Holiday Wreath Popcorn Treats and Cranberry Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
Cranberry Popcorn Balls:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce slightly mashed
- 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 quarts unsalted popped popcorn
Holiday Wreath Popcorn Treats:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 3 quarts popped popcorn
- 4 tablespoons 1/2 stick butter or margarine
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons 1/2 of 3-ounce box lime gelatin dessert mix
- small red candies
- jelly beans
- red fruit leather
Instructions
To make cranberry popcorn balls:
- In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cranberry sauce, orange peel, cranberry juice, corn syrup, vinegar and salt. Bring to boil; lower heat and cook to 250 F on candy thermometer. Mixture will bubble in pan so watch to keep from boiling over.
- Pour mixture slowly onto hot popcorn and mix until well-coated. Let stand 5 minutes, or until mixture can easily be formed into balls. Butter hands and form into 3-inch balls.
To make holiday wreath popcorn treats:
- Spray large mixing bowl lightly with nonstick cooking spray and place popcorn inside.
- In medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated.
- Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray and press firmly to form popcorn mixture into 9-inch logs then bend to form “wreaths.” Place “wreaths” on wax paper. Press candy pieces and jelly beans onto wreath to decorate; add “ribbon” cut from fruit leather.