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Recipe for Caramel Popcorn Balls | Almanac.com

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Caramel Popcorn Balls

Photo Credit
Kathy Clark/shutterstock
Yield
Makes 12-14 balls or squares.
Category
Candy
Course
Other
Occasions
Halloween
Preparation Method
Boil
Sources
Yankee Magazine's Lost and Vintage Recipes
April 20, 2022
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This old-time Caramel Popcorn Balls recipe dates back to the mid-1800s and remains a favorite wholesome treat, especially at Halloween. 

The popcorn balls are easy to make; the only trick is to watch the caramel carefully: It can go from golden brown to nearly black in the matter just of a few seconds.

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon white or apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) salted butter, plus more for bowl and hands
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 cups popped popcorn
Instructions

Grease a large bowl with butter or cooking spray.
In a large, heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil and stir in butter. Reduce heat to medium-low and boil gently for 3 minutes, or until light golden brown, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Put popped corn into prepared bowl. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn and stir until popcorn is evenly coated. As soon as mixture is cool enough to handle, grease your hands and shape popcorn into 2- to 3-inch balls. When balls are cool, wrap in plastic or wax paper.

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Comments

A ROCKWELL (not verified)

1 year 11 months ago

how well I recall the Halloween Popcorn balls; a very wholesome Halloween treat; Happy Halloween !!!

M Farlin (not verified)

2 years 11 months ago

Oh, this is the same recipe my Mother used for Halloween for years and years. I never knew where the recipe came,, but i knew she had used since the early 1950's. I am 63yrs old and I still make the recipe every year around Halloween to bring back happy memories for myself, brother and sister. They were so good I remember a neighbor paid her children money so she could have popcorn balls..you can use butter for your hands but I now lightly dampen my hands with cold water when forming the popcorn balls...

V Edsall (not verified)

7 years 11 months ago

Delicious