Candied Popcorn or Popcorn Balls are something I grew up with at a variety of holidays. Of course Halloween had orange colored popcorn balls or one of my favorites was the Valentine's Day Heart shaped red candied popcorn from grandma. I have no doubt my sister is reading this and asking herself how she is going to get some of that yummy mountain of popcorn she saw me make on twitter. This simple recipe was passed down and it's a coveted family favorite.
Candied Popcorn-
2 cups (before popping) Popcorn
1 cup butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup Corn Syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Optional: Food Coloring of your choice
Pop the popcorn. Set aside in a large bowl or casserole dish.
In a medium saucepan melt butter. Stir in sugar and corn syrup; while stirring bring to a boil and simmer 3 minutes. Be watchful it will bubble and boil over if you are not attentive.
Remove from heat, add vanilla and if using food coloring stir until well combined.
Pour over popcorn; stir and toss with candy syrup until evenly coated. Now you have a choice of shaping into individual servings and packaging so stylishly or saving the entire batch for yourself to eat out of the bowl you just created it in.
Happy Halloween!
