March 15, 2011

"Golden" Caramel Popcorn

I have posted this recipe before, but it is so fun, I thought you might want a reminder.
A few years ago my sister and I started the St. Patrick's tradition of doing a gold hunt for our kids. They follow clues on rainbows to the next and finally end up at a pot of gold. When we took this picture, our pot broke, so we had a basket of gold. We used golden wrapped candies (Rolos, Twix, coins are all great) and I made Golden (caramel) Popcorn.

What are some of your St. Patrick's Day Traditions?



Caramel Popcorn
adapted from my Grandma Smith
6-8 c popped popcorn
1 1/2 c white sugar
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c white Karo Syrup
3/4 c water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
4 Tbsp butter
1 tsp salt

Put popcorn in 9x13 pan and warm in 250 degree oven. Cook sugars, Karo, and water to 300 degrees. Add butter and salt. When melted, mix well. Remove from heat and add soda and vanilla. Stir well (and fast!). Pour over hot corn and stir and stir. Pour out on table and mold with hands.

These instructions are taken straight from my grandma's recipe card. I don't mold into balls with my hands, but be careful if you do - remember the sugar is super hot!

Tips:
  • Use a larger pot than what you think - when you add the soda and vanilla it will puff up a lot!
  • If you want to double the batch, make in two separate waves. The sugar cools too fast to do one big doubled-batch.
  • Be patient, it does take a little while to get to 300 degrees. 
  • This is a crunchy caramel popcorn. The way to tell - soft caramel corn has sweetened condensed milk and crunchy has baking soda.

5 comments:

Maria said...

Sarah- What a cute idea. I was trying to decide what to put in a "pot of gold" for my boys and there friends on St. Pattrick's Day. Carmel popcorn.....genius!

Vanessa said...

This is seriously the BEST caramel popcorn I have EVER tasted. Thanks! :)

kami @ nobiggie.net said...

oooh! I want to try this!

Maria said...

Perfect for movie night!

Medifast Coupon Codes said...

Now I am craving some popcorn all sugary and sweet, back to the kitchen I must go and then I will be typing with sticky fingers :)