Hippity Hoppity Popcorn Bunnies

5 quarts popped popcorn
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Glaze:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar

Materials :
24 large gumdrops
Wooden picks
Candies (Lifesavers and licorice drops)
2 black licorice strings

Keep popcorn warm in a 300 degree F oven.

In a heavy medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, salt and vinegar. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves; clip candy thermometer to pan. Cook syrup to 250 degrees F (hard-ball stage); remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Pour syrup in thin stream over popcorn, tossing to coat kernels evenly.

Butter or dampen hands: quickly shape glazed popcorn into 7 or 8 egg-shape forms for bunny bodies, about 6 inches long each. With a rolling pin, roll 15 to 16 gumdrops on a sugared board until flat. Cut 7 or 8 pairs of rabbit ears from gumdrops; insert wooden picks at one end and stick 1 pair into head end of each popcorn bunny.

Use Lifesavers or licorice drops for eyes, gumdrop "trimmings" for noses and mouths, and several short pieces of licorice strings for whiskers; attach to bunny faces with a little hot corn syrup. For tails, secure remaining gum drops to bunnies with wooden picks.

Yield: about 8 bunnies