Caramel popcorn: Think outside the box
“Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.
I don’t care if I never get back…”
I love Cracker Jack, but that super sweet treat is pretty hard to find these days and the prize, when you find that little red, white and blue box , is pretty lame. But it’s October and even non-sports enthusiasts are thinking about baseball…and Cracker Jack.
Not finding a steady stream of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts, I decided to make my own.
“You can’t make Cracker Jack without a factory,” my sweetie challenged.
“Oh no? Just watch me.”
I popped the corn, warmed the peanuts and popcorn and mixed up a caramel sauce. A bit of time in the oven and…Voila!
Can’t make Cracker Jack without a factory? I did better. The two-quart jar was filled to the top and emptied in a few hours.
You can do it. Give it a try. Think outside the box, as it were…
If you’re feeling generous, throw a prize into the container before you serve it up.
I don’t care if I never get back…”
I love Cracker Jack, but that super sweet treat is pretty hard to find these days and the prize, when you find that little red, white and blue box , is pretty lame. But it’s October and even non-sports enthusiasts are thinking about baseball…and Cracker Jack.
Not finding a steady stream of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts, I decided to make my own.
“You can’t make Cracker Jack without a factory,” my sweetie challenged.
“Oh no? Just watch me.”
I popped the corn, warmed the peanuts and popcorn and mixed up a caramel sauce. A bit of time in the oven and…Voila!
Can’t make Cracker Jack without a factory? I did better. The two-quart jar was filled to the top and emptied in a few hours.
You can do it. Give it a try. Think outside the box, as it were…
If you’re feeling generous, throw a prize into the container before you serve it up.
Caramel Popcorn
3 quarts popped popcorn
3 cups dry roasted mixed nuts, unsalted
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
· Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
· In a large roasting pan combine the popcorn and nuts. Place in the oven while preparing glaze.
· In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, then continue to boil for 4 minutes without stirring.
· Remove from heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla, then pour over the warm popcorn and nuts, tossing to coat well. Bake another 60 minutes, stirring frequently, about every 10 minutes.
· Cool and break apart.
3 cups dry roasted mixed nuts, unsalted
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
· Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
· In a large roasting pan combine the popcorn and nuts. Place in the oven while preparing glaze.
· In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, then continue to boil for 4 minutes without stirring.
· Remove from heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla, then pour over the warm popcorn and nuts, tossing to coat well. Bake another 60 minutes, stirring frequently, about every 10 minutes.
· Cool and break apart.
