Today’s Recipe: Old-Fashioned Cracker Jack

CRACKER JACK
PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 15 MINUTES
MAKES: 16 POPCORN BALLS

½   cup popcorn kernels
2    cups peanuts
1    cup molasses
1    cup sugar
3    T butter

1. In a large bowl, pop popcorn. Remove any kernel that did not pop. Add peanuts, leaving them on the top.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring molasses, sugar, and butter to a boil. Continue to boil until it reaches the thread stage (230°F).
3. Pour mixture over the peanuts and popcorn and mix. Shape into balls.

Gather ingredients.

Using an air popper or on the stove, pop ½ cup of popcorn kernels.

Put into a large bowl. Remove any kernels that did not pop. (*avoid cracked teeth!)

Pour 2 cups of peanuts over the popped corn, leaving them on top.

Pour 1 cup molasses into a medium saucepan.

Add 1 cup of sugar.

Add 3 T butter. Bring mixture to a boil.

Continue to boil until the syrup reaches the thread stage (230°F).

Continue to boil until the syrup reaches the thread stage (230°F).

Pour mixture over the peanuts and popcorn.

Mix the syrup into the popcorn.

Shape into balls and skewer with stick to make a pop.

Serve in cupcake tins or papers.