Gourmet Caramel Covered Popcorn

Gourmet Caramel Covered Popcorn

I'm normally not a huge fan of popcorn unless it's coated with cheese, taco seasoning, butter or CARAMEL!! This homemade caramel popcorn is by far the best "that time of the month" food. It's sweet, salty, crunchy & downright addictive!!! This is what I call a good whore recipe (yes I made that up lol).


Let me explain, a whore recipe is one that has been pass around and talked about...A LOT so you know it's gotta be good!! One of my girls called me up and said she had a good whore recipe for me to try for caramel popcorn. I didn't need any convincing. I wrote down the ingredients and immediately got to work.


The results: sinfully good! This caramel popcorn is one of those snacks where you beg someone to take the bowl away from you. You know it's not good for you but you just can't freakin stop! Every time I walk into the kitchen I leave out with a handful of this stuff!! You can double the caramel mixture if you like for your popcorn to be super coated.

Watch Ateyaa Make This

Gourmet Caramel Covered Popcorn From Start to Finish!

Direct link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEFv2OFDiac


Ingredients:
1- 3.3 oz bag of regular salted popcorn
5 Tablespoons of butter
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. corn syrup
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 t. baking soda
Peanuts (optional)

First things first: Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside

Step 1.) Microwave a bag of popcorn. I use "Natural" by Orville Redenbacher which is lightly salted & not buttered.

Step 2.) When the popcorn is done pour it into a large bowl and sift through it to remove the unpopped kernels. (they usually settle on the bottom) Set aside. ( I should have used a larger bowl!)

Step 3.) In a medium saucepan melt 5 T. of butter

Step 4.) Add in 2/3 c. of brown sugar , 1/3 cup of corn syrup & 1/2 t. vanilla

Step 5.) Stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for about 2-3 minutes. (be sure to watch the sauce carefully because it is hell to clean up if it boils over)

Step 6.) Add 1/4 t. baking soda & stir. Mixture will become lighter and frothy

Step 7.) Quickly pour the caramel mixture over popcorn and toss with a spoon until well coated. Work quickly since the caramel hardens pretty fast. If you are adding in peanuts then toss them in as well. (hmm...I guess you could also just pour the popcorn into the caramel sauce...I'll do that next time around to see if it makes mixing easier)

Step 8.) Spread popcorn in single layer on a baking sheet and let sit until it's set. Go ahead and have a taste. I can never wait until it's done to start munching!

Step 9.) When you popcorn is set, break it apart and store in an airtight container.

Helpful Tips*

*If you desire every single corner of your popcorn to be coated in caramel (you naughty little girl you!) then you can double the caramel recipe.


*Increase the caramel mixture and add in a 1/2 cup or more of peanuts for a better than crunch n' munch recipe!


*This caramel popcorn hardens up on it's own but if you want it to have a super crunch to it (and not really into picking caramel out of your teeth) then bake it in the oven on 250 for 1 hour (turning every 15 minutes)