Popcorn is a healthy, often boring snack. Using a popcorn machine and making the fluffy kernels fly into the bowl is half the fun. Different brands now offer a variety of flavors. But besides sitting in a movie theater with a big tub of buttered popcorn, there is little creativity involved in making the snack. So spice up your next batch of popcorn with some syrup using these tips.
Instructions
1. Heat maple syrup and sugar over low heat in a big pot while the popcorn machine pops you a batch of kernels. Make at least six cups of popcorn for every cup of sugar. A hot-air popcorn machine works well with any brand of popcorn you prefer.
2. Let the syrup cool slightly and add the popcorn to the mixture. Stir it all together.
3. Add other ingredients such as dried fruit or nuts if you like. Fold the fruit and nuts into the mixture, stirring all the time. Don't let the mixture harden just yet.
4. Rub butter on your hands and scoop out the popcorn and syrup mixture in small doses. Form the popcorn mixture into any size balls you'd prefer and set them on a piece of waxed paper or on a plate to harden and cool.
5. Keep your hands greasy as you continue to make the popcorn balls.
6. Wrap the popcorn balls in plastic wrap or place them in a plastic bag and tie with a ribbon.
7. Substitute marshmallows and butter for the maple syrup and sugar to get a differently flavored popcorn ball.
Tags: popcorn machine, fruit nuts, maple syrup, maple syrup sugar, popcorn balls, popcorn mixture
