You know how some food brings back your childhood like nothing else can? These Sugar PoPs do it for me! Grandma made these for every Thanksgiving and Christmas and I used still make myself sick off them because I end up eating too many – they melt in your mouth – they are SO GOOD and SO ADDICTING! Definitely not something you want to fix all the time – just for a special treat:)
Remember Alison’s March challenge and the swEEt movie she made encouraging us to visit our grandparents or people in assisted living homes? I took her challenge and made a special trip to see my Grandma and boy was it worth it! It is always such a joy to plop down on Grandma’s couch and just hang out. There is something so comforting about Grandma’s house. And of course it doesn’t hurt that I have the GREATEST, SWEETEST, MOST TALENTED grandma in the whole world! Grandma and my little girl have a special little bond that is so fun to watch. She just ADORES her! (That can be read both ways:)
So not only lucky for me, but LUCKY for you because I talked her into making some Sugar PoPs while I was there and I took notes and pictures so you can all make your own! It’s the only way because the recipe is all in her head:) Does your Grandma do that? “Just add a little of this and a little of that,” – well how much is a little? Now I know!
Grandma’s Sugar PoPs!
2 smaller bags or one large bag puffed corn – also called hulless popcorn
Put in a big soup or roasting pan and warm in oven while you make the syrup (grandma says she thinks this helps the sugar syrup coat better when it is ready to pour over the top)
Syrup:
4 sticks butter (2 cups)
2 cups sugar
4 Tbls. water (grandma says this helps the butter not burn on the bottom)
Bring to a low boil and boil softly for 7 minutes.
Turn off heat, then add 1 tsp. vanilla (grandma likes to dump a little more for good measure.:)
Take puffs out of the oven and pour syrup over puffs while stirring…
pour and stir, pour and stir until they are all evenly coated.
Then dump out on wax paper.
Let dry over night, if you can wait that long…we couldn’t! They will get crunchier and meltier (new word:) as they dry.
Magical memories may begin!
(Can you tell what day we visited? NO PINCHING! Grandma loves holidays, too!)
Thanks Grandma!
Ingredients
- 2 smaller bags or one large bag puffed corn or popcorn twists - also called hulless popcorn
- 4 sticks butter (2 cups)
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 Tbls. water (grandma says this helps the butter not burn on the bottom)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Put popcorn twists in a big soup or roasting pan and warm in oven while you make the syrup (grandma says she thinks this helps the sugar syrup coat better when it is ready to pour over the top)
- Bring butter, sugar, and water to a low boil and boil softly for 7 minutes.
- Turn off heat, then add 1 tsp. vanilla (grandma likes to dump a little more for good measure.:)
- Take puffs out of the oven and pour syrup over puffs while stirring
- Pour and stir, pour and stir until they are all evenly coated
- Then dump out on wax paper.
- Let dry over night, if you can wait that long…we couldn’t! They will get crunchier and meltier (new word:) as they dry.
Now I can start the Sugar PoPs tradition with my kids – they are officially addicted!
I have shared one other NOT TO MISS recipe from Grandma,
Don’t cook your EASTER HAM until you read this!
It is after all, why Sam-I-Am changed his mind about Ham
It is THAT good!:)
alysha says
Grandma’s always have the best recipes. 🙂 This looks so yummy! Thank you (and your sweet Grandma) for sharing!
Kelly says
Is there a reason you have to warm them in the oven? Could you skip this step? Looks tasty, and totally bad for you. 😉 Where can you find the puffed corn? By the chips maybe? Thanks!
Amy says
They look like the Cheetos Puffcorn. Our Walmart ,Fry’s, CVS all have them in AZ. They’re usually on the bottom shelf of the chip isle. They’re only $2 and the butter flavor is in a blue bag. The cheese flavor is an orange bag. Good luck–they’re totally addicting even with the sugar syrup. I’m almost afraid to try them this way! LOL
melinda says
im thinking that you warm them in the oven to open up the “puff corn” to help the syrup stick to them! maybe?
Emily @ ReMarkable Home says
These look soooo yummy! I would love to try it. I have never seen the puffed corn though. I wonder if they only sell them in parts of the country? I live in Las Vegas. Where do you buy them?
