Spiced Popcorn Balls

Serve miniature popcorn balls at your next Christmas party. These should not be served to young children or people with braces or dentures as they are very sticky. Serve with plenty of hot apple cider and place them out of reach of children.

Syrup

    1 cup granulated sugar
    1 cup light corn syrup
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger
    ⅛ teaspoon ground mace
    2 tablespoons butter
    ½ cup water
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    ½ teaspoon almond extract

Popcorn Mixture


    10 cups popped corn
    1 ½ cups mixed chopped nuts
    ½ cup sliced green and red candied cherries

    Butter for hands


1.  In a 3-quart saucepan, cook sugar, corn syrup, salt, cinnamon
     ginger, mace and butter and water over low heat until the
     sugar melts.

2.  Continue to simmer until a candy thermometer reads 245°.

3.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and almond extract.

4.  Place the popped corn, nuts and cherries in extra large bowl.
     Pour sugar syrup over popcorn mixture. Stir well until all the
     popcorn is well coated.

5.  Butter your hands and then form miniature popcorn balls.
     Let the syrup cool slightly if it is too hot to work with.
 
     Makes 1 party plate