Mrs. Livingwood's Chewy Popcorn Balls

Here's a deliciously soft and chewy popcorn ball that will bring a mouthful of pleasure to Halloween goblins young and old alike. My mom discovered this popcorn ball recipe about 35 years ago. The original recipe calls for spiced gumdrops and we would make them each year at Christmastime. For Halloween, I used orange and black gumdrops and candy corn.

The amount of butter in this recipe might scare your socks off, but it's what gives the popcorn balls their soft and chewy consistency. Believe me, these are some of the most delicious popcorn balls you'll ever taste!

Do this...

Do that...

Do this...

And soon...

You'll be eating these :0)

Mrs. Livingwood's Chewy Popcorn Balls

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1  1/3 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

4 quarts popped corn

3 cups miniature marshmallows

1  1/2 cups orange/black gumdrops

1/2 cup candy corn

1  1/2 cups peanuts (cashews or mixed nuts work well too)

Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup in heavy saucepan. Stir to blend and bring to a good boil over medium heat. Simmer 3 minutes. Add vanilla (careful, the hot liquid may spatter). In the meantime, combine popcorn, gumdrops, marshmallows, and nuts in a very large bowl. Pour hot syrup over mixture and stir until well blended. With lightly buttered hands, shape into popcorn balls. 

Before you know it, your little goblins will be gobblin' these up! Enjoy!