Country Cousin Popcorn Balls from Jones Popcorn

2 cups sugar
2/3 cup apple juice or water
2/3 cup maple syrup
½ cup butter
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla
4 quarts warm popped Jones Popcorn
1 cup salted peanuts
1 - 8-ounce package chopped dates (1 ½ cups)

Combine sugar, apple juice, syrup, butter and salt in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occassionally. Remove sugar from sides of the pan with a wet brush. Cook without stirring, until mixture reaches 270 °F or the soft crack stage on a candy thermometer. Add vanilla. Pour mixture over popped popcorn, peanuts and dates. Mix well. Wet or butter hands and shape into 3-inch balls. Makes 18 balls.

 Print this page