Popcorn Balls

By Judycakes

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar or firm y packed brown s gar
• 1/3 cup light or dark corn syru
• 1/3 , cup water
• l4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 quarts popped popcorn.

Preparation

Step 1

Keep popcorn warm in 250-degree oven. In 2-quart saucepan, stir together sugar corn syrup, water , butter, salt. Cook over stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Attach candy thermometer to pan. Continue without stirring until mixture reaches 270 degrees or until small amount dropped into very cold water separates into hard but not brittle; threads.

Remove from heat. Add vanilla and stir only enough to mix it through hot syrup. Pour syrup slowly over popped corn, mixing it with a fork . When cool enough to handle but still quite warm, form into balls or shape as desired.