| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 10/30/2009 8:19:23 AM | I make these for Halloween. It started with my great grandmother and I try to continue the tradition.
You will need:
Popcorn
Molasses
Sugar
Margarine
Wax paper
Plastic wrap or sandwich baggies
I use a hot air popper for the popcorn. It will pop 1/4 cup of popcorn at a time. You'll need to make three batches. (3/4 cup of unpopped corn) Pop the corn first. Don't use microwave popcorn as it already has grease and salt on it. You want unsalted popcorn.
Take one cup of molasses and one cup of sugar. Bring to a rolling boil on the stove.
Then pour molasses over popped popcorn.
Stir. This will take some time as the molasses will flow to the bottom of your mixing container. You want to make sure that most of the popcorn has been covered with molasses. The popcorn will look similar to Cracker Jacks popcorn.
When stirred to your satisfaction, take the margarine. Coat your hands with the margarine. This will prevent the popcorn/molasses from sticking to your hands.
LOL.. Grab up handfuls of popcorn. Form into balls, compressing slightly. The size of the popcorn balls are up to you. (or up to the size of your hands! lol) Place on wax paper to cool. When cooled place popcorn ball in sandwich baggie or wrap with plastic wrap. Depending on their size this should make 10 to 15 popcorn balls. Bigger hands, fewer popcorn balls.
There, you have your old fashoned popcorn balls! Depending on your area and humidity, if not eaten, they'll last about a week. After that the molasses will begin to re-crystalize back into sugar.
Enjoy! | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 10/30/2009 9:28:38 AM | Hi Scott,, Wow what would Halloween be without popcorn balls?
I wanted to ask this question, tho. When these cool are they soft or crunchy? As your cooking time is short I'm guessing they remain soft.
One thought on the recrystallization, maybe a couple of tablespoons of white corn syrup added to the sugar and molasses would keep that from happening.
Humm,, wonder if I have popcorn... 
tb | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 10/30/2009 10:02:55 AM | soft or crunchy? Actually a little bit of both. The popcorn still has it's consistancy but some have absorbed more molasses than other kernals. (Thems da good'uns! yum! haha)
It also depends on how much you compress the popcorn ball. I don't know how to tell you what the correct amount of compression would be. But if you don't form them tight enough they will fall apart. But are still very yummy even then. | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 10/30/2009 3:37:45 PM | what a wonderful post !!!
I remember making popcorn balls ONE YEAR ... we got sticky stuff ALL OVER the kitchen ... even on the ceiling! too many little kids ... too many sticky little hands! my mother never let us do it again! | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 10/31/2009 4:26:20 AM | | I made some of the popcorn balls...yummy...your a mean man putting such a good recipe on here. LOL...... Have a great day!!!!! | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 11/2/2009 12:50:02 PM | Me? Mean? (insert image of twirling moustache) lol.
My son and I made 4 batches of popcorn balls for Halloween. 43 popcorn balls!
And their still good! I had parents come up to the door for one, too. | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:28:53 PM | Sounds delicious. But no salt - do you need it?
Lucky you live in an area where neighbors trust each other. Where I live, anything homemade or not machine-sealed is suspect and goes straight in the trash. Sad. | |
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| Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Posted: 11/4/2009 9:32:43 AM | Nope, no salt needed.
Yes, I live in a rural area where everyone still knows everyone else. (for the most part). Yes there are still home made goodies given out. But it is BECAUSE everyone knows everyone else.
One of the advantages of country living. lol. | |
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