Homemade Cracker Jack Popcorn

Homemade Old Fashioned Caramel Corn that taste just like Cracker Jack Popcorn. An excellent sweet and salty treat that makes the perfect homemade gift for the holidays.

Today I'm bringing you another recipe that I found on the Hillbilly Housewife. Last month I sat down and went through her site and printed off all the recipes that I wanted to try. When I first saw this recipe for Homemade Caramel Corn I noticed on the bottom that it stated this recipe is similar to Cracker Jack.  

 

I used to eat Cracker Jack all the time when I was a kid and it was one of my favorite treats. I'm happy to report that I have already made this recipe twice and it does taste just like Cracker Jack! This caramel corn is good with our without nuts. The first time I made it I left out the nuts, but the second time I made it I made half with nuts and it's just as good if not better.  

The funniest part about preparing this recipe was popping up the pop corn the old fashioned way in a little oil on the stove. My kids thought I was crazy when they saw me popping up the pop corn. I heated up the oil, added the popcorn and pop, pop, pop went the popcorn.. My daughter thought it was so funny that I wasn't popping it in the microwave. 

 
I told her this is the way it used to be cooked before they had microwaves or microwavable  popcorn. Mackenzie said what!!!!!!!!! no microwave popcorn, too funny. I mainly did this just to see the their reaction and the looks on their faces. Mackenzie's face was so priceless. Now my baby knows you can make popcorn on the stove and not just in the microwave. Let's get started on the recipe.

These are the ingredients you will need: 8 cups popped pop corn, brown sugar, margarine or butter, light corn syrup, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract and peanuts if using. 

In a 2 quart sauce pan combine the brown sugar, margarine or butter, corn syrup and salt over low heat. After the margarine melts, heat the mixture without stirring for 3 minutes.

 It should be bubbling during the 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. 

Arrange the popcorn (and peanuts, if using) on a well oiled 9″ by 18″ jelly roll pan or use parchment paper. 

Quickly pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn. Gently mix to coat the popcorn evenly. You wont get all of it coated, but don't worry once it is in the oven you can check it every 5 minutes and mix it with your spatula and make sure all the popcorn is coated. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Remove the caramel corn from oven. 

Using a spatula quickly, remove the caramel corn. It can be a bit of a task scraping it off but just work fast. Break it up into pieces and serve or store in an airtight container. 

If you don't want peanuts in your popcorn just leave them out to make a plain caramel corn. 

Yield: 8 cups

Author: Tina Butler | Mommy's Kitchen

Homemade Cracker Jack Popcorn

Homemade Old Fashioned Caramel Corn that taste just like Cracker Jack Popcorn. An excellent sweet and salty treat that makes the perfect homemade gift for the holidays.

Prep time: 6 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 21 Min

Ingredients

• 8 - cups popped popcorn
• 1 - cup Spanish or dry roasted peanuts, optional
• 3/4 - cup brown sugar
• 1/4 - cup butter or margarine
• 3 - tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/4 - teaspoon salt
• 1/4 - teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 - teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Pop the popcorn and arrange on a 9 x 18 inch jelly roll pan with the peanuts (if using). Spray the pan with non stick spray or use parchment paper.
2. In a 2 quart sauce pan, combine the brown sugar, butter or margarine, corn syrup and salt over low heat.
3. After the margarine or butter melts, bring the mixture to a boil and cook without stirring for 3 minutes. It should be bubbling during the 3 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees,
4. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. Quickly pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn.
5. You wont get all of the popcorn coated, but don't worry once it's in the oven you can check it every 5 minutes and mix it with a spatula and make sure all the popcorn is coated.
6. Gently mix to coat the popcorn evenly. Bake in a 300 F degrees for about 15 minutes.
7. Using a spatula quickly, remove the caramel corn. It can be a bit of a task scraping it off but just work fast.
8. Break the caramel corn into pieces and serve. This stuff is so good and wont last long , but if you do end up with leftovers, store them in a air tight container, or bag.

https://www.mommyskitchen.net/2009/08/homemade-cracker-jack-popcorn.html

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adapted from: The Hillbilly Housewife

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