Cranberry Ginger Popcorn Balls Recipes

RUM-RAISIN POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup spiced rum and 1 cup mini marshmallows to a boil in a large pot over medium heat, stirring. Cook until syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes. Add 1 cup golden raisins and a pinch of salt. Remove from the heat; using a rubber spatula, stir in 12 cups popcorn until coated. Butter your hands, then shape into balls and roll in confectioners' sugar.

CRANBERRY POPCORN

Steps:

• To make this cranberry corn, melt 6 tablespoons butter in a saucepan with 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, 2 tablespoons each sugar and honey and 1/2 teaspoon each vanilla and salt. Cook until the cranberries pop, about 3 minutes. Toss with 12 cups popcorn and 1 cup chopped toasted almonds. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees F, stirring occasionally, until dry, about 8 minutes.

CANDY CORN POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat; add the popcorn kernels and peanut oil. When the oil starts to sizzle, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and shake the pot until the popping slows down, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and add the popcorn, candy corn and peanuts.
• Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture and gently toss to coat.
• Coat your hands with cooking spray, then shape the popcorn into 3-inch balls. Let cool.

SWEET AND SPICY PEPITAS POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While hot, carefully open package and dump into a large bowl.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until browned and popping, tossing and stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. (Do this in batches, if needed.) Add to the popcorn.
• Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar. Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon and cayenne. Cool for about a minute. Pour caramel over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat.
• When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, coat your hands with some butter and shape into 4-inch balls. Wrap in waxed paper and tie with a string, if desired. Serve or store covered at room temperature for up to a week.

SUGAR PLUM POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup plum jam, 1 cup mini marshmallows and 1 tablespoon water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat, stirring. Add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and a pinch of salt. Remove from the heat; using a rubber spatula, stir in 12 cups popcorn until coated. Butter your hands, then shape into balls and roll in coarse sugar.

CANDY CORN POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Melt the candy corn in the heavy cream in a small saucepan, stirring as needed, over medium-low heat. Put the popped popcorn in a large bowl. Pour the melted candy corn mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat.
• Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and roll the popcorn into baseball-sized balls, pressing the popcorn together firmly so it sticks and stays together. Allow the popcorn balls to chill on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to firm up. Enjoy!