Macadamia Butter Crunch Popcorn Recipes

MACADAMIA BUTTER CRUNCH POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Divide the popcorn and nuts between 2 ungreased 13- by 9-inch rectangular pans. Make sure the popcorn and nuts are evenly mixed.
• In a medium saucepan, cook the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt over medium heat, stirring constantly until bubbly around the edges. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes, and then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the baking soda until foamy. Pour the mixture over the popcorn and nuts, stirring until the corn is well coated. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

OLD-FASHIONED BUTTER CRUNCH

Steps:

• To make the butter crunch mixture, melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, stir in almonds, and pour out into prepared pan, spreading the mixture with the back of a spoon to fill the pan. Before the butter crunch hardens, but when it is firm enough to handle, turn it out onto a large parchment-covered cutting board and peel away the foil. Allow the butter crunch to cool completely. To finish the butter crunch, wipe the top surface of the candy with a damp paper towel to remove excess butter and allow to dry a few minutes. Have another cutting board or the back of a jelly-roll pan ready to turn the candy over onto. Use a small offset metal icing spatula to spread half the tempered chocolate quickly over the butter crunch. Scatter half the chopped almonds over the chocolate. Cover this finished surface with a piece of parchment paper or foil and place another cutting board or the back of a large jelly-roll pan. Remove top board and paper and quickly spread with remaining tempered chocolate and scatter on remaining almonds (it isn't necessary to wipe the second side because it wasn't against a buttered surface). Refrigerate for 20 minutes to set chocolate. Break the butter crunch into 2-inch pieces. Store candy in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover and keep at a cool room temperature for up to a week.

PERFECT MOVIE POPCORN

Steps:

• Pour in the oil and heat the pan until oil shimmers, to about 400 degrees F(or medium high heat).
• Test one kernel by throwing it into the oil; place the lid on the popper and wait until it pops. Pour the rest of the popcorn into the pan, stirring the kernels until they are evenly coated.
• Cook for three minutes, exactly.
• Here's a tip from the Popcorn Council: "Old Maids" is a term for kernels that fail to pop and are often found at the bottom of the popcorn bowl. They can, however, be rejuvenated. The water in kernels is what causes popcorn to pop, so all you need to do is re-hydrate the dried kernels. David Woodside, author of What Makes Popcorn Pop? suggests filling "a one-quart jar three-quarters full of popcorn and adding one tablespoon of water. Cover the jar with an airtight lid and give it a few good shakes every few minutes until the popcorn has absorbed all the water. Store the jar in a cool place." Woodside says in two or three days you can test-pop a batch of kernels. If you still get old maids, add a few more drops of water to the jar, shake it, and let it sit for a few more days.

PRALINE BUTTER-PECAN CRUNCH POPCORN

Steps:

• Set oven to 325 degrees.
• In a medium saucepan, combine butter, honey and brown sugar; cook, and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil.
• Stir in baking soda (the mixture will foam).
• In a large bowl, combine popcorn and nuts.
• Pour in the hot syrup; mix well to coat.
• Spread mixture evenly on a large buttered cookie sheet.
• Bake, until a deep golden brown (about 15 minutes), stirring every 5 minutes.
• Cool, and store in a tightly covered container for up to 4 days.

SPICY-AND-SWEET POPCORN

Steps:

• Combine sugar, salt, garam masala, and cayenne in a large serving bowl.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add popcorn, and cover. Cook, shaking pot frequently, until corn has finished popping. Add to bowl, and toss.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick baking mats; set aside.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add 3 popcorn kernels and cover until they pop. Add remaining popcorn kernels, cover, and shake pot continuously over burner until popcorn is completely popped, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer popcorn to large bowl; add peanuts and set aside.
• Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, without stirring, until golden brown, about 5 minutes, swirling pot occasionally.
• Remove mixture from heat and quickly stir in salt and cayenne with a heatproof spatula or spoon. Immediately pour over popcorn mixture and stir to incorporate. Divide popcorn mixture evenly between baking sheets. Transfer to oven and bake, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool on sheet pans before breaking apart into clusters. Store popcorn in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

MACADAMIA BUTTER-CRUNCH POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put popcorn in a large bowl. Add the nuts; set aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 4 minutes. Stop stirring; continue cooking until mixture lightens in color, 5 minutes more. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
• Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and nuts; toss to coat. Transfer to rimmed baking sheets; bake, stirring every 20 minutes, until almost dry, about 1 hour. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.