Sweet Molasses Popcorn Balls for Halloween

Sweet molasses popcorn balls make a great treat for Halloween parties. Make ahead of time and individually wrap each one in cellophane. Tie with a bright orange or black ribbon and place in your favorite Halloween bowl or a clear glass bowl. Instant centerpiece! How easy is that?

Put 4 quarts of  fresh popped popcorn on large cookie sheets and place in 200 degree oven to keep warm while you prepare the mixture.

Mix together:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light molasses
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons of butter

Place in a large saucepan. Over medium heat stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking until temperature reaches 270 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla: stir just enough to mix.

Slowly pour evenly over the 4 quarts of popcorn. Mix well with spatula or wooden spoon. With buttered hands, quickly shape into medium sized balls. Cool well before wrapping.

Tips:
After you pop your corn be sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
Shape the popcorn balls while the mixture is still hot. Just be careful you don’t burn yourself.
Be sure to pack the popcorn balls loosely. If too firm, they will be hard to eat.
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, drop small amounts of the mixture into a cup of cold water. When it forms a slightly hard ball, the mixture is ready.

Sweet molasses popcorn balls will be a hit at your Halloween party!