Fancy Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 cupspopped popcorn
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, almonds, walnuts, or peanuts
• 1 cup whole or chopped dried fruits (cranberries, blueberries, raisins, apples, or apricots)

Directions:

• Step 1. Combine brown sugar, butter and honey in microwave-safe container. Cover and heat in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is bubbling and steaming hot. Carefully remove honey syrup dish from microwave with the help of your parent or other adult chef assistant. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla. Set aside.
• Step 2. Put nuts, popcorn and dried fruit in a large mixing bowl. While pouring cooked honey syrup over popcorn, toss the mixture with a wooden spoon until you have coated all the pieces of popcorn with honey syrup. Let mixture cool 10 minutes before forming into balls.
• Step 3. Spray your hands with nonstick spray or dampen them with water. With your hands, take a scoop of popcorn mixture and form a 2 to 3-inch sized popcorn ball. Repeat until you have made all the mixture into popcorn balls. Enjoy this tasty treat.
• Step 4. Popcorn balls may be wrapped individually with plastic wrap and stored for 3 to 5 days.

Nutrition information (serving size: 1 popcorn ball):