Popcorn Pumpkins
Have the whole family pitch in and grow a pumpkin patch of popcorn!
Prep time: 20 min.
Decoration time: 15 min.
Difficulty: Easy
What you'll need:
- 1 bag M&M’S® Brand Peanut Chocolate Candies for Halloween or M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for Halloween
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- Orange food coloring
- 20 cups popped popcorn (or one 5-oz. bag popped popcorn)
- 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- Very large mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
- Waxed paper
- Orange cellophane
- Black ribbon
- Black and white foam or construction paper
- Non-toxic glue or double-sided tape
What to do:
- Bring the sugar, vegetable oil and corn syrup to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to cook until all of the sugar dissolves (about 3 minutes).
- Tint the mixture with orange food coloring to the desired shade.
- Using a wooden spoon, carefully toss the popped popcorn in a large bowl with the sugar mixture until evenly coated. Once the mixture has cooled slightly, yet still warm to the touch, add the M&M’S® Brand Peanut Chocolate Candies for Halloween or M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for Halloween. Blend with the popcorn well.
- Wash and then coat your hands with the butter. Mold the mixture into 10 softball-sized balls, by firmly compressing the mixture in your hands. Repeat by washing and buttering your hands as needed. Set the popcorn balls aside on a piece of waxed paper.
- Cut the cellophane paper into ten 20 x 20-inch squares.
- Place one popcorn ball in the center of each square. Gather the sides of the cellophane up and around the balls. Tie each closed at the top with black ribbon.
- Decorate the cellophane-wrapped popcorn balls to look like Jack-O-Lanterns. Cut triangles from black foam or construction paper for the eyes and noses. Cut small white foam rectangles for the teeth. Then, using non-toxic glue or double-sided tape, attach a face to the outside of each cellophane ball.
