Caramel Popcorn Balls

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Servings: 15
Yield: 15 servings

Description

This recipe for popcorn balls is easy to make with sweetened condensed milk, butter, and freshly popped corn kernels for a crowd-pleasing sweet treat.

Ingredients

5 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 1/2 cups unpopped popcorn
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1 Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a 4-quart saucepan; heat over high heat. Add 1/2 cup of popping corn; keep pan moving constantly until corn stops popping, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer popped corn into a dish; set aside and keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped.
2 Stir sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil and simmer until it reaches 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Stir in vanilla.
3 Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat.
4 Lightly grease your hands and shape popcorn mixture into 15 balls; let cool completely.