Caramel Popcorn Balls
Caramel Popcorn Balls
These popcorn balls are easy to make and disappear in an instant. This recipe can be used to make regular caramel popcorn, however the kids really like the balls and I kind of do too. It also makes them easier to distribute when you can toss them across a room when the time comes. If we want to take them somewhere we put them in little wax paper sandwich bags to keep them safe. Personally, I prefer to pop my own popcorn, however in a pinch I have used 2 bags of microwave popcorn and no one will know the difference.
Ingredients
10 cups of popcorn
1/2 bag of Kraft caramel pieces (about 25 – 30)
1 tablespoon of butter
1 tablespoon water
A dash of salt
extra butter for greasing up hands
Directions
1. Put the popcorn in a large bowl, large enough to allow for the mixing of the ingredients as the popcorn will be tossed around.
2. In a medium saucepan, place the butter, water, salt and caramel pieces and over a medium-high heat, melt the caramel, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula to keep it from burning on the bottom of the pan. When melted, remove from heat and keep stirring for a minute.
3. Slowly pour the melted caramel mixture into the bowl while using two large forks to keep tossing the popcorn like a salad. I often recruit my wife to pour while I stir, but it can be done by one person.
3. When the caramel has been incorporated into the popcorn, grab a hunk of butter and rub it all over your hands so they are nice and buttery. This will allow you to shape the balls without the popcorn sticking to your hands. It also adds a nice coating of butter to the popcorn that adds tremendously to the flavor, but isn’t enough to make them greasy. Pick up a handful of the popcorn mixture and shape into a ball. Press lightly to shape them into spheres. You should have plenty of time to do this before all the popcorn cools, as when warm it will shape easily, but if you leave it to cool first, you will have a tough time shaping it into balls.
4. Eat before your kids see them or you won’t get any.
By the way, see that chair that the bowl is sitting on? I’m sitting on it right now with the bowl on my left, and I’m going to eat those caramel popcorn balls until I’m sick. The kids are off at friend’s houses, so they are all mine!
So that’s what happened to the rest of the popcorn balls!! 😉
For the past few months my husband has been writing popcorn balls on my grocery list. I keep telling him I don’t know where to get them and to cut it out, ye he continues. Maybe I’ll surprise him and make a batch of these!
Definitely try. They really are very easy to make. Good luck!
These seem great for parties. I’ve never actually made these before, but I think I might actually try this recipe. I love caramel popcorn and am eager to try the homemade version 🙂