Pumpkin Spice Popcorn Balls

*it's helpful if you have a candy thermometer, though it's not necessary. *You will also need non-stick cooking spray or additional butter to use on hands when forming the popcorn balls. *You may also want to use plastic or rubber gloves

Once popcorn is popped, place in oven at 250º to keep warm while making the syrup. In medium size saucepan add corn syrup, water, sugar, butter and salt. Set on stovetop at medium hight heat and stir continuously until ingredients melt together. If you have a candy thermometer, place it on pan. Let syrup come to a boil. Continue stirring approximately 10-15 minutes until syrup reaches 250º-300º. If you don't have a candy thermometer, watch for a thicker consistency and for color to darken slightly. Remove from burner and immediately stir in vanilla.

Take popcorn out of oven. Quickly transfer into a large bowl that gives you plenty of room to work with. Pour hot syrup over popcorn and mix together as fast as you can. Add in desired amount of pumpkin spice baking chips and continue mixing. Spray non-stick cooking spray onto clean hands, grab about a cup of popcorn at a time and press together to form individual popcorn balls. This recipe yields 15 popcorn balls. For added pumpkin spice flavor (and just a pretty look) melt additional pumpkin spice baking chips in the microwave and drizzle over the top of your popcorn balls.

Let popcorn balls cool completely & set a minimum of an hour before eating, or before individually wrapping them in plastic wrap for storage. They're actually better the next day.