Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls Recipe

Since my husband was knee-high to a grasshopper, sorghum popcorn balls have ushered in fall.  Some call sorghum popcorn balls “old fashioned,” but here in the Appalachias, we call it standard Halloween fare.

For generations, Kentucky farmers have been producing nutrient rich and naturally gluten free crops of sorghum and pressing it into a thick, versatile syrup that’s makes an ideal base for an amazing popcorn ball. Stacked up against their corn-syrup counterparts, the sorghum popcorn balls shine in complexity, clarity and superiority of flavor.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe
I am a Good Cook Kitchen Expert, which means from time to time I receive sample product,
information and incentives from Good Cook for review/recipe creation purposes. 

 

When you toss in a little sea salt and some pecans, the flavor-factor pops right off the popcorn charts… which is what we do each year.  Hope you enjoy, this simple, yet highly rewarding recipe we’ve created with a little help from some of our favorite Good Cook bakeware and kitchen gadgets.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls Recipe

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1/3 cup Sorghum Syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Butter
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup Pecans
  • 8 cups Popcorn, popped (air-popped, plain popcorn)

Instructions

  1. Measure out 8 cups of popped popcorn into a non-stick bowl (stainless steel, ceramic or glass bowls work best.)
  2. Cut and lay out about a 1-2 foot long sheet of wax paper on a nearby counter.
  3. Over a medium-high heat, in a 2 quart sauce pan, add water, sugar, salt, butter and sorghum syrup. Cook until melted and mixed, stirring occasionally.
  4. Turn heat to high and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until a rolling boil is achieved.
  5. Using a candy thermometer, boil until hard crack or soft ball stage is reached (about 240 degrees.) Remove sauce pan from heat.
  6. Slowly pour sorghum mixture over the popcorn and use a spatula to mix. Continuing mixing until popcorn is fully coated with sorghum mix.
  7. Quickly add pecans to popcorn, mix until pecans are incorporated throughout the popcorn mix.
  8. Popcorn mixture should begin cooling at this point and is prime for molding into popcorn balls. You may use your hands to shape into popcorn balls (or other shapes,) but the mix will still be hot to the touch.
  9. Place finished popcorn balls onto wax paper sheet and allow to cool thoroughly. Wrap popcorn balls in treat bags or store in an airtight container.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes
https://ruralmom.com/2013/09/sea-salted-sorghum-pecan-popcorn-balls.html

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls

1 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Sorghum Syrup
1 tablespoon Butter
1/4 cup Water
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/4 cup Pecans
8 cups Popcorn, popped (air-popped, plain popcorn)

Measure out 8 cups of popped popcorn into a non-stick bowl (stainless steel, ceramic or glass bowls work best.)   

Cut and lay out about a 1-2 foot long sheet of wax paper on a nearby counter.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe

Over a medium-high heat, in a 2 quart sauce pan, add water, sugar, salt, butter and sorghum syrup. Cook until melted and mixed, stirring occasionally.

Turn heat to high and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until a rolling boil is achieved.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe

Using a candy thermometer, boil until hard crack or soft ball stage is reached (about  240 degrees.)  Remove sauce pan from heat.

Slowly pour sorghum mixture over the popcorn and use a spatula to mix.  Continuing mixing until popcorn is fully coated with sorghum mix.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe

Quickly add pecans to popcorn, mix until pecans are incorporated throughout the popcorn mix.

Popcorn mixture should begin cooling at this point and is prime for molding into popcorn balls.  You may use your hands to shape into popcorn balls (or other shapes,) but the mix will still be hot to the touch.

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe

For this reason, I find the Good Cook Round Popcorn Baller to be super handy.  Simply use your spatula to scoop popcorn into the ball, close the lid to press and shape into a round ball, remove the lid and presto, you have a popcorn ball!  (No sticky mess on your hands to clean up either!)

Sea-Salted Sorghum Pecan Popcorn Balls #Recipe


Place finished popcorn balls onto wax paper sheet and allow to cool thoroughly.  Wrap popcorn balls in treat bags or store in an airtight container.

~

Find more information on the Good Cook products featured at http://www.goodcook.com

 

 


Discover more from Rural Mom

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

by
Barb Webb. Founder and Editor of Rural Mom, is an the author of "Getting Laid" and "Getting Baked". A sustainable living expert nesting in Appalachian Kentucky, when she’s not chasing chickens around the farm or engaging in mock Jedi battles, she’s making tea and writing about country living and artisan culture.
Time For a Carpet Update? When You Demand Quality, Consider Tigressa Carpet 5 Bars in the Country? DB Pro Makes Cell Phone Service in Remote Areas a Reality

Comments

    • Daisy B
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    I love this recipe, especially that you can add “chunks” like nuts to them.

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      Thanks Daisy 🙂 You really can mix in a lot of things. I added cinnamon and raisins once and that was really yummy, too.

    • Crystal Threeprncs
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    I would love these.. my father would LOVE these! I have to try this recipe.

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      Thanks Crystal! You’ll have to let us know it goes if you test it out!

    • Pam
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    Could you come and try these at my house? I feel like I need some of them.

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      Would love that. We’d have a super fun popcorn party!

    • Grace
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    Great recipe and I’m going to have to get one of those pop corn ball makers. I hate having burnt fingers.

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      Really wished I discovered that nifty little gadget years ago. So simple, yet so handy! Certainly saved my hands from the heat.

    • Myrah - Coupon Mamacita
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    Oh wow! That is so cool!!!!!!

    • Frugal and Fun Mom
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    That looks so good. That would be a wonderful homemade Christmas gift.

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      What a cool idea! I think giving a batch of popcorn balls and then wrapping up a popcorn baller with the recipe could be rather neat, too. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • CrazyMom
    • September 24, 2013
    Reply

    OMG.. this looks amazing and you made it look so simple… LOVE it… Can they be shipped?? If so.. i’ll forward you my address…ahahah I’m not a big popcorn person, BUT would LOVE to dig in, they look delicious and nuts and caramel is my weakness

      • Barb Webb
      • September 24, 2013
      Reply

      They could be shipped Melanie… but they’ve already been gobbled up by my crew LOL 😉

Join the conversation and leave a reply!