Best 7 Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipes

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Popcorn balls are delightful treats made with just a few simple ingredients: popcorn, sugar, corn syrup, butter, and vanilla extract. These sweet, sticky confections are a classic carnival food and a nostalgic favorite for many. They are easy to make at home and can be customized with various toppings and flavors. This recipe article provides three variations of popcorn balls: classic, chocolate, and peanut butter. The classic popcorn ball recipe is a basic version that showcases the delicious combination of popcorn, sugar, and corn syrup. The chocolate popcorn ball recipe adds melted chocolate for a rich, decadent flavor. And the peanut butter popcorn ball recipe incorporates peanut butter for a nutty, creamy taste. All three recipes are simple to follow and yield delicious, fluffy popcorn balls that are perfect for parties, potlucks, and snacking.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested 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.

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.

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.

POPCORN BALLS FROM KARO®



Popcorn Balls from Karo® image

Old-fashioned popcorn balls!

Provided by Karo Corn Syrup

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     ARGO®, KARO®, FLEISCHMANN'S®

Time 20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

12 cups popped popcorn
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup Karo® Light or Dark Corn Syrup
¼ cup butter or margarine
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
½ teaspoon baking soda

Steps:

  • Spray large roasting pan with cooking spray; add popcorn and place in 300F oven until warm. (Popcorn can also be warmed in a large microwave safe bowl for 1 to 2 minutes on HIGH (100%) power.)
  • Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat. Continue stirring and boil 2 minutes.
  • Remove syrup mixture from heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour syrup mixture over warm popcorn stirring to coat well. Cover hands with two plastic bags, spray bags lightly with cooking spray. Working quickly shape twelve 3-inch popcorn balls.
  • Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 180.9 calories, Carbohydrate 29.6 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 6.9 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 300.5 mg, Sugar 19.1 g

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

MARSHMALLOW POPCORN BALLS



Marshmallow Popcorn Balls image

These are very easy popcorn balls to make. The marshmallows make them similar to crispy rice cereal bars that are so popular. Made with marshmallows, these are sweet, crispy, and chewy. Everyone's favorite combination!

Provided by Kory H.

Categories     Desserts     Candy Recipes     Popcorn Candy Recipes     Popcorn Ball Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup unpopped popcorn
6 tablespoons butter
5 cups miniature marshmallows

Steps:

  • Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Set aside.
  • Add vegetable oil to a 4 quart saucepan, and heat over high heat. When oil is hot, add popping corn. Keep pan moving constantly. When corn stops popping, remove from heat. Put popcorn in prepared pan.
  • Melt butter In a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and cook until melted, stirring constantly. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and mix with spoon to coat evenly.
  • Let mixture cool slightly. Smear butter on your hands or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Mix popcorn with your hands so that it is evenly coated.
  • Form popcorn into 8 balls.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 237.2 calories, Carbohydrate 34.7 g, Cholesterol 22.9 mg, Fat 11 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.8 g, Sodium 86.7 mg, Sugar 18.2 g

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

Tips:

  • Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent the sugar mixture from burning.
  • Stir the sugar mixture constantly to prevent it from crystallizing.
  • Do not overcook the sugar mixture, or the popcorn balls will be hard and brittle.
  • Add the popcorn to the sugar mixture as soon as it reaches the hard-crack stage.
  • Work quickly to form the popcorn balls, before the sugar mixture cools and hardens.
  • If the sugar mixture becomes too thick, add a little bit of water and stir until it is smooth again.
  • If the popcorn balls are too sticky, roll them in powdered sugar.
  • Store the popcorn balls in an airtight container at room temperature.

Conclusion:

Old-fashioned popcorn balls are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that is perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a sweet and crunchy snack that the whole family will love. So next time you're looking for a fun and festive treat, give these popcorn balls a try!

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