Illinois Caramel Corn Recipes

CARAMEL CORN I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to a 4 quart saucepan, and heat over high heat. When oil is hot, add 1/2 cup of popping corn. Keep pan moving constantly. When corn stops popping, remove from heat. Place popped corn in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped. Set aside.
• Melt margarine or butter in a medium saucepan, and then stir in brown sugar, syrup, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly; boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir baking soda, vanilla, peanuts, pecans, and almonds into brown sugar mixture. Quickly pour nut mixture over warm popcorn, and toss until well coated. Spread on greased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 45 minutes, stirring well every 15 minutes. Cool on aluminum foil, and store in an air-tight container.

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.

CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250°F. Spread popcorn in ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle almonds over popcorn.
• In large saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, water, corn syrup and salt; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in baking soda until well mixed. Immediately pour mixture over popcorn and almonds; toss until coated.
• Bake at 250°F. for 15 minutes. Stir; bake an additional 15 minutes. Stir; bake 5 minutes. Immediately spread on foil or waxed paper. Cool 30 minutes before serving.

ILLINOIS CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place popcorn and nuts in a large bowl. Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Raise heat to high; bring to a boil without stirring. Cook until mixture reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
• Add caramel to popcorn, and stir to coat. Transfer mixture to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake for 45 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven, and immediately sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Let cool. Break into clusters.

CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil and kernels over high heat, uncovered, until first pop. Cover and remove from heat for 1 minute. Return to high heat and shake until popping ceases. Sprinkle with salt and shake to distribute evenly. Measure 3 1/2 cups of popcorn, and reserve.
• Place sugar in a saucepan and add enough water to cover. Cook until caramelized and golden then stir in the reserved popcorn and peanuts. Pour onto greased sheet pan and break up slightly into clumps.

COURTSIDE CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. , Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda; mix well. Pour over popcorn and stir until well-coated. Pour into two greased 13x9-in. baking pans. , Bake, uncovered, at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely. Store in airtight containers.

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.

CLASSIC CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Spray large shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. I used my butter wrappers instead of spraying. Add popcorn and place in preheated 250 degree oven while preparing caramel.
• Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, butter, and salt in a 2-quart saucepan. I skipped the salt because I was using salted popcorn, but your personal preference here. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Boil 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla and mix well.
• Pour syrup over warm popcorn and stir evenly to coat.
• Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and spread on foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray. (I skipped the cooking spray here too).
• Cool and break apart. Store in tightly covered container. (I think the purpose of the tightly covered container is so you can't open and eat it as quickly).