Independence Day Recipes
Red Hot Popcorn Firecrackers
Yield: 4 to 6 firecrackers
Ingredients
- 1 quart unsalted popped popcorn
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup red cinnamon candies
- String licorice
Instructions
- Keep popcorn hot and crisp in a 300 degrees F oven.
- Butter sides of a heavy saucepan. In it, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Clip candy thermometer to pan. Cook syrup to 250 degrees F (hard ball stage) over medium heat.
- Remove from heat; add vanilla extract and candies; stir until candies are partially melted.
- Pour slowly over popcorn, stirring just to mix thoroughly.
- Butter hands lightly; quickly form popcorn into shape of king-size firecrackers.
- Insert a short piece of licorice in end of each one for a fuse.