Thanks!
If you haven’t stopped by my blog yet I would love to have you:)
Emily
Nesleirbag says
I think bagged corn puffs or corn pops are one of those things that you don’t really notice in the store until you are looking for them. You usually find them where the chips, pretzels, etc. are. This really is a yummy treat – sweet and salty at the same time. I love this post with the darling pics of cute kids lucky enough to have their great-grandma around to know and love!
stacy says
I can attest that this stuff is DELISH! My grandma is the best cook in the world and these are yummy treats! I love this post…Ellie and your boys look so cute with Grandma!
Patricia Mickelsen says
This souonds like a yummy recipe. I have tasted some of Grandma Stratford’s cooking so I know this will be gooD!!!
Kay says
She really is THE best cook in the world. More Grandma recipes, please! Cute, cute pictures.
Jamie says
Sweetest Grandma EVER!!! This sound very dangerous!!! haha! I am totally going to try it! Thank you so much for the endless fun and tasty recipes!! I am a busy working mom so anything unique and easy is perfect for me!!!
Cindy Gabrielsen says
My grandma used to make these…we called them ‘puff balls’ . I’m making a batch for our Easter get together! Thanks for this reminder of my long ago childhood! Cindy Gabe
Mindy says
My mouth is watering! Seriously now I’m going to crave these until I see Grandma again. I LOVE this post!!! So fun to have those pics of Grandma making her magic in the kitchen. Priceless.
Angie says
YUM! Grandma is adorable (your kids are, too!:)) My granny came over for dinner tonight. I adore how my kids love her. Grandmas are the BEST!
Ashley says
MISSY!!!! I. Love. you. I used to buys bags and bags of this stuff when we lived in Idaho but it was already sweetened……just like your recipe. Our random grocery store stopped carrying it and I even tried finding it onine, to see if I could have it shipped. Then after moving to GA, I knew I’d never find the stuff again. Tell your grandma that I could just kiss her cheeks for knowing this recipe. It looks like it must be the same thing I fell in love with in Idaho….especially after you said it kinda melts in your mouth. YES, that’s it!!!!!!! Just had to share my excitement! 🙂
Ashley
Ami says
These look delicious– a perfect snack! I can’t wait to give them a try.
Alison says
Your Gma is cute! I like the holiday hint on her shirt!
Ali says
What a sweet memory for your family. They look delicious, I’m definitely gonna try this one out. 🙂
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Stopping by from Made by You Monday. I love this post. Makes me miss my Grandma (she’s not dead, just lives in Florida, LOL).
Mary Ann Cumming says
Where do you get this hull-less popcorn, the recipe sounds delightful.
Brittany says
I saw this on Skip to my Lou and had to stop by. My grandma made something similar. The pics are great! I wish I’d thought to take photos of my grandma cooking before she passed away. What a treasure!
AliHask says
Your Gma is so strong, look at her heft that massive pot! It seems to me that my sister brought me some of this yumminess from a grandma in Idaho Falls. It must be known to grandmas everywhere! Thanks for inspiring me to go visit my own. She lives here in town, but we just don’t see her enough.
Tracey Marzich says
Look how happy Grandma is! And look at her perfect nails! Something tells me that Grandma handled this recipe and that huge pot without chipping her pretty manicure! Grandma’s have it figured out!
Joan Morris says
I’ve got a bag of pops in my pantry, I think I better give these a try 🙂
Grandma Stratford is the best!
stevikay whit says
I remember these as a kid super yummy and fun…
Diana says
Can’t wait to try!! Love the pics and your grandma is so sweet. Treasure every moment. All of my family have passed but I still have fond memories. Looking for such inspiration to pass on to my kids (20 and 30) so that they can share when they have their own kids. Hoping I’m still around when they have kids, but if not, this recipe goes into my collection. We have had to start our own traditions but with my childhood memories, I can pass this one along and start some memories. Thank you!!
Andrea says
Oh my gosh…my Grandma made these!!!!! I thought she was the only one!! we love them!!! So delicious!!!