homemade-cracker-jacksLast night I just got to craving caramel popcorn and promptly went into the kitchen to make some. It’s not all that hard of a process and the results well they speak for themselves. This has to be the favorite caramel to date. It has such a nice creamy and sweet flavor. Do you all remember eating Cracker Jacks as a kid? I used to love to get a box but mainly for the cheap toy at the bottom. Unlike the real ones I have added almonds into this mix but go ahead and add any of your favorite nuts they will work just as well.

10 cups popped corn (I used yellow)
1 cup nuts (I used peanuts and almonds)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup light-colored corn syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. In a large mixing bowl add popcorn and nuts, mix. Preheat the oven to 275F.

2. In a small saucepan on high heat add butter, brown sugar and corn syrup. Stir once to mix the ingredients up and then allow a candy thermometer to read 245F. Remove from heat add add salt, vanilla and baking soda, with a wooden spoon quickly mix everything up again.

3. Carefully pour caramel over the popcorn and mix. On a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper add the popcorn mix evenly. Mix!

4. Place in the oven and take out every 20 minutes to mix. Allow to cool.

Yields: 6-8 servings

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