Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls

Ok, first posted project.  Peanut Butter Popcorn balls.

For my Mom's 60th birthday I put together a large box full of homemade goodies. My goal for this year has been to buy as few presents as possible. Everybody I know has way more stuff than they need.  Plus I enjoy the having projects to do. This was one of the final items in the box.

I decided to try popping my own popcorn on the stove. I've watched my roommate do it a number of times and decided it couldn't be that hard. It took me two attempts (but only because the first attempt turned out so well that I had to eat it).  This method is great! No burned pieces and very few unpopped kernels.  

Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls:

For the Popcorn:

1/3 Cup Unpopped Popcorn
2 Tbsp Canola Oil
1/2 Tsp Salt

For the Popcorn Balls:

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter

First, pop the popcorn. I used Alton Brown's popcorn method. After the popcorn has cooled, make the peanut butter syrup.

Place the corn syrup, sugar, and cream of tarter in a large saucepan. Insert a candy thermometer and heat until the softball stage.   Do not stir the syrup while it is heating.

After it reaches softball stage, remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter. Stir in the baking soda and butter. Stir until the peanut butter and butter and melted and everything is combined.

Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn. Stir to combine. Wearing plastic gloves, quickly form the peanut butter popcorn mixture into balls. The mixture will be hot! Let the balls stand to cool. Once cool, cover in plastic wrap. Now ship them to your momma!

Note: When I made these I used  1/2 cup unpopped popcorn and 3 tbsp canola oil. The syrup to popcorn ratio didn't quite seem right. I would try the 1/3 cup of unpopped corn next time.