Chewy Caramel popcorn is a fresh take on an old favorite.
If you're a fan of Cracker Jack, Kettle Corn and other popcorn treats, deciding which is your favorite can be a challenge. That might change once you make Chewy Caramel Popcorn. This old-fashioned snack combines vanilla caramel and slightly salty popcorn into a treat that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Instructions
1. Pop 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of popcorn and deposit it into a large bowl. Shake the popped corn to cause the unpopped kernels to sift to the bottom, then transfer the popcorn to another large bowl. Take care not to transfer the unpopped corn with it. Salt lightly and set the popped corn aside.
2. Measure 2 cups of brown sugar into a large-sized, heavy saucepan. Pack it firmly to ensure proper measurement of the contents. Add 1 cup white corn syrup and 1/2 tsp. salt to the brown sugar, and stir well.
3. Cook the sugar and syrup mixture over medium high heat, stirring constantly until boiling. Boil one minute.
4. Add 1/2 cup butter and 1 can sweetened condensed milk to the boiling sugar-syrup mixture. Stir continuously as the butter melts and the mixture returns to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
5. Continue cooking and stirring the caramel, being sure to keep your stirring spoon in contact with the bottom of the pan to help prevent the scorching that easily happens once you add the sweetened condensed milk. Cook it until it reaches the Soft-ball stage, which is 235° F to 240° F or 118° C to 120° C on a candy thermometer.
6. Remove the caramel from the heat when it has reached Soft-ball stage. Stir in 1 tbsp. vanilla. Cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Separate about 1/2 a gallon of your popped corn into another container and set it aside. Drizzle the still-warm caramel over the remaining popped corn, stirring as you do so to evenly coat each kernel. Add the reserved popcorn if there seems to be too much caramel for the amount of popcorn.
8. Serve Chewy Caramel Popcorn by the bowlful while still warm, or wait until it cools, and form it into balls. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap or a bowl lid. Chewy Caramel Popcorn will keep unrefrigerated for several days.
Tags: Chewy Caramel, Caramel Popcorn, popped corn, brown sugar, Chewy Caramel Popcorn, Chewy Caramel Popcorn, condensed milk
