Easy Irresistible Chewy Popcorn Balls
A quick and easy recipe for chewy popcorn balls with a perfect balance of buttery popcorn and soft syrupy coating, ideal for snacks, parties, and gifting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Optional mix-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, colorful sprinkles
Instructions
- Pop about 1/2 cup of kernels until you have roughly 10 cups of fluffy popcorn. Remove any unpopped kernels and place popcorn in a large mixing bowl.
- In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and melted unsalted butter. Heat over medium, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Let boil gently for 3-4 minutes without stirring.
- Remove pan from heat and quickly stir in baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt. The mixture will foam up.
- Pour hot syrup over popcorn immediately. Gently fold with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula until popcorn is evenly coated.
- Allow mixture to cool for about 5 minutes until cool enough to handle. Butter your hands or dampen with water to prevent sticking. Scoop handfuls and press into 2-3 inch diameter balls. Place on wax paper to cool completely.
Notes
Use fresh popcorn popped just before making the balls for best texture. Do not overcook syrup to avoid hard popcorn balls. Butter or wet your hands to prevent sticking when shaping. Store wrapped individually in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate up to a week, or freeze up to a month.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popcorn ball (appr
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 2
Keywords: popcorn balls, chewy popcorn balls, homemade popcorn treats, easy popcorn recipe, party snacks, kid-friendly snacks