Best 7 Grandpas Popcorn Balls Recipes

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Grandpas Popcorn Balls are a classic sweet treat that has been enjoyed for generations. This simple yet delicious snack is made with just a few ingredients and can be easily customized to suit your preferences. Whether you like them plain, covered in chocolate, or topped with nuts, Grandpas Popcorn Balls are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. So gather your ingredients and get ready to make a batch of these nostalgic treats.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

GRANDPA'S POPCORN BALLS



Grandpa's Popcorn Balls image

Great, Great Grandpa Apell had a huge farm in Illinois with prize-winning corn. He made Popcorn Balls for all the Grandkids at Christmastime. He lived to be 106 and claimed workin' the farm and eatin' corn was the secret! This recipe is delicious!

Provided by 3KIDS5

Categories     Desserts     Candy Recipes     Popcorn Candy Recipes     Popcorn Ball Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
½ cup butter
¼ cup water
salt to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
5 quarts popped popcorn

Steps:

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla or vinegar; mix well.
  • Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 5 minutes and shape into 3 inch round balls.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 457.7 calories, Carbohydrate 75.1 g, Cholesterol 24.4 mg, Fat 18.7 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 317 mg, Sugar 48.9 g

GRANDMA'S POPCORN BALLS



Grandma's Popcorn Balls image

My Grandma made the BEST popcorn balls every year for Halloween. Everybody wanted her recipe and lucky me - I got it 30 years before she passed away. Now that I am a Grandma of 3, I look forward to making these for my grand children.

Provided by CindiJ

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 7m

Yield 12 balls, approx.

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo light corn syrup
2/3 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
4 quarts popped popcorn

Steps:

  • In large pot mix well the sugar, Kayro syrup, vinegar and bring to boil. Continue until mixture reaches the Hard Crack Stage on candy thermometer.
  • Remove from heat and quickly stir in popped popcorn. Butter your hands and scoop enough coated mixture to form baseball sized balls.
  • You have to work quickly as the coating will harden very fast. When cooled, wrap in wax paper, twisting to close.
  • Preparation and cooking time does not include time to pop popcorn.
  • Cooking time varies with weather conditions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 197.1, Fat 1.5, SaturatedFat 0.7, Cholesterol 2.5, Sodium 25.6, Carbohydrate 46.8, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 24.4, Protein 1.4

GRAMMY CARL'S POPCORN BALLS



Grammy Carl's Popcorn Balls image

Provided by Nancy Fuller

Categories     dessert

Time 50m

Yield 16 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

10 cups (4.4 ounces) popped popcorn
1 cup molasses
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for coating hands
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Steps:

  • Line a baking sheet with wax paper; set aside. Place the popcorn in a large bowl; set aside.
  • In a heavy medium pot, stir to combine the molasses, sugar, butter and vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the mixture reaches 260 degrees F (hard ball stage) on a candy thermometer, 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then pour over the popcorn; fold and mix to coat using a rubber spatula. Let the popcorn cool slightly.
  • Coat your hands well with butter and form the popcorn mixture into 1/2-cup balls, squeezing to keep the popcorn together. Place on the prepared baking sheet and let sit until completely cooled and hardened, about 20 minutes.

POPCORN BALLS



Popcorn Balls image

Provided by Duff Goldman

Categories     appetizer

Time 50m

Yield 18 to 24 balls

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 gallon plus 1 quart (that?s 20 cups) plain popped popcorn
1 3/4 cups peanut butter chips
1 3/4 cups milk chocolate chips
1 stick unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups confectioners? sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 cup mini marshmallows
Cooking spray

Steps:

  • In a big bowl, combine the popcorn and 11/4 cups each of the peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Toss to distribute evenly.
  • In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, sugar, corn syrup and marshmallows, stirring constantly to keep the mixture from burning.
  • When the sugar mixture boils, pour it over the popcorn mixture and stir to evenly coat, then quickly but gently form balls in the size you like. Place them in small bowls or the wells of a muffin tin that have been lightly coated with cooking spray so they hold their shape as they cool. Pretend you?re making snowballs but don?t pack them too hard.
  • In two separate small saucepans over low heat, melt the remaining 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and milk chocolate chips (or microwave in two small bowls) and drizzle the two over the cooled popcorn balls.

