Spicy Popcorn Balls

Name: Spicy Popcorn Balls
Ingredients: 20 cups freshly popped corn (from 3/4 cup popping corn); 4 cups sweetened puffed-corn cereal, such as Corn Pops; 1 1/2 cups salted roasted peanuts; 3 cups sugar; 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup; 1 stick unsalted butter; 1/2 cup water; 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

10 ingredients

11 steps

Ingredients

20 cups freshly popped corn (from 3/4 cup popping corn)
4 cups sweetened puffed-corn cereal, such as Corn Pops
1 1/2 cups salted roasted peanuts
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup water
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

Directions

1

In a very large, lightly oiled bowl, toss the popped corn with the corn cereal and peanuts.
2

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar with the corn syrup, butter, water, vanilla bean and seeds.
3

Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup registers 295 (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, about 18 minutes.
4

Stir in the salt and chipotle powder.
5

Immediately pour the hot syrup over the popcorn mix.
6

Using a lightly oiled wooden spoon, stir to coat.
7

Working quickly, scrape the popcorn onto a large sheet of lightly oiled parchment paper.
8

Discard the vanilla bean.
9

Wearing lightly oiled sturdy rubber gloves and using a very large, lightly oiled ice cream scoop (1/4 cup), form thirty-six 2-inch-wide balls, pressing lightly without compacting.
10

Transfer the balls to a lightly oiled baking sheet.
11

Let cool completely before serving.