Best 5 Old Fashioned Popcorn Ball Recipes

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Old fashioned popcorn balls are a classic American treat, made with popcorn, corn syrup, and sugar. They are a popular snack at carnivals, fairs, and other events, and they are also a fun and easy treat to make at home. Popcorn balls are a great way to use up leftover popcorn, and they can also be made with different flavors and toppings to create a variety of treats.

Let's cook with our recipes!

TRADITIONAL POPCORN BALLS



Traditional Popcorn Balls image

Kids of all ages enjoy this popcorn ball recipe as an old-fashioned holiday treat. One batch goes a long way. -Cathy Karges, Hazen, North Dakota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 20m

Yield 20 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

7 quarts popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring, optional

Steps:

  • Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200° oven. , In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 235° (soft-ball stage). , Remove from the heat. Add the butter, vanilla and food coloring if desired; stir until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated. , When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cold water to prevent sticking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 177 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 203mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

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

OLD-FASHIONED POPCORN BALLS



Old-Fashioned Popcorn Balls image

Popcorn always make a crowd-pleasing snack...but you can make it into a chewy, sweet delight with this classic recipe.-American Pop Corn Co., Sioux City, Iowa

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Snacks

Time 35m

Yield 1 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 quarts popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup light or dark corn syrup
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Place popcorn in a baking pan and keep warm in a 200° oven. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. , Continue cooking without stirring until the temperature reaches 270° on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla; stir just enough to mix. Slowly pour over the popcorn. Cool just enough to handle. Shape with buttered hands.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 161 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 213mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (21g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

OLD FASHIONED POPCORN BALLS



Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls image

I made these with my grandmother for years. They are soft and delicious- and NOT made with marshmallow fluff! If using bag popcorn- make sure it is not buttered and use 2-3 bags.

Provided by mrsteacher22

Categories     Candy

Time 1h10m

Yield 20 balls

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 -3 cups popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 cup white Karo
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • Heat popcorn in oven at 300 degrees.
  • Stir and cook sugar, karo, water, butter and salt until sugar is dissolved.
  • Continue cooking WITHOUT stirring until mixture reaches 270 degrees on candy thermometer, (can use a kitchen thermometer) or until syrup forms a soft ball in cold water.
  • Add vanilla and pour slowly over popcorn.
  • Mix well.
  • Dip hands in water and form balls.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 169.9, Fat 4.7, SaturatedFat 2.9, Cholesterol 12.2, Sodium 138.9, Carbohydrate 33.7, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 24.6, Protein 0.1

CARAMEL POPCORN BALLS, HOMEMADE AND OLD FASHIONED



Caramel Popcorn Balls, Homemade and Old Fashioned image

These old-fashioned Halloween treats are surprisingly easy to make and oh so yummy! The shown weight of the popcorn pkg is a guess, just use standard size pkg's.

Provided by Annacia

Categories     Dessert

Time 35m

Yield 1 big batch

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 (3 ounce) bags microwave popcorn, naturally-flavored
1/4 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Pop corn in the microwave using package's directions one bag at a time, removing any unpopped kernels.
  • popped corn in warm (not hot) oven to keep warm and set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan with a candy thermometer inserted, combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup.
  • Stir well and bring to boiling over medium heat.
  • Stir in condensed milk; simmer, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads 238 degrees F (114 degrees C).
  • Stir in vanilla.
  • Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat.
  • Butter hands lightly; shape popcorn into balls about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 3375.8, Fat 75.7, SaturatedFat 41.8, Cholesterol 191.4, Sodium 852.4, Carbohydrate 657.2, Fiber 37.1, Sugar 372.6, Protein 50

Tips:

  • Choose the right popcorn. Use non-GMO popcorn kernels for a healthier snack. Avoid microwave popcorn, as it often contains unhealthy additives.
  • Make sure your oil is hot enough before adding the popcorn kernels. This will help the kernels pop quickly and evenly.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot. If you add too many kernels, they won't have enough room to pop properly.
  • Stir the pot constantly. This will help prevent the popcorn from burning.
  • Remove the popcorn from the heat as soon as it stops popping. If you leave it on the heat too long, it will start to burn.
  • Let the popcorn cool slightly before adding the toppings. This will help the toppings stick to the popcorn.
  • Be creative with your toppings. There are endless possibilities, so have fun and experiment until you find your favorite combination.

Conclusion:

Homemade popcorn balls are a delicious and nostalgic treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are also a great way to use up leftover popcorn. With a little creativity, you can create popcorn balls that are perfect for any occasion.

Whether you are looking for a sweet or savory snack, there is a popcorn ball recipe out there for you. So next time you are in the mood for something tasty, give popcorn balls a try. You won't be disappointed.

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