Old Fashioned Halloween Treats: Popcorn Balls

 

I love Halloween!  What I miss the most are the homemade treats, both making them and most importantly handing them out knowing they will get eaten and not thrown away :-(   But HEY not all the fun is gone.  You can still make one of Mrs. V's favorite Halloweeny treats Popcorn Balls for in home Halloween parties! 

Why I remember this one little boy years ago who came over to my son's Halloween party and asked me what a popcorn ball was (my son was raving about them)....GASP!  What's a popcorn ball?!  I marched him right over to the treat table and gave him one and just one bite and the kiddo was hooked :-) that made me a happy camper.  

I have two recipes I use so pick and choose or do what I do and make them both!  

Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls (Makes 1 dozen)

•  8 cups popped white popcorn (white holds better texture and shape than yellow) If using microwave popcorn use un-buttered/plain
• 1 cup granulated sugar (I use the fine baking sugar by C&H)
• 1/3 cup corn syrup (light or dark your choice I use dark)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat Oven to 200 degrees F.  
• Pop the corn and spread out on wax paper lined cookie sheets, place in oven to keep warm
• In large saucepan on medium high heat stir the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter and salt together.  Stir constantly until it comes to a boil and mixture reaches 270 degrees F (use candy thermometer)
• Remove from heat, add vanilla and give a quick stir.
• Pour mixture slowly over popcorn let cool enough to handle
• Butter your hands and shape into balls (I use disposable kitchen gloves and butter them up instead of using my bare hands)

The most important thing; Have fun eating them :-)

Just Like Cracker Jacks Popcorn Balls (Makes 1 dozen)

• 8 cups white popcorn (if using microwave popcorn use un-buttered/plain)
• 1 cup granulated sugar (fine baking sugar is best)
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla 
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups toffee peanuts  
•  
• Directions
• Preheat Oven to 200 degrees F.  
• Pop the corn and spread out on wax paper lined cookie sheets, place in oven to keep warm
• In large saucepan on medium high heat stir the sugar, molasses, water, butter and peanuts together.  Stir constantly until it comes to a boil and mixture reaches 270 degrees F (use candy thermometer)
• Remove from heat, add vanilla and give a quick stir.
• Pour mixture slowly over popcorn let cool enough to handle
• Butter your hands and shape into balls (I use disposable kitchen gloves and butter them up instead of using my bare hands 
•   ENJOY

Happy Halloween and until next time, see you 'round the table

Where Meals and Memories are Made

Mrs. V's Delightful Snowball Christmas Cookies

This is my favorite winter holiday cookie.  My Mom made them every year and my Dad and I used to race each other to the table when she put them out.  I can tell you this it kind of ticked her off a wee bit because we ate them faster then she could bake them.  

It wasn't until later in life I learned their "true name and origin", The Mexican Wedding Cookie.  I will always fondly remember them as snowballs.  There are several variations of this cookie out there and here is one I like and it's very simple to make.  

Be prepared, they are messy to make and eat but oh so much fun and yummy-licious.

What You Need

1 1/2 cups powdered/confectioners sugar (divide 1 cup set aside in bowl)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans (any nut will work and they are fabulous with dried fruits like cranberries and cherries)

Let's Make Them!

1. With Mixer or KitchenAid cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy and well combined.
2. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour in the fridge
3. 15 minutes before pulling out dough preheat your oven to 400 degrees F
4. Roll dough into 1 inch balls.  You can use a standard cookie scoop to measure then place between palms of your hands and roll into shape.  
5. Bake 8-10 minutes.  Do NOT brown cookies.  
6. Let them cool completely before coating with more powdered sugar
7. Roll them until well covered 
8. Gobble 'em up!

Until next time, see you 'round the kitchen,