I got the bug. The bug to make caramel corn. This time of year makes me want caramel corn. Growing up my mom would make popcorn balls, but our neighbor, Delia Burnett, made the popcorn balls I craved and I couldn't wait to go to her house on Halloween to get them! Her popcorn balls were sugary crispy sweet. Not gooey, stick to your teeth sweet. They were the kind that didn't feel like your teeth wanted to pull out while eating them.
This caramel corn reminds me some of those popcorn balls. Its not chewy but its sweet and crunchy and it is oh so addicting. Once you start, you have a hard time stopping until it is all gone. Isn't that right Auntie Marlene? ;-)
Grumpy was grumpy because I made this caramel corn - not because he doesn't like it, but because I also had candy pumpkins and candy corn in the house. We both have a tendency to not stop eating those items until we are either 1. Sick or 2. They are all gone. However, I HAD to have those pumpkins and caramel corn for my candy dishes. It wouldn't be Halloween decorated if I didn't....right?!! In any case my Aunt Marlene, friend Amanada, and my son Justin with his Wife Kristina and last but not least my son Christopher all got bags of this treat. Hope you enjoyed everyone! I know I did. I kind of want to make some more!
Sweet & Spicy Caramel Corn
Adapted from Allrecipes.com: My Friend's Amish Caramel Corn
1 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon grey sea salt
2 pinches (or to taste) of red pepper flakes
1 cup unpopped popcorn
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pop corn with air popper. Place the popped popcorn into large roaster pan.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, pepper flakes 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.
Adapted from Allrecipes.com: My Friend's Amish Caramel Corn
1 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon grey sea salt
2 pinches (or to taste) of red pepper flakes
1 cup unpopped popcorn
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pop corn with air popper. Place the popped popcorn into large roaster pan.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, pepper flakes 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.
Wow, that looks good!
ReplyDeleteOH WOW! Let me say that again...OH WOW! I am going to make a batch of this for the weekend. I love the ingredients in this!
ReplyDeleteI laughed about you and the candy corn, etc....I know that so well in this house!
Shelby,
ReplyDeleteYou and I must share a brain, I have candied popcorn ready to make tomorrow! Yours looks beautiful my dear. Just stumbled for you :)
Halloween treat??? It is still September!! (wink) This looks delicious.....addictingly delicious.
ReplyDeleteI like all kinds of caramel corn, sticky and crunchy, but I haven't tried spicy yet!
ReplyDeletenice! sweet and salty combo never fails!
ReplyDeleteLove the addition of the spice! I'm with you on not liking the sticky kind of caramel corn. My godmother made the best and she'd give me my own big bag of it every year for Christmas. No one could make caramel corn the way she did.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good and easy to make..and I know what you mean about the candy in the house,don't stop until it is all gone..LOL..
ReplyDeleteI am gonna give this a try...
Kids and adults love this combo. I adore this explosion of sweet and spicy flavor in my mouth!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Gera
Sounds wonderful, never thought of adding red pepper flakes to carmel corn. Will have to try it out.
ReplyDeleteMy household loves white chocolate popcorn, especially at Christmas time.
I'm not sure who will like it better...me or the kids?
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Who'd have thought to put a spice in it - yummy! I'm gonna remember this to take to the office at the holidays. It'll surprise everybody!
ReplyDeleteI loveee caramel corn. I know what you mean when you start you can't stop. ;)
ReplyDeletehey shelby,
ReplyDeleteyou want that flavour combo super easy with no work????
Melt 2 Tbsp of your Red Pepper Spice Blend from www.madewithlove.ca with 1/4 cup butter stir together 3-5 minutes and pour over a batch (1/2 cup kernels)of air or kettle popped corn, scraping all the yummies out of your pan....amazing. We are all addicted!
Oh I loveee caramel popcorn, I never had it with red pepper flakes though. I can imagine it tastes even better
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny Shelby. I was just thinking of how I need to make some caramel popcorn and bam!, there it was on your site. Also, we've already gone through our first bag of candy corn, the autumn mix kind. My husband loves candy corn. Like you said, I have to fill my candy dish with something.
ReplyDeleteWell, you know I like caramel corn as I just made a batch not too long ago! Yours looks good and has me wanting more!
ReplyDelete~ingrid
caramel corn is one of my downfalls... so hard to resist and only take one handful!
ReplyDeletePerfect for Halloween! I love Caramel Corn... might like to add some cashews too :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I love popcorn so much -- this looks like a perfect treat!
ReplyDeleteHey all, my son Christopher called to ask me if I used a spoon for something else I was making to stir the pot. he he. He could taste the heat and thought I had goofed up. He could feel the heat in his mouth. ;-) He also said it was the best caramel corn he had ever had! Love my kids!!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I love caramel corn; I've never made it though. Silly me! But I'd have to eat it until 1. it was gone or 2. until I was sick, LOL!!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy! I like the more crispy type too.
ReplyDeleteIf I had this in my house, I would eat it too quickly!
ReplyDeleteNow you've got me craving caramel corn. I have never tried the baking step after coating the popped corn. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteSalty, sweet, and spicy...perfect!
ReplyDeleteThat caramel corn looks so good! I like the sound of adding some heat to it!
ReplyDeleteI make a lot of popcorn for the people at work, so I'll definitely be keeping this recipe in mind!
ReplyDeleteSpicy sweet?? I bet that's good!
ReplyDeleteThis looks addicting!
ReplyDelete