Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls

A trip down memory lane, today. It's Halloween y'all and when I was growing up people always gave us popcorn balls and apples on Halloween night. Unlike today, when people give out prepackaged candy, popcorn balls were what people gave us and it was something we looked forward to every year.

I wish I had mother's recipe from all those years ago, but I don't, so I watched Paula Deen make her grandmother's recipe and they look exactly like the ones mother used to make. So this is her recipe for you today, you can dress them up anyway you like with candy and sprinkles, ours were just always plain, wrapped in waxed paper and tied with twine. Such good memories...

Grandmother Paul's Popcorn Balls

2 cup sugar

1 1/3 cup water

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

18 cups popped popcorn

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, syrup, vinegar and salt. Cook over high heat until mixture reaches 255 °F (hard-ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Stir in vanilla. Pour over popped corn, tossing gently to coat. When mixture is cool enough to handle, press popcorn into 3-inch balls with lightly greased hands. Cool completely on wax paper

If you want to watch her make them, I enclosed the video link for you.

Here is the link from her YouTube Channel - Paula Making Popcorn Balls

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