True confession now: I am a popcorn addict! And if it is caramel popcorn, that just makes it so much better! Sweet and crunchy! Yum!
My children grew up eating this rendition of caramel corn and the fact that it was quick and easy assured them that we could have it often!
It is great for almost any quick snack while watching TV, family movie night, or gatherings with friends. Fourth of July is coming up soon but who needs a holiday to enjoy this treat!
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Microwave Caramel Corn
3 quarts popped corn
1 ½ cups peanuts
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup butter
¼ cup corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
Place popcorn and peanuts in a large brown paper bag and set aside.
(If you do not have a clean bag, use a large microwaveable bowl with a lid.)
Combine brown sugar, butter, syrup, and salt in a 2-quart glass bowl and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes, stirring after each minute, until the mixture comes to a boil. Microwave 2 minutes more. Stir in baking soda and mix well. (Take care – the soda will make it foam.) Pour syrup over corn and nuts in the bag. Shake well to coat the popcorn.
Place bag in microwave and heat on high for 1 ½ minutes. Vigorously shake the bag. Microwave for another 1 ½ minutes. Shake the bag again then pour the mixture into a large pan to separate and cool. Store in an airtight container (if there is any left!).
B, when I was a teenager in high school, my mother made huge bags of caramel popcorn to take with me on bus rides on Fridays to out of town football games since I was in the band. The bag was truly huge–bigger than a bread-bag. I have no idea how she found bags as big as she would. If she could have learned how to do that in the microwave, she would have been a popcorn machine! Thank you for evoking such beautiful memories of a fun, wholesome, childhood.
Blessings,
Janet Rico Everett
You are welcome, Janet! I made this a lot when the kids were younger. They loved it!