Age group(s) for this recipe:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Estimated time:
45 min-1 hour (depends on "helpers", ages, and other variables)

Number of servings:
16-18

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
one 3 oz. package of gelatin, (any colorful, fruity flavor)

6 qts. (or more!) warm popcorn (may need to keep it warm in oven, at low temp., while making syrup)

Directions:
Pop the corn and sift out the unpopped kernels as much as possible (prevents cracking a tooth later). Set aside.

Place the prepared popcorn in a very large bowl and set aside. (Set aside some extra popcorn, too, in case you find you'd like to "extend" the mixture!)

Combine the syrup, sugar, and gelatin in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer approx. 2 minutes; remove from heat.

Pour evenly over popcorn and stir to combine. If it looks too darn syrupy to suit you, add more popcorn and keep stirring. Stir a good bit to make sure to coat the popcorn evenly...and to allow the mixture to cool slightly for safer handling.

Rub a bit of butter on both hands to prevent sticking, and form popcorn balls. When thoroughly cooled, bag up in plain ol' sandwich bags, tying the bags closed with colorful curling ribbons.

Other suggestions and comments:
Good for holiday parties, and they're cute when tied to a kid-themed Christmas tree.

These are the kind of popcorn balls that really test your dental work; I think the gelatin makes it more that way.

Of course, much of the prep work is meant for adults and older kids, vs. small ones, but once the popcorn mixture's cooled enough to handle, the whole family can get in on the Molding process to help finish the job before it cools off completely! ;-)