popcorn balls
September 14th, 2008
One of the nice things about blogs are the amazing tutorials and recipes that people share. One of the crappy things about having a blog is listening to the tutorial writer in your head narrating all the steps while you make something. Of course this only happens when my two toddlers aren’t screaming or banging or just being as loud as they can be for no reason, but when there is quiet that little voice in my head starts writing an informative and witty tutorial for whatever it is I might be doing at the time. So that’s why, out of the blue, I’m going to tell you how to make popcorn balls.
First make popcorn. Normally I hate popcorn, but it is quite a spectacle for the smaller set and we were stuck inside because of the rain. We had it with tomato soup for lunch and there was a bunch leftover (how do you make just a little popcorn?). The recipe–Betty Crocker–says you should have 7 cups of popcorn to make popcorn balls–I think I had more, it just a big bowl full really. Be sure to pick all the unpopped kernels out or you will break a tooth on one. This is a good thing for kids to do while you deal with the blistering hot candy syrup.
Now put
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
and
1/4 cup butter
in a sauce pan. If you have a candy thermometer put it in the pan, if not have a small bowl full of ice water next to the stove. Cook the delicious butter and sugar mixture until it hits 250 degrees. This is hard ball stage and the syrup will form a hard ball (duh) when you drop it into the ice water. I broke my candy thermometer, so I had to use the ice water method and I just kept checking throughout. It will color a little when it’s done and the ball shouldn’t be rock hard, but should give a little under pressure.
When it’s done, take it off the heat right away and add
1 tsp vanilla and
a couple drops of food color if you feel like it
It’s better to have these ready before you start so you don’t forget. Now pour the syrup all over the popcorn stirring quickly. It’s nice to have another person help at this point, but you can manage by yourself just fine. Let it cool a minute or two and make balls. If it’s sticky you can butter your hands a bit and then shape them. Voila! popcorn balls. I always remember these to be a halloween treat. I also remember them being enormous, but I made little ones for little hands. Remember to brush the little teeth when your done!
September 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
that sounds so good and i don’t even like popcorn! thank you for sharing…
September 15th, 2008 at 3:22 am
i LOVE popcorn, we eat it (just plain, nothing on it – I am mean) a lot because the little one thinks it’s amazing to watch the popping through the saucepan lid. But this sounds like a real treat. I think I’ll give it a go!!!! Thank you.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I made these for my two on their first day back at school. We had a ‘dessert before dinner’ treat!
September 15th, 2008 at 7:43 am
yum! thanks for sharing!
September 15th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I forgot about popcorn balls. My grandmother used to send them to my brother and I
September 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I haven’t made popcorn balls in years. What a great project to do with the kidlings.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Oh, my, those look delicious! I’ll have to try making them.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
My kids saw your pictures over my shoulder from across the house. Now all I’m hearing is: popcorn balls! popcorn balls! I’m thankful to you for giving us something to do while Dad is working late tonight. I bet they’re going to be yummy.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Yummy! Thanks for reminding me of one more thing I love about fall. :)
September 15th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I think the universe is telling me I need to make these things. First I came across a recipe in a vintage kids activity book, then a girlfriend turned up at the park with some for her kids, and now I see them again here. I tell you, my future must be full of popcorn balls, oir do you think it could be trying to tell me something else?
September 16th, 2008 at 10:15 am
In the frenzy of reading, I saw the part about tomato soup on hand and thought that the reddish tint these had came from the soup. Today, coming back to it, I see of course that it’s not. Thank you. I was totally grossed out for a bit, but only because I don’t know how to read. Thought you’d get a kick out of that.
September 16th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I used the pattern for a tea towel
Hope you like it
Thank you for sharing the pattern
http://algunasdemiscosasfavoritas.blogspot.com/2008/09/el-trapo-de-cocina.html
Laura
September 16th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hi Meg,
I like how Jambone is eyeballing the popcorn
balls. Did she get a nibble?
September 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
no, but she did manage to fish one out of the trash while we were sleeping last night. little shit.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Oh those look yummy! I will have to try this. Thanks for posting the recipe. :)
September 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Just love the dogs ears in the background of the picture! You can almost read his mind!!
September 19th, 2008 at 10:35 am
[...] Friday… you expected me to be working?), I came across a link to this post at Elsie Marley: how to make popcorn balls. Hers are orange and oh so festive! And it makes me happy to know that popcorn balls can be made [...]
September 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Oh, darn. I wish I hadn’t come across this…
I hate the way they wreak havoc on the teeth, and I don’t care that much for popcorn … but in the fall, I always want popcorn balls….
September 20th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Do you think this would work with microwave popcorn?
I just wonder because it’s usually not too long-lasting and crispy like old school popcorn but I’m without any old school popcorn around the house.
September 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
how spooky – i was randomly looking at a blog and found my way here – i had popcorn tonight – first time in ages and i’ve never seen these balls before – so i’m definitely going to try for a change
October 14th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Yummy! I made them in green. And I couldn’t be happier!
October 26th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
how far ahead can you make these without them becoming stale??
thanks
October 29th, 2008 at 11:04 am
[...] snack foods by far – and I’ve always wanted to know how to make popcorn balls. Thanks to a great recipe from Elsie Marley, I’m going to make some for my friends’ annual Haloween party on [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
why did my popcorn balls come out gooie???? what do i have to do to make them crispy and crunchy???? I heard a rumor that says the cold weather affects it….is that true????
October 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I used to make these with my mom every year at Halloween, back when it was safe to give these to the neighborhood kids you knew. This recipe brought me back to some great memories, thank you :o) I made them tonight and the family just loved them.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:20 am
[...] Balls Meg from elsie marley (and our current board!) shares a fun and easy Popcorn Ball Recipe. It’s a nice holiday treat, a fun gift, and a great activity for kids… All in [...]
November 10th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’m so making these, thank you!! :D
November 10th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
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popcorn ball tricks and tips
*they will go stale in a couple days, you can always put them out for the squirrels (I don’t know if birds can eat them).
*if your popcorn balls are gooey you didn’t cook the syrup long enough.
*if you break a tooth biting into one, you cooked the syrup too long.
*the temperature outside doesn’t really matter, but the lower the humidity the better (if it is humid, they will just be a little gooey)
*microwave popcorn will work, I’m sure, but stove top popcorn is a lot of fun! If it’s been awhile, there is a tutorial here:
http://threewheelsturning.blogspot.com/2008/10/diy-popcorn.html
*these are easy to decorate, just stick candy on when the syrup is gooey, or you can use frosting, or peanut butter. here are some halloween ones:
http://flickr.com/photos/22848658@N00/635980987/
but a snowman would be easy or you could try to make a turkey. They don’t have to be balls either, they can be houses, or bears, or trains.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
why did mine come out gooie? i could not get my popcorn to stick, please help…
thanks,
marie
September 11th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
it sounds like you didn’t cook the syrup long enough. give em to the kids and try again!