Easy Popcorn Ball Recipe

This easy popcorn ball recipe just might become the only one you ever use for popcorn balls from now on. The conventional recipe is not that hard but it does require boiling sugar to the hard ball stage.

The recipe below is typical of most I've seen for conventional popcorn balls.

Popcorn Balls

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light molasses
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. Salt
3 Tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
4 or 5 qt. popped corn (unsalted)

Mix sugar, molasses, syrup, water and salt in 3-quart pan. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it boils. Boil gently until small amount dropped in cold water forms hard ball (about 260 degrees).

Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. Stir thoroughly. Pour evenly over popped corn and mix well with wooden spoon.

Form quickly into balls with buttered hands.

Like I said the above recipe is not that difficult but boiling sugar to the hard ball stage can be intimidating to some and it's certainly dangerous for kiddies.

This one is much easier and definitely more kiddy friendly.

Easy Popcorn Ball Recipe

8 to 10 cups popped popcorn
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 lb. miniature marshmallows
2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla

Melt the butter and marshmallows together in the microwave for two minutes and stir; cook for 2 minutes more or until you can stir until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and mix thoroughly until sugar is dissolved. Pour over popped corn in a large container. Butter hands and form popcorn balls.