Mom’s Caramel Corn with Nuts
I can’t wrap.
Either I’m an inch short on paper, or the ends won’t fold up to make that nice little triangle. My gift bags look like they were stuffed by Mrs. Kelley’s third-grade class. And every year, no matter how much paper I buy, I wind up with one gift that has to be wrapped in a garbage bag. (Note to self: Invent festive, peppermint-scented garbage bags.)
But I love the process. Jeff and I drag all the wrapping supplies into living room, turn on a movie (Christmas or otherwise), make some snacks and start the extravaganza. My new favorite wrapping snack is Mom’s Caramel Corn with Nuts. It’s also my favorite movie snack. My favorite post-breakfast snack. And one of my favorite party foods. You can make enough for every man, woman and child in the Target parking lot without breaking the bank, and it’s so sweet-and-salty, yummy, crunchy good.
It’s also dead simple. Fill a huge aluminum roasting pan with freshly popped popcorn and nuts. Make the caramel. Pour it over the popcorn and nuts. Then bake it for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. The popcorn will keep in an airtight container for about a week, so it would make a great gift. Just don’t ask me how to wrap it.
Mom’s Caramel Corn with Nuts
From Sheryl Mackey
- 6 quarts popcorn, freshly popped
- 2-3 cups nuts
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups (packed) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Karo syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, Karo and salt. Whisk until sugar dissolves.
3. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring for about 5 minutes (or until a candy thermometer registers 255 degrees F).
4. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla.
5. Pour syrup over popcorn and nuts.
6. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Wow! That looks yummy!!!!
I’m not the best wrapper, either! I’m notorious for cutting an extra piece and taping it over the blank spot on the package because I didn’t cut a piece large enough in the first place! :)
Cristine: Are we cousins? I do the same thing. And I don’t always cut the extra piece from the same paper. Shhhhhh.
Yum. This would be awesome for our new year’s party.
Happy holidays!
This looks like a great snack to tide over the wrapping extravaganza!
Mmm this looks delicious. I’ll have to save the recipe for when I get an air popper.
My packages always look like I lack thumbs – I can relate to your wrapping issues.
I’m also a maker of caramel corn – in fact, the recipe I use is pretty much exactly the same as your mom’s. Looks like we have a few things in common!
I made this same recipe with Chex cereal and it was awesome. Too good, in fact. Since we can’t do nuts, we also tried it with popcorn and had more awesome results. Great choice -
That’s crazy! My mother makes a similar thing that she calls Popcorn Crunch and swears no one else knows about it. Ha. It IS a favorite and loved by all. And highly addictive.
With a bowl of that in front of me I wouldn’t get any wrapping done! Looks delicious.
Dear lord – popcorn, nuts, and caramel. A personal triple-whammy. I think I’ll use macadamias, and I’ll waddle up to the kitchen right now to get started. If I can get through the door!
A great snack, Looks delicious. May be we can also add some dry fruits.
Thanks.
Lucy
I made this last night as part of my plates of Christmas treats for family – and it’s freakin’ ridiculously good. I can’t stop eating it! Who knows if there’s going to be any left by the time I package everything up. Lol. Thanks!
Oh I made this to take to my parents house for Christmas. Sooo good. Thank you for posting it.
I hate wrapping too. I wish I had read the “stir every 15 minutes” line when I made caramel popcorn for Halloween. Mine turned out umm… chewy? Oh well. I’ll try it again I guess.
Yum! That looks great. I’m drooling over your photos!
I’ve been meaning to make caramel corn but hadn’t gotten around to it! Thanks for sharing your Mom’s recipe!
Happy 2009!
~ingrid
HA! Im a crazy OCD wrapper….I love wrapping gifts! However…my caramel corn…could use major work! This looks yummy…wish I had seen this before I made my caramel corn attempt…mine turned out mushy. We didnt use a recipe…we just…winged it. We added chocolate and marshmallow to ours …so I will have to figure out how to incorporate that without the mush!
Is there anything I could use in place of Karo syrup?
Perfect recipe for this coming new year. I also like the idea to add dried fruits and macadamias. It will be great snack for new year eve.