Sweet And Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls Recipes

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl. Heat the coconut oil in a very large pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated. Serve immediately.

SPICY PEPITAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Spread on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes, or until lightly browned, shaking the pan once or twice. Serve.

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.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons coconut oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, partially cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until the popping slows down. Transfer the popcorn to a large bowl. Wipe out the pot.
• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, the garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl.
• Melt the remaining 1/4 cup coconut oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated.

WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Line 2 12-muffin muffin pans by placing a sheet of plastic wrap over the pan and pushing down into the cups slightly.
• Over barely simmering water melt the chopped chocolate, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the popcorn carefully to coat it evenly with melted chocolate. Working quickly, take off large spoonfuls of coated popcorn and form into a loose ball the size of a golf ball. Place it in the cup of the lined muffin pans to rest and sprinkle with the colored sprinkles. Insert a lollipop stick in the bottom and let it set up. To hasten the set-up, place them in the refrigerator. These can be wrapped in colored cellophane with twisted ends. Store at room temperature.

SALTY AND SWEET POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Light coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
• Combine the popcorn, pretzel pieces, 1 cup of the peanut butter chips and 1 cup of the milk chocolate chips in a large bowl. Toss to distribute evenly.
• Melt the butter, confectioners' sugar, corn syrup and marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl in 15 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until completely melted.
• Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture and stir until evenly coated. Quickly, but gently form twelve 2 1/2-to-3-inch-diameter balls with either your hands or a large cookie scoop lightly coated with cooking spray. Pretend you're making snowballs, but don't pack them too hard. Place each of them in a well of the prepared muffin tin so they hold their shape as they cool.
• When the popcorns balls are cool, melt the remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter chips, the remaining 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips and the white chocolate chips in each of 3 small microwave-safe bowls in 15 second intervals, stirring occasionally. Transfer the melted chips to each of 3 small piping bags or resealable bags. Snip the tips and drizzle over the popcorn balls. Top evenly with the crushed potato chips and let set, about 30 minutes, before serving.

SWEET-AND-SPICY POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread the pumpkin seeds or almonds in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until nicely toasted, stirring once. Transfer to a large heat-proof bowl and set aside. Pop the popcorn according to package instructions and transfer to the bowl. Toss the popcorn with the seeds or nuts until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
• Combine the agave nectar and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring every other minute so that the mixture doesn't stick to the pan. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook until the liquid turns deep amber, about 10 minutes more. Turn off the heat and let the syrup sit for 1 minute. While whisking briskly, add the coconut milk, the 2 tablespoons coconut oil, the vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne and continue to whisk until the caramel is smooth. Cool for 1 minute, then pour the caramel over the popcorn mixture and stir until evenly coated. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Put on sanitary rubber gloves and add a dime-sized dollop of coconut oil in the palm of one hand. Rub your hands together until your palms are lightly coated and shape the popcorn mixture into 3-inch balls.