Marys Popcorn Balls Recipes

POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy pot over low heat. Add marshmallows and brown sugar and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
• Pour popcorn and cranberries, or English toffee bits if using, into pot; toss well. With buttered hands, shape into 2 1/2-inch balls. Set on parchment lined baking sheet to dry slightly.

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.

GRANDPA'S POPCORN BALLS

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.

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.

MARY'S JELLO POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except popcorn in a heavy sauce pan.
• Bring to a boil and cook just until jello and sugar are dissolved.
• Pour over popcorn and mix well.
• Wet your hands under cold water, shake water off or butter hands slightly and work quickly to form popcorn balls.
• Place the finished balls on wax paper and once cooled wrap them more wax paper.
• You can make these as big or as small as you like.

MARY'S POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.
• Pour over 4 gallons of popcorn.
• Stir to make sure all the popcorn is covered.
• When cooled enough to handle form into balls.
• Note: 16 cups=1 gallon 64 cups=4 gallons.

CANDY BAR POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine the butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar and corn syrup in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook to 240 degrees F (hard ball stage), about 11 minutes. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and salt and boil 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel over the popcorn in a large bowl and stir to coat evenly. Shape into 12 balls using buttered or greased hands.
• Combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals until melted. Place the peanuts in a shallow dish. Dip the popcorn balls halfway into the chocolate, then dip in the crushed peanuts (or other toppings). Remove to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to harden, about 2 hours.

OLD-FASHIONED POPCORN BALLS

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.