Carmel Corn

You would think I am a total sweet tooth by all of the treat recipes I've posted lately but with the holidays I've had to make a few things lately. I try to not make homemade treats....because then I just eat them. If they are store bought, they usually have so many preservatives in them they last forever so there isn't the pressure of eating them before they go bad.

This recipe is really good! It is very similar to the carmel corn they sell in specialty popcorn stores. I remember they used to have one in the mall and I'd always get some when I was a pre-teen who would go shopping with friends. Enjoy!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

7-8 C popped popcorn

3/4 C packed brown sugar

6 TBS butter

3 TBS light-colored corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp vanilla

1. Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Put popcorn into a 17X12X2 inch baking or roasting pan. Keep popcorn warm in a 300 degree oven while making carmel mixture.

2. For carmel mixture, in a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, without stirring, for 5 more minutes.

3. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. *Pour carmel mixture over popcorn; stir gently to coat. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Stir mixture; bake 5 minutes more. Spread carmel corn on a large piece of buttered foil to cool. Store tightly covered for 1 week.

*Mel's Notes: It is easier if you put the popcorn into a large bowl and then pour the carmel mixture over it. If you try to do it on the pan, it is difficult to coat it properly. Make sure you line the pan with tin foil for easier clean up. Use a rubber spatula, not a spoon to mix. If you use a spoon, it will break the popcorn into small pieces. After you take the carmel corn out of the oven, break it up into bite-sized pieces while it is still warm. If you wait for it to cool, it is more difficult to break and small pieces fly everywhere, making a mess.