Peanutty Popcorn Balls Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a large saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in peanut butter until mixture is smooth.
• Place popcorn in a large bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over popcorn; toss until evenly coated. Form into about 16 balls using buttered hands. Arrange balls on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; allow to dry and set, at least 30 minutes.

STICKY PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn, candies, and peanuts in a large bowl, set aside.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
• Quickly pour over popcorn mixture and mix well.
• When cool enough to handle, shape into 10 2 1/2 in balls. Let stand at room temperature until firm.
• Wrap in plastic wrap.

PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan mix the honey and brown sugar. Bring to a boil while stirring then add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
• Place the popcorn into a large bowl and pour hot mixture over it and stir until it is well coated.
• The popcorn mixture will be hot but as soon as your hands can take the heat begin forming it into softball sized balls by compressing the popcorn tightly with your hands and placing them on a wax or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Once all balls are formed, put the cookie sheet into the fridge to cool.
• (it doesn't take long but they can be left over night, it doesn't really matter).
• To keep little hands from getting too sticky, shove a stick into each ball after it has cooled.

PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BALLS WITH REESE'S CANDY

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet or work surface with waxed paper; set aside.
• Stir sugar, corn syrup, butter and peanut butter together in a large saucepan. Bring to a FULL boil over medium heat.
• Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and stir until well coated.
• Stir in the Reese's gently and allow mixture to cool slightly. Don't wait too long as it will get too hard and you won't be able to form the popcorn balls.
• Coat your hands in butter and form balls any size you like. Let cool fully on the wax paper.
• Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.

TRADITIONAL POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200° oven. , In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 235° (soft-ball stage). , Remove from the heat. Add the butter, vanilla and food coloring if desired; stir until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated. , When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cold water to prevent sticking.

PEANUT-POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225°F. Place popcorn in a large bowl. Melt butter in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup; cook, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly combined. Increase heat to high; bring to a boil without stirring. Cook until mixture registers 245° to 248° on a candy thermometer, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Turn off heat; stir in molasses, salt, and baking soda to completely combine. Keep stirring until mixture turns very foamy and lightens in color and bubbles up quite a bit.
• Pour hot syrup over popcorn mixture and immediately sprinkle peanuts over top; stir until all kernels and nuts are coated. Let stand briefly. Meanwhile, put on a pair of rubber gloves and spray them with cooking spray (this isn't required, but it will help protect your hands from the heat, and it's important to work while the mixture is still warm).
• Working quickly, use your hands to form mixture into balls, each about 1 cup in volume (if you have a 1-cup scoop, use that!). Transfer balls to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once all have been formed, go back and use your hands to press them into tighter balls, so they really hold together. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Bake 45 minutes. (If one or two balls fall apart during baking, let cool briefly, then re-form.) Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.