How to Make Popcorn Balls

How to Make Popcorn Balls How to Make Popcorn Balls Come Halloween and you will find your kids making a beeline for popcorn balls. It is such a tasty item that it becomes the firm favorite of kids and adults alike. Popcorn balls can also serve as a great decoration item. You can include them in a Christmas wreath and use them to decorate the Christmas tree. Making them is fairly easy and does not take up much time. A few basic ingredients will help make this delicacy and you can even bring about variations in the recipe by being a little innovative. You can enjoy flavored popcorn balls but the first step is to learn how to make them.

The first step is to pop the popcorn kernels. Take 2/3rd cup of kernels and pour into a pan already heated with 3 tbsp of vegetable oil. You can also use soyabean, sunflower or olive oil. Heat the pan on medium heat and spread the oil all over the pan so that the kernels do not stick to them.
After pouring the kernels to the pan, you can cover it keeping it slightly open for the steam to get out. Keep shaking the pan so that all the kernels get equal heat and are uniformly covered with oil.
When all the kernels have finished popping, the sound will cease and you can pour out the popcorn on a dish.
Then you have to sift through the popcorn so that all the kernels which have not popped can be removed.
Mix 1 cup sugar, 2 tbsp butter, 1/4th cup molasses, 3/4th cup light corn syrup, 3/4th tbsp salt and place in a pan. Heat this mixture over medium heat and cook for 3 minutes. Stir continuously.
Remove the mixture from heat after 3 minutes and pour it over the popcorn. Use a spatula to see that the mixture spreads evenly over the popcorn.
Cover your hands with vegetable shortening and begin forming the popcorn balls. The vegetable shortening will not allow the popcorn to stick to your hands.
Shape the balls with your hands. Make as big balls as you desire. Make sure that you do this while the mixture is still hot.
After making the balls, you can allow them to cool on parchment paper.
Plastic wrap will keep the popcorn balls fresh for a long time.
Certain variations of this recipe can be tried out by adding chocolate chips or marshmallows to the mixture while heating. Jelly beans and peanut butter can also make the delicacy taste all the more better.
Candy corn can be used to decorate the popcorn balls which will be best suited for Halloween. You can add a little bit of food coloring also to make the balls more eye-catching.

Be creative and go on adding variations when you make the popcorn balls. You will be glad to have a new recipe each time. Enjoy it with your family and friends.