Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup apple juice or water
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 quarts warm popped popcorn
• 1 cup honey-roasted, unsalted or salted peanuts
• 1 8-ounce package chopped dates (1 1/2 cups)

Directions

1. Combine sugar, apple juice, syrup, butter and salt in a heavy saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove sugar from sides of pan with a wet brush.
4. Cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 270 degrees Fahrenheit, or the soft crack stage on a candy thermometer.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Pour mixture over popped popcorn, peanuts and dates; mix well. Wet or butter hands and shape into 3-inch balls.

1 ounce of unpopped popcorn kernels (2 tablespoons household measure) makes approximately 1 quart of popped popcorn.

Nutrition Facts

280 calories
11 g total fat
4 g saturated fat
15 mg cholesterol
260 mg sodium
47 g carbohydrates
2 g fiber
39 g sugar
3 g protein
185 mg potassium