Easy Caramel Popcorn

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

This is habit-forming, it is soooo good and so simple to make, you can also use unskinned almonds or use whatever nut you desire --- you may also add 1/3 cup molasses for a stronger caramel flavor :)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 6 quarts

• 24 cups popped corn (1 cup unpopped)
• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
• 2 cups brown sugar
• ½ cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 1 ½ cups whole peanuts (or use both) or 1 ½ cups unsalted walnut halves (or use both)

Directions:

1. Set oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Put the popped corn in a large bowl.
3. Melt the margarine (or butter) stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. Then boil for 5 minutes WITHOUT stirring (this is important DO NOT stir for 5 minutes!).
5. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
6. Add in the nuts and stir to combine.
7. Pour the mixture over popped corn in bowl; mix well with a wooden spoon to combine.
8. Transfer to a large greased roasting pan, and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
9. Remove from oven then cool.
10. Break into pieces.
11. Store in a tightly covered tin box.
12. Delicious!

Reviews

[SUPERchef :)]

pretty good, a little buttery tasting, so i might try molasses next time... it should be known that the for step 4, the mixture will rise, so be sure to have it in a big pot to begin with :) i dont like my popcorn to be fully coated, so i used about 1 1/2 cups of kernels good stuff kittencal! Also, pop the corn into a bowl then transfer it to another, all the unpopped kernels are at the bottom!

[Chef #580861 Nesbitt]

I've been making these since 1985 when I got the recipe from a cookbook,"the Texas Experience." I began adding 1/2 cup molasses and 1 whole tsp.baking soda.This makes them more like the original cracker jacks. I would give these out as Christmas gifts, there was an elderly man at church that would ask me to make it for him again whenever he ran out. Thank you Kittencal for posting as I will now make them for my friends here.

[ankhesenamen]

I've made this quite a few times and it's always turned out great! Nice simple, easy recipe. Easy to double or half too.