Molasses Popcorn Balls

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Serves: 36 balls

Jill Ericksen of Plumas Lake was looking for a recipe for popcorn balls that included cooked molasses. She grew up making these as a family during the holidays.

Patricia Gallahan of Modesto shares her recipe that sounds like a match for Ericksen.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup molasses

1½ cups sugar

½ cup water

1/3 teaspoon vinegar

1/3 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 quarts popped popcorn

Instructions:

Boil molasses, sugar, water, vinegar and salt without stirring to 270 degrees on a candy thermometer or until a drop becomes brittle when dropped in cold water. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.

Have popped popcorn in a large pan and pour the molasses syrup over it gradually, using a spoon to mix well.

Butter hands and form popcorn into balls. Wrap in waxed paper when cool.

Per popcorn ball: 65 calories; 0 grams protein; 15 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fat (1 saturated, 0 monounsaturated, 0 polyunsaturated); 2 milligrams cholesterol; 24 milligrams sodium; 0 gram fiber; 12 grams sugar; 10 percent calories from fat.

This story was originally published October 29, 2008 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Molasses Popcorn Balls."