Sweet Reward
There is a lot you could say about my family, but being selfish is not one of them. This week my youngest brother and his fiancé are in Trinidad and Tobago on a mission trip instead of a relaxing spring break. The last two weekends my parents, brother, sister-in-law and other family members made homemade caramel corn to sell to help support their trip. This past weekend I got to help with making some, while also eating my weight in caramel coated popcorn!
The plan was to make a very large quantity to sell and it went relatively well given the massive amount of caramel corn being made. However, if I was going to do it again, would likely make a few more bags for us to snack on!
This is a recipe that I got from my Dad, but my Mom's cookbook also had about 10 recipe's in it, so it is obviously an old favorite of my family.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon Vanilla
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup of light corn syrup
2 sticks of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
12 cups popcorn
Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.
After caramel corn is evenly coated lay out on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.
I wasn't kidding when i said we made a few batches.
Directions:
In a sauce pan mix butter, brown sugar and corn syrup on medium to high heat. When it starts to boil set the timer for five minutes. Add Vanilla, baking soda and salt to the mixture and stir constantly so it does not burn. Have a large mixing bowl with popcorn ready and nearby. When the five minutes is up, pour caramel onto the popcorn and stir in with wooden spoons until it is evenly mixed. If you do not have two wooden spoons, I'd recommend using two utensils that are large enough to mix the batch but also heat sensitive so they do not melt from the hot caramel.
When the caramel is mixed evenly on the popcorn pour it out onto a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. The parchment paper allows for easy clean up and doesn't allow loose caramel to stick and burn on the pan. Bake in the oven on 325 for 30 minutes. After it is done baking, pour it out onto a covered surface and break into small portions.
Besides being a snack that can store and travel well caramel corn is a finger food, always a plus. I often feel like I can get into a bars and cookies rut with my desserts and this is a great way to mix it up. What is your go to snack to make? Leave me a comment and let me know, enjoy!
