Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients:
– 10 cups of plain popped popcorn (approximately ½ cup of unpopped kernels)
– 1 cup of unsalted butter
– 1 cup of packed brown sugar
– ½ cup of light corn syrup (or honey for a more natural alternative)
– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
– ½ teaspoon of baking soda
– ¼ teaspoon of salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 250°F (120°C). Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it. Evenly distribute the popped popcorn on the sheet.
2. Prepare the Caramel: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Incorporate the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt, stirring until well mixed. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and let it boil for about 4-5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat.
3. Incorporate Vanilla and Baking Soda: Add the vanilla extract and baking soda to the caramel. Expect the mixture to foam up, which is a normal reaction.
4. Coat the Popcorn: Drizzle the caramel sauce over the popcorn. Use a spatula to gently mix and ensure all the popcorn is evenly coated.
5. Bake the Popcorn: Place the popcorn in the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to maintain an even coating.
6. Cool and Separate: Once baked, take the popcorn out of the oven and allow it to cool completely. The caramel will harden as it cools, so break apart any large clusters.
7. Serve or Store: Enjoy immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
Savor your sweet and crunchy caramel popcorn!
