Cinnamon Heart Popcorn Balls
Makes:
12 popcorn balls
Total Time:
1 hr 30 min
Submitted by:
Category:
Snacks
Sub Category: Snack Bars and Other Snacks
what you need
- 16 cups popped corn
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon oil, optional
- 1 - 2 drops red food color, optional
- 2/3-1 cup red cinnamon heart candies
make it
Preheat oven to 250°F. Butter a large metal bowl (must hold approx 2 gallons popped corn). Fill bowl with popped corn; place in oven to keep warm while preparing syrup.
Butter sides of heavy pan; combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and butter. Stirring, bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Cover with a lid to wash down sugar crystals from sides of pan. Cook, without stirring, to 248-250°F or a softer hard ball stage.* Remove from heat and stir in optional food color and cinnamon oil.
Remove popcorn from oven, sprinkle with cinnamon candies; pour syrup over popped corn and gently stir to coat. Cool until popped corn is cold enough to handle. Shape into 3-inch popcorn balls. Allow to cool. Wrap each ball with plastic wrap.
Notes
*Hardball stage is reached when a small amount of syrup dropped in cold water may be formed into a firm but still pliable ball with fingers.
