Alton Brown Caramel Corn Recipes

CLASSIC CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Spray large shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. Add popcorn and place in preheated 250 degrees F oven while preparing caramel.
• Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Boil 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla; mix well.
• Pour syrup over warm popcorn, stirring to coat evenly.
• Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and spread on foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Cool; break apart. Store in tightly covered container.

DARK SALTY CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
• Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, and cream of tartar in a heavy 4-quart saucepan and put over high heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the heavy cream and soy sauce in a liquid measuring cup. Have this and the butter standing by.
• Remove the lid from the sugar mixture, and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. When the sugar mixture reaches 230 degrees F, reduce the heat to medium and cook, without stirring, until the syrup is a golden color and is approaching 300 degrees F, about 6 to 7 minutes. At this point, there is less likelihood of any crystallization, so gently swirl the pan to break up any hot pockets.
• When the temperature approaches 350 degrees F, it will turn deep amber. Remove the pan from the heat, and gently swirl again to break up all of the hot pockets. Cool for 2 minutes.
• Carefully incorporate the cream and soy mixture and the butter into the pan. Stir to combine. Return the caramel to medium heat, stir until the butter is completely melted, and continue cooking until it reaches 255 degrees F. Remove from the heat and pour into the parchment-lined pan, tap gently to release air bubbles.
• Cool on a cooling rack for 30 minutes, and then sprinkle evenly with the salt. Continue cooling on the rack for an additional 3 1/2 hours. Cut into 1-inch pieces and wrap individually in parchment. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

BETTER THAN GRANNIE'S CREAMED CORN

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, sweat the onion in butter and salt until translucent.
• In a large mixing bowl, place a paper bowl in the middle of the bowl. Resting the cob on the bowl in a vertical position remove only the tops of the kernel with a knife, using long smooth downward strokes and rotating the cob as you go. After the cob has been stripped, use the dull backside of your knife to scrape any remaining pulp and milk off the cob.
• Add the corn and pulp mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium high until the juice from the corn has tightened. Add the rosemary. Sprinkle the corn with the sugar and turmeric. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle the cornmeal onto the corn, using a whisk to combine well. Add the heavy cream and cook until the corn has softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the rosemary. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

PERFECT POPCORN

Steps:

• Place the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife.
• Place the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using a pair of tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl.
• Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.

TIPSY BOURBON CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Place the popcorn and pecans in a large mixing bowl. Combine the sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 4 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the bourbon and baking soda. Pour over the popcorn and stir well to coat completely. Divide the popcorn in an even layer between the 2 baking sheets.
• Bake, gently stirring and rotating the pans about halfway through (after 8 to 10 minutes), until the popcorn is mostly dry and the caramel coating is crisp, 15 to 20 minutes total. Cool completely on the baking sheets before breaking up and serving.

GOOD EATS CREAMED CORN CORNBREAD (ALTON BROWN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet into the oven.
• In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together to combine well.
• In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs, and creamed corn, whisking together to combine thoroughly.
• Add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture and stir to combine. If the batter will not pour, add more buttermilk to the batter.
• Add 2 tablespoons canola oil to the cast iron skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet. Bake until the cornbread is golden brown and springs back upon the touch, about 20 minutes.

ALMOND CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°. Place popcorn and almonds in very large roasting pan or divide popcorn mixture between 2 ungreased rectangular pans, 13x9x2 inches.
• Heat brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around edges. Continue cooking 5 minutes without stirring; remove from heat. Stir in baking soda until foamy.
• Pour sugar mixture over popcorn; toss until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on aluminum foil or cooking parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store tightly covered.

ALTON BROWN'S CREAMED CORN

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, sweat the onion in butter and salt until translucent.
• In a large mixing bowl, place a paper bowl in the middle of the bowl.
• Resting the cob on the bowl in a vertical position remove only the tops of the kernel with a knife, using long smooth downward strokes and rotating the cob as you go.
• After the cob has been stripped, use the dull backside of your knife to scrape any remaining pulp and milk off the cob.
• Add the corn and pulp mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium high until the juice from the corn has tightened.
• Add the rosemary.
• Sprinkle the corn with the sugar and turmeric.
• Stir constantly for about 2 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cornmeal onto the corn, using a whisk to combine well.
• Add the heavy cream and cook until the corn has softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the rosemary.
• Season with freshly ground black pepper.

CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°. Place popcorn in 2 large bowls. Add 1/2 pound peanuts to each bowl. In a Dutch oven, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir 5 minutes. , Pour half of the syrup over each bowl of popcorn and stir to coat. Transfer to large roasting or 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes., Remove from oven and break apart while warm. Cool completely. Store in airtight containers.