Carmel corn...forever my nemesis, until today. I have made 8 caramel corn recipes in the last 3 weeks...8! Call it insanity, call it an obsession but I was determined to get it right. I have failed 7 recipes of caramel corn which included ingredients such as: tequila, rum, agave nectar, white sugar, etc...until I finally found this winner.
CARAMEL CORN
Adapted from My Amish Friends Caramel Corn Recipe
Makes 28 cups
7 quarts plain popped popcorn(I prefer air popped)
2 cups dry roasted peanuts (optional)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place the popped popcorn into two greased baking pans. You may use roasting pans, jelly roll pans, disposable roasting pans. (I find a 9x11 glass pan works the best to stir the popcorn in when baking). Add the peanuts to the popped corn if using. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 4-5 minutes while stirring constantly or if using a candy thermometer, when the thermometer reads 250 degrees.
Working quickly, remove from heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat. Don't worry too much at this point about getting all of the popcorn coated.
Bake for 1 hour, removing every 15 minutes to give the popcorn a good stir. Line the counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces.
Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight containers or resealable bags. I love the look of caramel corn filled glass mason jars, great gift idea.
Note: This recipe will lightly coat all the popcorn pieces if you like a heavy coating use 6 quarts of popcorn instead of 7.
Do you have a favorite way to make caramel corn? I would love to hear about your recipe.
PRINTABLE RECIPE
4 comments:
This is the stuff of dreams. I bet it is addictive when fresh and hot. Delicious!
I love, love, love any kind of coated popcorn. Your recipe looks especially yummy! I don't have a recipe for caramel corn, well, I do now that I found yours. But, I do have a recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn. Kind of the same principal as caramel corn, except the coating has a nice peanut butter flavor. Here's a link
http://sinfulsouthernsweets.blogspot.com/search?q=peanut+butter+popcorn.
Loving your blog!!
That's a lot of legwork...but it looks like your efforts paid off! I'll keep this one bookmarked, (even though it has that corn syrup...sometimes it is the only thing that will work!)
RCakewalk...I know I was trying to stay clear of the corn syrup by substituting agave nectar and then trying white sugar...they were ok results but not as good as this...all things in moderation, I guess.
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