Vegan Caramel Popcorn Ant Hills

September 21, 2012 by Leanne Vogel August 22, 2017

Vegan and gluten-free caramel popcorn balls made with just 6 clean-eating ingredients and could just be mistaken for creepy-crawly ant hills.

Ingredients

• 8 cups popped corn
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

1. Place popcorn and raisins in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Add remaining ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to simmer until thick, about 3 minutes. Any more than this and the mixture will become taffy-like and be impossible to work with. You want to remove it from the heat just before it begins to smell charred or burnt.
4. Remove from heat and quickly drizzle over popcorn mixture.
5. You have to work quick with this next step, but avoid being burned by the hot sugar mix. Fluff it around with your hands until most is covered, then when it’s cooled slightly (a couple of seconds is all it needs), begin to work into balls.
6. Press mixture firmly together, the sugar is very sticky so it will stick, you just have to press it together.
7. If there are extra raisins at the bottom of the bowl afterward, wedge them into the sides of the balls.

Nutrition Information Per Serving