Popcorn Ball Ornaments with Honey and Apples
Make these edible popcorn ball ornaments to decorate the tree for Christmas or New Year's eve.
Servings: 10
Equipment
- 1 popcorn machine or kettle
- a small stockpot
- mixing bowl
- metal cookie sheet
- parchment paper
- red string
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup popcorn kernels (8 cups popped)
- 1 cup raw honey
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup dried apple, chopped
Instructions
- Measure corn kernels into a popcorn machine or kettle.
- Pop corn and measure 8 cups into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a small pot on the stove, melt butter and measure in 1 cup of honey.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and bring everything to a bubbling simmer on medium heat.
- Reduce heat to low and gently simmer the bubbling honey.
- Simmer for 8 minutes and test honey by cooling a wee bit on a spoon. When the honey is thick and won't run around on the spoon because it has become too thick and gooey, remove the pot from heat.
- Immediately pour over the popcorn in your bowl and use a spatula to stir and coat popcorn kernels with honey. Do NOT use your hands for this step, or the honey will stick to and badly scald your skin.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Butter your hands and test one kernel of corn to see if it can be safely handled without scalding your skin.
- When the temperature has cooled enough, start forming popcorn into balls the size of a baseball.
- Set each one on the parchment paper, leaving space between each so they don't stick together.
- Form balls and let cool for about 15 minutes or until they reach room temperature.
- Cut several 12 inch lengths of red string and knot them together on one end.
- Place the knotted string on your counter or tabletop and spread the string out evenly.
- Place your popcorn ball in the center of the string, directly on top of the knot.
- Gather the strings up around the ball and knot on the top. Create a bow, if you wish.
- Knot the loose ends of the string to create a loop for hanging your popcorn ball on the Christmas tree.
- Hang balls as they are for 4-5 days or longer, if desired.
- To eat, remove string and enjoy!
