Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipe

These old fashioned popcorn balls recipes got plenty of use in our family. Dad would boil up some molasses or corn syrup while I popped the corn, and we would make some homemade treats to enjoy after the evening's farm chores were done. Now, you can enjoy them too.

Our Family's Favorite Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipes

Mom's Recipe Scrapbooks (1920s)

Dad's Recipe for Popcorn Balls

One method of making popcorn balls requires a pint of molasses or syrup (either corn syrup, sugar molasses, or maple syrup), two cups of sugar, two tablespoonfuls of butter, and a teaspoonful of vinegar.

Cook till the syrup will harden into a firm ball when a little is dropped in a cup of cold water.

Pour the hot syrup over four or five quarts of popcorn, stirring till each kernel is well coated, when it may be pressed with the hands into balls or molded into any form desired.

It's a good idea to remove all unpopped kernels first, as it's easier on the teeth. Enjoy.

Brown Sugared Popcorn

2 quarts popped corn
2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup water

Put butter in saucepan, and when melted add sugar and water. Bring to boiling-point, and let boil sixteen minutes. Pour over popcorn, and stir until every kernel in the bowl is well coated with sugar.

Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipes

The White House Cook Book (1913)

Molasses Popcorn Balls

Take three large ears of popcorn (about one cupful of corn). After popping the corn, shake it down in pan so the unpopped corn will settle at the bottom; put the nice white popped corn in a greased pan.

For the candy, take one cup of molasses, one cup of white or light-brown sugar, one tablespoonful of vinegar. Boil until it will harden in water. Pour on the corn. Stir with a spoon until thoroughly mixed, then mold into balls with the hand.

No flavor should be added to this mixture, as the excellence of this commodity depends entirely upon the united flavor of the corn, salt, and the sugar, or molasses.

Loose Popcorn Caramel Candy Pieces

Put into an iron kettle (or cooking pot) one tablespoonful of butter, three tablespoonfuls of water, and one cupful of white sugar; boil until ready to candy, then throw in three quarts nicely popped corn (first remove all unpopped kernels).

Stir vigorously until the sugar is evenly distributed over the corn; take the kettle from the fire and stir until it cools a little, and in this way you may have each kernel separate and all coated with the sugar.

Of course, it must have your undivided attention from the first, to prevent scorching!

Almonds, English walnuts, or, in fact, any nuts are delicious when prepared in this way.

Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipe

Pan-American Recipe Book (1899)

Mrs. Guthrie's Popcorn Balls

For eight quarts of popped corn take one cup molasses and one-half cup sugar. Boil until it hardens in cold water, and then add one-fourth teaspoonful soda to improve color.

Pour over popcorn, mix well and press into balls. One pint unpopped corn equals eight quarts when popped. —Mrs. Guthrie

Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls Recipe

Second Edition of the Neighborhood Cook Book (1914)

Easy Popcorn Balls

One cup of molasses, one cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon of vinegar, butter size of an egg. Boil all ingredients until brittle. Pour this over two quarts of popcorn and mold into balls.

Making Popcorn Special

For special occasions, you can add a few drops of red, green, or blue food coloring to the boiled candy mixture. Kids of all ages love colored popcorn balls! Wrap them in waxed paper to keep them fresh until serving.

For holiday popcorn balls:

• Color red or green for Christmas
  
• Pink for Valentines
  
• Pastel green, pink, or yellow for Easter
  

Peanuts or chopped cashews when added to the syrup make a tasty change. Never be afraid to experiment with an old fashioned popcorn balls recipe. Even the failures often taste delicious.