How To Make Molasses Popcorn Balls

I got an hankering (yes, a hankering) for my Grandma's molasses popcorn balls last week. Seeing as she lives 1400 miles away I knew I would have to take things into my own hands. Using a recipe I found online that had all the same ingredients as her recipe Little Man and I wiped up a double batch in no time flat. Why make one batch when you can make two?

Grandma's Molasses Popcorn Balls

2 quarts popped popcorn (About 1/2 cup unpopped)

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

 

Pop the popcorn.

Dump popcorn on a table or counter.

 Fluff the popcorn to make the hard unpopped kernels fall to the bottom. This is a great step for kids to help.

This is how much we had after popping one cup of popcorn.

Add the rest of the ingredients, minus the baking soda to large sauce pan. Do not stir - not sure why, but it said not to. 

Bring mixture to 235 degrees or soft-ball stage. Soft-ball is when you place a small amount in a cold cup of water and you can roll it into a smooshy ball in between your fingers.

 Add the baking soda and watch your mixture double or triple in size and turn a lighter color.

Pour over popcorn and stir.

Wet your hands with cold water and form into ball. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Place in plastic bags to store. I am not sure how long they keep because I ate them all in a couple days.

My husband isn't a big fan or molasses, Little Man didn't like to be sticky and Baby Girl like them but I was afraid of her choking so she only had tiny pieces. Sooooo maybe I didn't need to make a double batch... Who am I kidding, I love them and feel no guilt that I ate them ALL (diabolical laugh), minus the three I mailed to my Grandma.