How do I make popcorn balls? Whats the trick? I tried and mine were so sticky and messy! help!?

Answer 1

Butter up your hands, Wash them first!
Beginners Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

2 qt popped popcorn
1 c sugar
1/3 c corn syrup
1/3 c water
1/4 c butter
1/4 ts salt
1 ts vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250. Put popcorn in a large, 4 inch deep buttered baking pan. Keep warm in the oven. Combine sugar, cornsyrup, water, butter and salt in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until
sugar is dissolved. Cook until mixture reaches 250 on a candy
thermometer, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Quickly stir in vanilla. Remove popcorn from oven. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn, stirring to mix well. Form into balls. Makes approximately 8 balls

Variations: To make Spice Balls, subsitute 1 tbs of powdered spice or
crushed herbs for vanilla To make butter balls, increase the butter
to 1/3 cup and increase the

Answer 2

Popcorn Balls

1 C. unpopped popcorn
1 1/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. light corn syrup
3 T. butter
Pinch of salt
1/2 C. water

Cook sugar, syrup, water, butter and salt until it forms hairlike threads. Use a candy thermometer and cook to 290 degrees. Be careful.

While cooking the liquid, make popcorn -- white is best. Salt popcorn to taste. Pour syrup over popcorn and stir with a wooden spoon.

Butter hands generously to avoid being burned. Very quickly, shape popcorn balls just like you make snowballs. Wrap balls immediately in waxed paper squares. Twist end tightly to ensure freshness.
http://www.thatsmyhome.com/mainstreet/popcorn/pballs.htm

Answer 3

you have to wear latex gloves when you do it, or else your hands will get sticky and gross...when you call them, place them on wax paper until they harden completely. Don't eat them until then, or you will get sticky on your hands, clothes, counter, etc. also, it you coat them with a flavor powder, the sticky stuff will absorb the powder and they wont feel sticky to the touch. For sweet popcorn, try cocoa powder, icing sugar, or cinnamon. For a more savory popcorn, try mixing mustard powder and dill. just make sure they set right, then enjoy!

Answer 4

Yes they are a mess to make but oh so good.
Grease/Butter your hands that's the trick. Still messy but doable.

Answer 5

you have to get the corn syrup hotter, then poor it over the popcorn then cool it faster (i use the freezer for 10 minutes). this causes the corn syrup to crystalize more.
good luck

Answer 6

Keep dipping your hands in cold water!