Old-Fashioned Soft Popcorn Balls

These chewy popcorn balls will be a hit at fall and winter holiday parties.

Recipe Ingredients:

20 cups popped popcorn
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup candy corn, small gumdrops, raisins or salted peanuts

Cooking Directions:

1. Place popcorn in large bowl or roasting pan; set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients except candy in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until candy thermometer reaches 250°F or small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a hard ball (40 to 45 minutes).
3. Remove from heat; pour over popcorn. Stir until all popcorn is coated. Gently stir in candy. Using buttered hands and working quickly, shape about 1 cup popcorn into ball. Place onto waxed paper. Repeat with remaining popcorn. Cool completely; wrap in waxed paper or plastic food wrap.

Makes 15 popcorn balls.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/15 of recipe): Calories: 260 Fat: 1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 110 mg Carbohydrates: 62 g Dietary Fiber: 2 g Protein: 3 g