Honey Nut Popcorn Balls Recipes

TRADITIONAL POPCORN BALLS

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.

GLUTEN-FREE HONEY VANILLA POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and move a rack to the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat the oil in large heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels and place the lid slightly ajar on top of pot. Cook until most of the kernels pop, 7 to 10 minutes (the popping sounds slow down when it's almost done). This will make 10 to 12 cups of popcorn.
• While the popcorn is popping, melt the butter, honey, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over low heat until the mixture is uniform. Transfer the popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet. Discard any unpopped kernels that settle at the bottom of the pot. Pour the butter mixture evenly over the popcorn. Toss the popcorn with two spatulas until coated. Bake, stirring every 5 minutes, until the popcorn is a deep caramel color, 20 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Wearing clean plastic gloves, use your hands to press the popcorn into 2-inch balls. Towards the end you may need 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of extra honey to act as the "glue" for the balls.

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!

HONEY-NUT POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup almond butter, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat, stirring. Remove from the heat; using a rubber spatula, stir in 12 cups popcorn and 1 cup chopped salted mixed nuts until coated. Butter your hands, then shape into balls and roll in toasted sesame seeds.

POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine the popcorn and cocoa nibs in a very large mixing bowl. Make sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
• Combine the corn syrup, sugar, molasses, water, salt, and vanilla in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan and put it over medium heat. Cover and bring to boil, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the lid and clip on a candy thermometer. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F. Take the pan off the heat, remove the candy thermometer and immediately pour the mixture over the popcorn. Stir to coat the popcorn evenly. Cool until the mixture can be handled safely, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using a large ice cream disher, scoop the popcorn mixture into 3-inch rounds onto a parchment lined half sheet pan, smoothing with buttered hands as needed. Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap or put them in an airtight container. Store for up to 2 days.
• Put the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife. Put the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.

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.

BEST EVER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
• Grease hands with vegetable shortening and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cools. Wrap with cellophane or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.