Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• 1. Pop popcorn. Dump each batch into a large enamel roasting pan (turkey size) that has been treated with food release spray.
• 2. In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan melt the butter with the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Over medium heat bring the sauce to a hard, rolling boil. Boil 5 minutes.
• 3. Quickly stir in baking soda -- caramel will foam up.
• 4. Immediately pour the caramel over the popcorn. Mix carefully and thoroughly, until all kernels are coated.
• 5. Bake at 200* for 1 hour, stirring well every 15 minutes. If you like, you can stir in nuts at the last 15 min. Remove from oven. Cool and serve.
• 6. NOTES: You may use light or dark brown sugar, and light or dark corn syrup -- it changes the flavor, so experiment to find your favorite combination :) Store in another room -- it's hard to stop eating it!

OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES "CARAMEL" CORN

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 250 deg.
• Place butter in a medium pot, on medium heat.
• While the butter's melting, pop the corn and put it in a large roasting pan. I used a disposable aluminum pan and a hot air popper (you won't need to butter the pan).
• Keep an eye on the butter and add the sugar, molasses, and salt to it as soon as its melted.
• Bring the candy to a boil and stir and cook it only till the sugar melts and the butter blends in entirely - just a couple minutes.
• Turn off the heat and stir the vanilla and peanuts into the candy.
• Quickly add the baking soda and stir untill it's well mixed. It foams to make a lighter, more delicate candy.
• Pour the candy over the popcorn and toss untill it's evenly coated.
• Put the popcorn in the oven for 1 hour, tossing every 15 or 20 minutes.
• Let it cool completely before breaking up and putting into an airtight container.
• I developed this recipe by hacking others because I couldn't find another to suit me. I made this for Christmas treats and it was INHALED, you'll find it tastes like Cracker Jack; that candy is made with molasses, not corn syrup, I got a box yersterday to compare.
• You can easily double this, but double the baking time too.

OLD FASHIONED CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• In a saucepan mix butter brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla and bring to a boil.
• Boil for 5 to 6 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda until the mixture has puffed up.
• Allow 1 minute to rest.
• Placed popped popcorn in a large baking dish.
• (I use my very large turkey roasting pan without the lid.) Pour mixture over popcorn and stir until well coated.
• Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Stir well to make sure the bottom doesn't burn, Bake for another 10 minutes.
• Pour onto a large surface to cool.
• (I cut a green garbage bag in half and cover my dining room table with it before pouring out the popcorn onto it. It saves on clean up.) Break apart to serve.

MY AMISH FRIEND'S CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Place the popped popcorn into two shallow greased baking pans. You may use roasting pans, jelly roll pans, or disposable roasting pans. Add the peanuts to the popped corn if using. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat. Don't worry too much at this point about getting all of the corn coated.
• Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes. Line the counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight containers or resealable bags.