Caramel Popcorn Balls

These caramel popcorn balls are easy to make with sweetened condensed milk, butter, and freshly popped corn kernels for a crowd-pleasing sweet treat.

• Calories: 322 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 0.25 cup butter
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup light corn syrup
• 2.5 cups unpopped popcorn
• 0.66666698455811 cup sweetened condensed milk

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a 4-quart saucepan; heat over high heat. Add 1/2 cup of popping corn; keep pan moving constantly until corn stops popping. Remove pan from heat and transfer popped corn into a dish; set aside and keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped.

Step 2

Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan; insert a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat; stir in condensed milk. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads 238 degrees F (114 degrees C). Stir in vanilla.

Step 3

Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat.

Step 4

Using lightly greased hands, shape popcorn mixture into balls about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.