Caramel Cereal and Popcorn Balls

This is a recipe from Pillsbury Oct 2005. These could be easily substituted with other cereals.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1 (3 ounce) bag  buttered  microwave popcorn
• 2  cups  Golden Grahams cereal
• 1 1⁄2 cups  small pretzels
• 3⁄4 cup  M&M's plain chocolate candy
• 1⁄3 cup butter or 1⁄3 cup margarine
• 3⁄4 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄3 cup light corn syrup

Directions

1. Cut 24x12 inch sheet of waxed paper; place on work surface.
2. Pop popcorn as directed on bag.
3. Pour popcorn into at least and 8 quart bowl or large roasting pan; remove any unpopped kernels.
4. Stir in cereal. pretzels and M&M's.
5. In a 1 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
6. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute.
7. Pour brown sugar mixture evenly over popcorn mixture, stirring to coat well.
8. Spray hands with cooking spray.
9. With sprayed hands, quickly and firmly shape generous 1 cup popcorn mixture into ball.
10. Place on waxed paper.
11. Repeat with remaining mixture to make about 9 more balls.
12. Cool 10 minutes.
13. Wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap.