Popcorn Balls and Candy Apples Are a Hallo-Winner

Recipes and DIY

Popcorn Ball Recipe

Courtesy of Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 7 quarts popped popcorn
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring

Directions

  1. Place the popcorn on a large baking pan and keep warm in a 200° oven.
  2. Mix the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat on the stove until a candy thermometer reads 235° (the “soft-ball stage”). Turn off the heat.
  3. Add the butter, vanilla and food coloring. Stir until the butter is melted. Immediately pour over the popcorn and stir until evenly coated.
  4. Once the mixture is cool enough, shape into 3-in. balls. Pro Tip: dip your hands in cold water to prevent sticking.

Candy Apple Recipe

Courtesy of Just A Taste

Ingredients

  • 12 small apples (red or green)
  • 12 lollipop or popsicle sticks
  • 3 cups sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon food coloring

Directions

  1. Wash and dry the apples.
  2. Insert the lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks into the apples. Set the apples on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper coated with cooking spray.
  3. Mix the sugar, corn syrup and water. Place in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Cook the mixture until a candy thermometer reaches 300ºF (the “hard-crack stage”).
  4. Take the candy mixture from the heat and carefully stir in the food coloring.
  5. Dip the apples into the candy mixture one by one. Swirl each apple to coat them thoroughly.
  6. Move the coated apples to the cookie sheet and let them cool until the candy has hardened.

Hand out these sweet treats to trick-or-treaters…or keep them all yourself (muahaha). Either way, these popcorn balls and candy apples are sure to be a huge hit this Halloween!