GRANDMA'S CARAMEL POPCORN BALLS



Grandma's Caramel Popcorn Balls image

My mom made these delicious popcorn balls when I was growing up. While doing my Christmas candy and cookie baking, I came across her recipe. I made the family recipe for the first time this year. My daughters, grown with their own families, asked why I hadn't made these sooner. Thirty plus years later, this recipe will now be a family tradition at Christmas.

Provided by Kim1520

Categories     Desserts     Candy Recipes     Popcorn Candy Recipes     Popcorn Ball Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 6

8 quarts popped popcorn
2 cups evaporated milk
2 cups white sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup (such as Karo®)
1 cup margarine
⅛ teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Sort through popcorn, discarding unpopped kernels.
  • Combine evaporated milk, sugar, corn syrup, margarine, and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; stir constantly until caramel reaches 246 degrees F (119 degrees C) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.
  • Pour some popcorn into a very large bowl. Pour in some of the caramel; stir until evenly coated. Add remaining popcorn and caramel in batches, stirring well after each addition.
  • Scoop some of the popcorn mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Gather and twist the plastic wrap to gently shape into a ball. Place popcorn ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; repeat with remaining mixture. Let cool until set, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340.2 calories, Carbohydrate 43.2 g, Cholesterol 7.3 mg, Fat 18.5 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 356.8 mg, Sugar 27.1 g

GRANDPA HIGGINBOTTOM'S POPCORN BALLS



Grandpa Higginbottom's Popcorn Balls image

My family made these popcorn balls every year for Halloween.....as did my father's family and his father's family before them. A real family tradition! I don't give them out anymore but still make them every year for friends and family. Serving size is for one batch but two brown paper shopping bags full of popped corn will make approximately 150 popcorn balls. Younger children should be very careful because they can burn their hands when making these. Teenagers are much more suited for the job! Enjoy!

Provided by Nancy Higginbottom

Categories     Candy

Time 35m

Yield 24 popcorn balls

Number Of Ingredients 5

1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons vanilla

Steps:

  • Mix vinegar, water and sugar in a large saucepan.
  • Cook until brittle when dropped in cold water.
  • Add butter and vanilla.
  • Make sure you have bowls of ice water on the table, which has been covered with newspaper.
  • Pour candy mixture over a very large bowl of popped corn.
  • Stir mixture with a large wooden spoon.
  • Coat hands with butter.
  • (This part gets messy and older children love it!) Working quickly, form balls with your hands.
  • If you burn your hand, put directly in ice water.

OLD-TIME POPCORN BALLS



Old-Time Popcorn Balls image

Our whole family loves popcorn. These old-time popcorn balls are great anytime, but they're especially fun to pass out to trick-or-treaters or to use at Christmastime as stocking stuffers! They always look appealing when covered in clear wrap and tied with a festive ribbon. -LaReine Stevens, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Snacks

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 quarts popped popcorn
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Steps:

  • Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine molasses, sugar, water, vinegar and butter. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until mixture reaches 235° on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage). Add baking soda and stir well. , Remove from heat and immediately pour over popcorn, stirring gently with a wooden spoon until well coated. When cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cool water to prevent the syrup from sticking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 170 calories, Fat 5g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 159mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (24g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

Tips:

  • Use fresh popcorn for the best flavor and texture.
  • Make sure the popcorn is completely cool before adding the marshmallows.
  • Use a large bowl to mix the popcorn and marshmallows, so you have plenty of room to stir.
  • Stir the popcorn and marshmallows until they are evenly coated.
  • Work quickly, as the marshmallow mixture will start to set quickly.
  • If the mixture is too sticky to handle, grease your hands with butter or cooking spray.
  • Shape the popcorn balls into whatever size you like.
  • Roll the popcorn balls in melted chocolate, sprinkles, or other toppings, if desired.
  • Let the popcorn balls cool completely before serving.

Conclusion:

Popcorn balls are a classic treat that is enjoyed by people of all ages. They are easy to make, and they are a great way to use up leftover popcorn. With a few simple ingredients, you can make delicious popcorn balls that will be the hit of your next party or gathering.

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