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I’m about to make a LOT of new friends! Why? Because I put a twist on my original popcorn ball recipe and made Maple Bacon Popcorn Balls! (Go ahead, do a happy dance, I won’t tell. 😉 )
Popcorn balls are a Fall staple at our house. My family loves them so much, that I usually make around 30 at a time! This year, while getting all of my ingredients together, I had a brainstorm! (Yes, sometimes it’s dangerous….) This time, it was a really good thing. I decided to add bacon and maple flavoring to my recipe. It was a huge hit! So, I’m really excited to share it with all of you.
A Little Prep Goes A Long Way
This is a super easy recipe to make. It actually takes more time to get everything set up, than it does to make the recipe. Because you need to move a little quickly, being prepared is the key to making everything run smoothly.
I always have all of my ingredients, measuring cups and spoons out and ready to go. You’ll want to lay out about 9 sheets of plastic wrap, around 8″ x 12″ or 12″x 12″ size on the kitchen table. You’re popcorn balls should be about the size of your fist.
Here are some other posts you may enjoy:
- Wild Rice Soup
- Easy Fire Roasted Sweet Chili
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Turkey Mushroom Bake
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Miniature Pepper Jack Meatloaves
- Deep South Mustard Greens
- Garlic Dill Potatoes
- Homemade Broccoli Casserole
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Homemade Laundry Detergent
Next, you need to pop two normal size bags of microwave popcorn. Measure it into a large mixing bowl. Be sure to check that no un-popped kernels make their way into your measuring bowl. They’re not fun to bite into. (I nearly broke a tooth on one years ago!)
Timing Is Everything
It may take a couple of batches to get the popcorn balls to be exactly like you want them. Here’s why. On my glass top, electric stove, I usually boil the syrup for 3 minutes and they’re perfect. However, I’ve noticed that if the air is dry and we’ve had no rain for awhile, I have to cut the time down to 2 minutes or they end up to hard. So here’s what I recommend; if your popcorn balls set up too hard, back the time up by 1 minute. Too soft, add 1 minute. It’s not difficult, but may need some adjusting for different cooktops and climates.
Mold Gently, Please
After your syrup and marshmallows have been mixed, carefully pour it over your popcorn. I use a spatula to scrape the marshmallow syrup from the pan. Be careful, because it’s really hot! Now, moving quickly, take a large, buttered spoon and gently mix the syrup and popcorn together. When it’s mostly blended, use buttered hands to form large popcorn balls. Keep in mind that it’s hot. When forming the balls, just gently mold them together. You don’t want to compact and crush the popcorn. Just use enough pressure to help them hold their form.
Lay each popcorn ball in the center of the prepared sheet of plastic wrap. You can just wrap it up, but I like to gather the corners together, twist and top with seasonal ribbon. They look really pretty in a large bowl or container for a party, or just as a seasonal display. I actually have a 3 gallon, galvanized bucket that I put mine in, and use it as a centerpiece on the kitchen table.
Here’s a nifty little tip. If you want to use a bucket for your popcorn balls, but you don’t have enough popcorn balls to fill it, just invert another bowl that will fit inside of your bucket to take up the extra space. Not going to lie, my husband got really sad the first time I did this. He thought the bucket was full!😂
This bucket from Amazon would make a cute display for your popcorn balls. With a little imagination you can come up with a really great way to serve your popcorn balls. Let me know how you choose to do it. I’d love to see some of your ideas!
Add In A Stick And Ribbon for Extra Cuteness!
You can also insert sticks in your popcorn balls for a cute serving idea. They look really cute for a party. Just use your fingers and press the popcorn ball tightly right around the hole where you inserted the stick and it should hold really well. If I make several different flavors of popcorn balls, I use a different color ribbon on the different flavors so I can tell them apart.
I hope you love these as much as we do. I know that anytime you are making something different, you may have questions. Just ask your questions in the comment section below, and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible!
Maple Bacon Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 12 c. popped corn – (Remove all un-popped kernels)
- 4 slices of bacon – cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 c. Karo syrup
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons of water
- 1 c. mini marshmallows
- 1 Tablespoon of maple extract
- Butter for coating your hands
Instructions
- Pop 2 regular size bags of popcorn. Measure 12 c. into a large mixing bowl, removing any un-popped kernels. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top and mix into the popcorn. Set aside.
- Put Karo syrup, powdered sugar and water in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and time for 2-3 minutes. (See the above post for more timing information.) Remove from heat and add the marshmallows and maple extract. Stir until completely melted and well blended. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the prepared popcorn and bacon. Gently mix with buttered hands, being careful not to burn yourself or crush the popcorn.
- Make 9 fist sized popcorn balls, using just enough pressure to make them keep their shape. Place each one in the center of a sheet of plastic wrap and wrap or tie with ribbon.
