Fruity Popcorn Balls Food

FRUITY POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan over low heat, cook and stir marshmallows, butter and gelatin until smooth. Pour over popcorn; mix well. Butter hands and form into 3-in. balls.

POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine the popcorn and cocoa nibs in a very large mixing bowl. Make sure to remove any unpopped kernels.
• Combine the corn syrup, sugar, molasses, water, salt, and vanilla in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan and put it over medium heat. Cover and bring to boil, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the lid and clip on a candy thermometer. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F. Take the pan off the heat, remove the candy thermometer and immediately pour the mixture over the popcorn. Stir to coat the popcorn evenly. Cool until the mixture can be handled safely, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using a large ice cream disher, scoop the popcorn mixture into 3-inch rounds onto a parchment lined half sheet pan, smoothing with buttered hands as needed. Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap or put them in an airtight container. Store for up to 2 days.
• Put the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife. Put the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.

PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a large saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in peanut butter until mixture is smooth.
• Place popcorn in a large bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over popcorn; toss until evenly coated. Form into about 16 balls using buttered hands. Arrange balls on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; allow to dry and set, at least 30 minutes.

POPCORN PARTY BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large shallow pan or dish.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring corn syrup and brown sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Pour mixture evenly over popcorn, stirring to coat. When mixture is cool enough to handle, form into 2 inch balls. Let cool on waxed paper until set.

FRUIT AND POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Butter a very large bowl. Add popped popcorn and your selection of the 2 cups of fruit and/or nuts. I like 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries and 1/2 cup chopped cashews.
• Heat brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and juice until just boiling. Pour over dry ingredients in bowl.
• Butter hands with additional butter or cooking spray and form into tennis size balls. Compact lightly to get the mixture to hold a ball shape. Set aside. Wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap.
• Option: The balls can be drizzled with melted chocolate for gift giving. I like to use white chocolate on the cranberry/ cashew ones. After wrapping with plastic wrap, I tie with a burgandy colored ribbon.

COLORFUL POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter and marshmallows over low heat. Stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. When cool enough to handle, lightly butter hands and quickly shape mixture into balls.