Bite-size Honey Popcorn Balls

The only quibble we have with popcorn balls is that they're usually too big and unwieldy to bite into. These miniature clusters, held together with caramelized honey, are just the right size. Prep and Cook Time: 1 1/4 hours. Notes: If you don't have an air popper, you can pop the popcorn in the microwave: Working in 2 batches, put kernels in a brown paper bag (any size). Do not add oil. Fold the bag's opening several times to seal, then microwave at full power in 1-minute increments, checking popcorn and removing popped kernels as you go (they burn easily). Be careful when opening bag; it will release steam.

Yield: Makes 60 to 65 popcorn balls

Ingredients

• 20  cups  air-popped popcorn (from 2/3 to 1 cup kernels; see Notes)
• 1 1/4  cups  butter, cut into chunks, plus more for your hands
• 1 1/4  cups  honey
• 3/4  teaspoon  salt
• 2  teaspoons  vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Put popcorn in a large roasting pan. Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, use a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon to stir together 1 1/4 cups butter, the honey, and salt until butter is melted. Increase heat and boil honey mixture gently 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla.

3. Carefully pour honey mixture over popcorn in roasting pan and stir gently to coat. Bake popcorn, stirring every 5 minutes, until deep golden all over, about 25 minutes.

4. Let popcorn stand 5 minutes, or just until cool enough to handle. Working quickly with lightly buttered hands, press small handfuls of the mixture into 1 1/2-in. balls, occasionally loosening popcorn from bottom of pan with a spatula. If mixture cools too much to be malleable, return it to oven for about 45 seconds to soften.

5. Put popcorn balls on prepared baking sheet and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per popcorn ball.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

64 (56% from fat)

Protein:

0.3g

Fat:

4g (sat 2.4)

Carbohydrate:

7.3g

Fiber:

0.4g

Sodium:

67mg

Cholesterol:

11mg