Sweet N Nutty Popcorn Crunch Recipes

POPCORN NUT CRUNCH

Steps:

• Place the popcorn and nuts in a lightly greased 5-qt. Dutch oven. Bake at 250° for 20 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and butter; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 290° (soft-crack stage). , Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla and cinnamon. Pour a small amount at a time over popcorn mixture, stirring constantly until the mixture is well coated. , Immediately spread on greased baking sheets. Cool; break into pieces. Store in airtight containers.

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.

PRALINE POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Butter baking sheet and large bowl.
• Toast pecans and almonds until light brown.
• Combine popped corn and nuts in a large bowl.
• Heat sugar, butter, 1/4 cup Praline liqueur and corn syrup in a heavy 2 quart saucepan.
• Stir over medium high heat, to 275~, or until soft crack stage.
• Remove from heat, stir in 1 tbls. Praline liqueur and salt.
• Pour over the popcorn and nuts.
• Mix and spread immediately on baking sheet.
• Let stand 1 hour. Break into bite sized pieces.

MARY'S POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Combine popped corn and nuts; toss lightly with butter and salt.
• Spread on flat pan.
• Combine sugar, 1/2 cup butter and corn syrup in saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Boil and stir occasionally until mixture turns light caramel color.
• Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
• Pour over popcorn mixture and stir to coat evenly. Spread out.
• When cool, break apart and store in tightly covered container.

SWEET AND CRUNCHY POPCORN SNACK MIX

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Combine crispy corn and rice cereal, honey graham cereal, peanut butter corn puff cereal, popcorn, chocolate pieces, and peanuts in a large bowl.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add brown sugar and corn syrup; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Stir peanut butter into sugar mixture until creamy, about 3 minutes; pour over cereal mixture and gently toss until coated.
• Spread cereal mixture over prepared baking sheet and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Once cooled, break mixture into chunks and store in an airtight container.

DIABETIC POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Remove and discard unpopped kernels from popcorn and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine sugar, molasses, water and stir to mix well.
• Cook over medium heat stirring with a wooden spoon until it comes to a full boil.
• Boil stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• With a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla. Mix well.
• Very slowly drizzle syrup over the popcorn, stirring well to coat evenly (keep fingers away from hot syrup).
• Spread popcorn evenly in the pan.
• Bake on centre oven rack 5-6 mins until popcorn begins to crisp slightly.
• Remove from oven and stir.
• Let cool.
• Syrup will harden and popcorn will crisp further as it cools.
• When cool store in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container for 2-3 days (if it lasts that long!).
• EXCHANGE: 1 carbohydrate.

SWEET & SPICY POPCORN CRUNCH OR BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick baking mats; set aside.
• Pop popcorn according to package directions, get rid of unpopped kernels; set aside.
• Make caramel: 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, vanilla, cinnamon & 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.
• *Note: If you opt for the 'pepitas' the pumpkin seeds instead of nuts (use one or the other not both) ~ you will need to toast the pumpkin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until browned and popping, tossing and stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. (Do this in batches, if needed.) Then, add to the popcorn.
• *If making popcorn balls, use following directions: When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, coat your hands with some butter and shape into 4-inch balls. Wrap in waxed paper and tie with a string, if desired. Serve or store covered at room temperature for up to a week.

POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Mix together popped corn and nuts.
• In a saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and margarine.
• Bring to a boil, and boil 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
• When mixture turns light caramel in color, remove from heat, and stir in popcorn and nuts.
• Spread out on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Break apart when cool.
• Can be dipped or spread with chocolate, if desired.
• Makes about 40 pieces.
• Cooking time does not include popping the popcorn.

POPCORN NUT TREAT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, cereal and nuts. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat butter and honey until butter is melted; stir until smooth. Pour over popcorn mixture and toss to coat., Transfer to two ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until popcorn is golden brown, stirring every 5 minutes. Cool, stirring occasionally.

CANDY CANE POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Pop popcorn.
• 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn yields approximately 10 cups of popped popcorn.
• Make 24 cups of popcorn.
• This is approximate-- not to worry if you have 22 cups or 28 cups-- it is a forgiving recipe.
• Put candy canes into a food processor.
• Finely crush.
• Melt dipping wafers following the package instructions.
• I used the microwave instructions-- very simple& easy.
• Put popcorn into a large bowl-- you need a really big bowl-- I actually used 2 bowls.
• Add melted dipping wafers to popcorn and stir to coat.
• A gentle hand is a good idea-- Add crushed candy canes and gently mix.
• Spread popcorn mixture onto paper lined cookie sheets.
• I used non stick aluminum foil-- it worked well-- I used 2 cookie sheets.
• Place cookie sheets in frig for approximately 30 minutes or until coating hardens-- I had 2 cookie sheets and not enough frig space so I put 1 cookie sheet in the frig and the other cookie sheet in the freezer (for 15 minutes only) to harden the coating-- Remove from frig/freezer-- break into pieces.
• Store in airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks (I have not tried storing in the freezer yet).

SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In lg bowl, combine flour and sugar.
• Cut in butter until you have a fine crumbly mixture.
• Knead dough until smooth, about 7-8 minutes.
• Pat dough into ungreased 15x10 pan.
• Pierce with fork all over.
• Bake at 325* for 25 minutes, until light brown.
• While warm, cut into squares.