While I was in Texas, my sweet sister-in-law made us homemade caramel corn to snack on. You may remember, she also packed some for us to munch on during our road trip back to Ohio.
Turns out this recipe was really easy and only has six ingredients (five if you don't count salt... which I normally don't). So today, I thought I'd be just remiss'n if'n I didn't share this easy recipe with all of you!
BUT! True to lazy mom form, I took this already easy recipe and made it lazy.
(I just can't help myself! I like things that are simplified and eliminate unnecessary steps in life!)
Almost all caramel corn recipes call for baking the caramel corn at a low temperature for an hour and stirring it every 15 minutes, but I'm here to tell you that with this lazy recipe you do NOT have to bake the caramel corn!
AHHHHHH!
(I know... it's exciting.)
So although this is my sister-in-law's recipe, I have changed the technique in order to bring you LAZY Caramel Corn. AND it's all done in ONE pot!
BAM!
You're welcome.
Lazy Caramel Corn
2 bags of microwave popcorn
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pop bags of popcorn and dump into a bowl. Use a bowl, so that the unpopped kernels will fall to the bottom of the bowl and not make their way into the caramel! (Ouch!)
In a large stockpot heat brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt over medium heat. (I put my stove dial on 6.) Stir occasionally to get the butter incorporated. (I stir with a sturdy heat-resistant spatula, but a wooden spoon is fine too.)
Once the brown sugar mixture starts to form big bubbles like this...
...start a timer for five minutes and do not stir any more (resist the urge to stir!!).
While the caramel is bubbling, put out on the counter sheets of wax paper.
Once the timer goes off, remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. This will make the mixture turn foamy, so don't freak out.
Add the popcorn in by handfuls (do not dump the bowl of popcorn in, remember the unpopped kernels!). Fold the popcorn into the caramel, careful not to burn yourself with the hot caramel!
Turn the popcorn out onto the sheets of wax paper and use your spatula or spoon to to break it up. I just pushed it down with the back of my spatula. Then once it's cooled to the touch a bit, I broke it up with my hands to make bite sized pieces.
Allow to cool completely and then store in an airtight container or put out in cute bowls for easy Christmas munching.
Ahhhhh, yeah.....
And Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Lazy Mom
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Oh my yummy. Definitely have to pin this one.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE this recipe. I made a huge batch yesterday and it turned out just delicious.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I confess. I had my doubts right from the beginning. "Lazy Caramel Corn" Isn't that an oxymoron?? But it looked legit...so while the baby was sleeping, I gave it whirl. Started it, and set the time at the appropriate time and had a HARD time not stirring. (isn't this going to burn??) Then I added the baking soda, and it didn't really foam...*fail* So I stirred in the popcorn and had some trouble mixing. But it did work. So I spread it out to cool ,and popped a piece in my mouth. AMAZING! And very easy. Even clean-up was easy. A pot and a spoon. Thanks! My dad is going to thank you, too, when we exchange Christmas gifts!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! So glad you gave it a go! And maybe foam wasn't the right word for it. More like froth?! Need to find a better word! :)
DeleteWow! I have been looking for an easy caramel corn recipe to replace the one from Kraft (with the little caramel squares that you have to unwrap) and this looked too good to be true! I halved the recipe and made it in the microwave in a large measuring cup. It turned out awesome and I ate the whole recipe! I will have to make it again to prove to hubby that it was easy since he was out when I made it and didn't get to taste it! Thanks!
ReplyDelete