Skinny Caramel Popcorn Bites

It's fall, and that generally means you'll be inundated with hundred of recipes involving apples and pumpkin puree this time of year. But I've got a recipe that's a bit off the beaten path and it's perfect for little hands and fingers...and big ones for that matter.

SKINNY CARAMEL POPCORN BITES

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
10 cups plain, air-popped popcorn

Preparation

1. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

2. In a saucepan, combine sugars, light corn syrup, and butter, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and boil, without stirring, for 4 minutes. Carefully stir in the baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract.

3. Put the popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat. Using 2 spoons, form the mixture into 24 balls, about 2 inches in diameter, and place them on the lined baking them. Allow them to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour or until firm. Serve at room temperature.

* Original recipe can be found in the book Cupcakes & Cocktails (Bonnie Marcus)by Bonnie Marcus.