i know what your thinking. yes finally. this recipe is from my mother-in-law's mother. so you know its legit, right? if you want to impress your husband, boyfriend, children (i know you do), neighbors, in-laws that you are the classiest homemaker around, this will give you the gold my friend.
popcorn balls is our yearly fall tradition. we make them often and we make many. (now look at the picture! you are SOLD).
Recipe (only a handful of people know this...so be grateful i share. and please share, share... so you aren't only the most amazing popcorn ball maker but the most generous giver around!)
- 1 cup popcorn kernels (now people this might be a deal breaker, but you need an air popper)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 TBLS vinegar
- 1 TBLS butter
- 2 tsp vanilla
-Pop popcorn kernels (1 cup) with air popper and place in a big bowl (biggest bowl you have, seriously)
-Mix sugar, molasses, water and vinegar in a pot and place on stove and turn on to medium-high. Possibly another deal break, folks you need a
candy thermometer (buy at any grocery store). Place thermometer in in pot of molasses goodness, wait till it reaches the "soft crack" (makes you feel like walt from B.B.) approximately 272 degrees.
-Once its at "soft crack" add butter and vanilla and mix, mix, mix like crazy...it will bubble and you will feel like you are making witches brew. Take it off the stove and continue to stir.
-You might need a helper at this part, mostly likely an adult cuz this stuff is hot. Now dump your molasses goodness into your bowl of popcorn and mix, mix, mix. Make sure the goo gets all over your popcorn (it usually goes straight to the bottom) but get a rubber spatula and get the good stuff. it should start to look like one giant popcorn ball, if it doesn't keep mixing. (you'll get there!)
-Now take your bowl of popcorn/molasses goodness over to the sink.(clear that counter space, and put down wax paper, or just a plate to your balls on) Run cold water. Here is how we make the individual popcorn balls. get your hands wet. the cold water on your hands will combat the hot goo of the popcorn balls making it easier to mold them. get them wet. grab a handful of popcorn goo, and with both hands start to make a ball shape (its okay to feel like you are crunching the popcorn together, because you are). if it gets too hot, place that hand under cold water and keep going!!
-Repeat, repeat, repeat. till you have made all the popcorn goo into nice popcorn balls. Now serve. And enjoy the praise you get from admirers.
Have a fabulous weekend.
