed round with drizzling a little bit little bit of melted chocolate excessive for a little bit sweetness and distinction.
- Meals Coloring – Wanna change the colour of those to match your social gathering theme or simply for enjoyable? Drop just a few drops of meals coloring into the sugar combination if you add the marshmallows and butter. For Halloween, it could be tremendous cool so as to add just a few drops of orange meals coloring into the sugar combination, then stick a pretzel stick within the high of the popcorn balls to make mini pumpkins!🎃
- Miniature candies or marshmallows – If you wish to actually jazz up your popcorn balls, add in some mini candies like m&ms or mini coloured marshmallows. Stir these into the popcorn combination simply earlier than shaping. Simply watch out to not add too many further add-ins or they might not stick with the popcorn balls.
- Different flavored extracts – You could possibly additionally use different taste extracts (along with or instead of the vanilla) to taste the popcorn balls, like peppermint, butterscotch, maple, and even cherry!
Listed below are just a few ideas to bear in mind when making these candy treats:
- Be very cautious when boiling the sugar and corn syrup. The combination might be piping sizzling!
- Be pretty swift when mixing the sugar combination with the popcorn to maintain it from hardening too quick.
- Issues get fairly sticky fairly quick. So make sure to grease your arms with a little bit little bit of cooking oil or cooking spray earlier than you begin touching and shaping the popcorn balls.
- As soon as the popcorn is simply cool sufficient to the touch, it’s go time! Transfer rapidly when forming every popcorn ball so your sugar doesn’t harden too quick.
How To Retailer Popcorn Balls
Take pleasure in these popcorn balls immediately or wrap them in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and retailer at room temperature for as much as 3 days; though they undoubtedly style higher when loved the identical day.
Popcorn Balls
These Popcorn Balls made with marshmallows are candy, chewy, and tremendous enjoyable to make! Good for events and vacation gatherings.
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.12)
- 1/2 cup yellow popcorn kernels, unpopped ($0.37)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar ($0.16)
- 1/2 cup gentle corn syrup ($0.87)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 2 Tbsp butter ($0.26)
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows ($0.06)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract ($0.29)
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Add the oil and one kernel to a 6-quart or bigger pot. Place the lid on the pot and switch the warmth onto medium-high. Anticipate the check kernel to pop. As soon as the kernel pops, add the remainder of the kernels, substitute the lid, and provides the pot a swirl to coat the kernels within the sizzling oil. Anticipate the kernels to start to pop.
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As soon as the kernels start to pop quickly, crack the lid a little bit bit to permit extra steam to flee. Pop the remainder of the kernels. Proceed popping till they gradual to about one pop each different second. As soon as popped, switch the popcorn to a big bowl and put aside.
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Add the sugar, corn syrup, and salt to a separate medium saucepan and warmth over medium-high. Deliver the combination to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar. As soon as the pot involves a boil, boil the sugar combination for two 1/2 minutes.
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Subsequent take away the saucepan from the warmth and add the butter, vanilla extract, and marshmallows. Stir rapidly to soften the components into the sugar combination.
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As soon as the whole lot has melted, pour the sugar combination over the cooked popcorn. Combine collectively rapidly with a rubber spatula to coat the popcorn.
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The popcorn might be barely sizzling from the recent sugar combination, so permit it to chill barely. As soon as it is barely cool sufficient to the touch, rub a dab (about 1/4 tsp) of cooking oil into your arms, seize a small handful of popcorn, and begin to type 3-inch spherical popcorn balls. Place every popcorn ball on a parchment lined baking sheet to complete cooling and to set.
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Remember to work rapidly as a result of if the sugar combination cools an excessive amount of, it is going to be onerous to type the popcorn balls. You need to be capable to make 12 3-inch popcorn balls. Serve at room temperature and revel in!
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Serving: 1ball
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How one can Make POPCORN BALLS – Step by Step Photographs
In a 6-quart or bigger pot, add 3 Tbsp cooking oil and one popcorn kernel. Place the lid on the pot and switch the warmth onto medium-high. Anticipate the check kernel to pop. As soon as the kernel pops, add the remaining 1/2 cup of yellow popcorn kernels, substitute the lid, and provides the pot a swirl to coat the kernels within the sizzling oil. Anticipate the remainder of the kernels to start to pop.
As soon as the kernels start to pop quickly, crack the lid a little bit bit to permit extra steam to flee. Pop the remainder of the kernels. Proceed popping till they gradual to about one pop each different second. As soon as popped, switch the popcorn to a big bowl and put aside.
In a separate medium saucepan, add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup gentle corn syrup, and 1/4 tsp salt and warmth over medium-high warmth. Deliver the combination to a boil and start to stir to dissolve the sugar. As soon as the pot involves a boil, boil the sugar combination for two 1/2 minutes.
Take away the saucepan from the warmth and add 2 Tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup marshmallows. Stir rapidly to soften the components into the sugar combination.
As soon as the whole lot has melted, pour the sugar combination over the cooked popcorn. Combine collectively rapidly with a rubber spatula to coat the popcorn.
The popcorn might be barely sizzling from the recent sugar combination, so permit it to chill barely. As soon as cooled, rub a dab (about 1/4 tsp) of cooking oil into your arms, seize a small handful of popcorn, and begin to type 3-inch spherical popcorn balls. Place every popcorn ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet to complete cooling and to set.
Remember to work rapidly as a result of if the sugar combination cools an excessive amount of, it is going to be onerous to type the popcorn balls.
You need to be capable to make 12 3-inch popcorn balls. Serve at room temperature and revel in!
