Pop’s Old-Fashioned Molasses Popcorn Balls & Taffy

Name: Pop’s Old-Fashioned Molasses Popcorn Balls & Taffy
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 52 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.25 cup Butter; 1 cup Corn Syrup; 0.5 cup Molasses; 6 cups Popcorn Kernels; 0.5 tsp Salt; 2 cups Sugar; 1 cup Water

Dessert 🍰Snack 🍿 American Low-Sodium Gluten-Free Vegetarian 🥦Low-FODMAP Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Comfort-Food Pescatarian 🐟

Pop’s Old-Fashioned Molasses Popcorn Balls & Taffy blend deep molasses richness with buttery caramel notes for a nostalgic, chewy-crisp bite. The taffy pulls to a glossy finish while the popcorn sets into crunchy spheres with a hint of salt, perfect for fall gatherings, school fairs, or holiday treat trays.

Prep45 mins
Cook7 mins
Serves12
DifficultyMedium

1

Put the popcorn in a large bowl with enough space for mixing.
2

Fill another bowl with ice water.
3

Butter several plates, one for each person who will be pulling taffy.
4

In a large 6-quart saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, molasses, water, butter, and salt; attach a candy thermometer.
5

Bring to a boil, stirring often.
6

Tip the pan slightly to melt the sugar crystals on the sides, scraping them down with a wooden spoon.
7

Cook until the mixture reaches 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 155 degrees C) on the thermometer or until a small drizzle of syrup in cold water turns hard, 7 to 10 minutes.
8

Pour about 1 cup of syrup onto each buttered plate.
9

Let it cool until it is safe to handle like a hot potato, 3 to 5 minutes.
10

Pull the syrup between your hands until it reaches a light golden brown; the longer you pull, the lighter it gets.
11

Twist it into a long rope about 3/4 inch thick and place it back on a buttered plate to harden and cool.
12

Break the hardened taffy into pieces.
13

Carefully pour the remaining hot syrup over the popcorn while someone else quickly stirs.
14

Butter your hands and dip them in the ice water; working quickly to avoid burns and before the taffy hardens, grab some of the popcorn mixture and shape it into a 3-inch ball.
15

Repeat with the remaining popcorn.