The Ultimate Baked Caramel Corn

This is so good, not hard to make, and great for holidays and casual entertaining. It's a nice gift to give at Christmas time in a pretty tin.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 3  quarts  freshly  popped corn
• 1⁄2 cup pecans or 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  softened butter
• 1  cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1⁄4 cup light corn syrup
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Combine popcorn and nuts on a lightly greased 15x10x1 inch jellyroll pan.
2. Mix well and set aside.
3. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
4. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.
5. Bring to a boil and gently boil 5 minutes without stirring.
6. (If you stir it'll make the sugar grainy).
7. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
8. Pour syrup over popcorn mixture, stirring until popcorn is evenly coated.
9. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes.
10. Cool completely, and then break into pieces.