Thursday, September 27, 2012

CARAMEL CORN...AWESOME AND EASIEST EVER!

When I say this is the easiest, I'm not kidding!  Less than 10 minutes to make, 45 minutes to bake, no candy thermometer and you can be eating this in less than an hour.  When I say it's awesome, I'm not kidding there either...I have NEVER met anyone who didn't love this caramel corn.  It has no hulls and no seeds, so little kids and older people love it too!
Here's what you need to make this giant pan of awesomeness:
8 oz. bag of Puff Corn (not all bags are 8oz. - I used 2 bags to get 7oz.- close enough)
1 C. butter (do not substitute)
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. light corn syrup
1 tsp. baking soda

Here's what you do:
Place puff corn in a large roaster pan sprayed with cooking oil. (A dutch oven works fine too.)
In a 2 qt. sauce pan bring butter sugar and corn syrup to a boil, then cook for 2 minutes.
 Add the baking soda.  This makes the caramel mixture foam up.
Stir well and remove from heat. Pour over puff corn and stir it up really well and try to coat it as evenly as you can.  (I just kind of lift and turn it.)  
(Don't freak out because suddenly this is in an aluminum roaster pan instead of my dutch oven.  I quit taking pictures at this point the first time I made it....so this is a different batch...sorry.)
Bake in oven at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and spread out on waxed paper to cool a few minutes.  Then just kind of break apart any larger clumps.  
Stored in an airtight container, this caramel corn will keep up to 5 days....but it won't last that long....promise.
I would like to note here, that sometimes people panic over the sticky mess that caramel corn seems to make in pans and dishes.  I will remind you, it's only sugar and butter and if you just rinse it in hot water, it melts away.  Really.  Then wash the pans in hot soapy water and you're done!  Now go make some of this killer stuff!!
Linking up to any or all of these fine parties:

38 comments:

  1. This is pretty much the same recipe I use to make caramel corn, although I used popcorn. If you don't want to turn the oven on, place the covered pop/puffcorn in a paper grocery bag. Microwave for 1.5 minutes, shake, 1.5 minutes & done!

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  2. Are you insane? Don't put this weapon of mass munching into my hands!
    OMNOMNOM... butter, sugar, syrup. Oh come to mama, babies, mama is waiting!

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  3. Hmmmmm, that sounds yummy and oh so easy! Love your new graphic signature!

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  4. I love how you had to make two batches to get all the photos (brilliant plan sister). This looks amazing. I love caramel corn and it would be totally worth washing the pans!! Thanks for the warning on the baking soda foaming up,...I've made many a mess because I forgot it was going to do that.

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  5. Oh My gosh I'm beyond excited about this recipe I'm pinning it and am going to make this this weekend! My kids will love it. I don't have a dutch oven but I do have a roasting pan. Thanks so much for this recipe.

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  6. Danni

    This is BRILLIANT! LOVE It and I LOVE that you won't have all the corn hulls getting stuck in your teeth :D

    Marilyn

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  7. Oh YUM! I have a thing for popcorn, and popcorn coated in yumminess. It's been a while since I've made any homemade, or had store bought. I think it's time!

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  8. This looks so good and so easy that I really have to try it. While my waist may pay for it, my taste buds and husband will be thrilled!

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  9. Yum! Pinning! And the mess on pans does not scare me! Great/Awesome/Yummy share!
    Great tutorial too, Danni!

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  10. Mmmm... I'm so making this! Thanks for the fabulous recipe :)

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  11. Oooh... 'Sounds divine! I have everything on hand except the Puff Corn. Do you think regular popcorn could be substituted? -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  12. What is Puff Corn? This sounds absolutely die-lish, BUT I am allergic to anything corn so I'd best avoid this. I know my niece would love it though. What would be a sub for puff corn? I am going to stencil something tonight - are you joining me? :>)

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  13. Yum, I'm not sure what puff corn is either? It looks like rice bubbles but made from corn. Could you do this with pop corn?

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  14. I agree, that won't last 5 days. That looks delicious and I love how easy you made it look. YUM!

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  15. I made some last year.It goes very fast... thanks for the recipe. Linda

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  16. genius!! I would have not thought to use Puff corn, my kids absolutely love the stuff, I'm making this tomorrow! thanks girl

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  17. Ohhh, this looks good! And being an "older person" I appreciate no hulls and no seeds. We won't discuss the calories and my waistline. Or lack thereof. Can't wait to try it.

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  18. My weekly linky party--One Creative Weekend--has gone spooky this week in honor of my thirteenth party. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll visit "One Creative Weekend" on OneCreativeMommy.com (open every Fri-Wed) and link up this idea and anything else you’d like to share. (You can include non-Halloween posts as well, but feel free to link up as many Halloween-themed posts as you like.)

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  19. This is one of my favorites, and looks so yummy! I haven't made it in years, either. You've inspired me to make it again. Around my house, it will be gone in a few days. LOL Thanks so much for sharing your great recipe. :)

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  20. Love carmel corn, and this sounds so good and easy! Yummy, and my teeth will appreciate less seeds and hulls. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!

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  21. I have this recipe and it is so yummy!

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  22. Danni gave hubby and me each a container of this when we visited in May, and all I can say is everyone must make this. It was absolutely delicious and very addictive. We did manage to stretch it out even longer than 5 days. I am not sure that we have puff corn in this neck of the woods but hope so and will be on the lookout for it. This is leading off my Friday Finds this week. Thanks for sharing, Danni.

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  23. Guess what I'm making today!! My Handsome Husband asks for this all the time!! Thank you for wonderful recipe! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  24. Of course, found this on Pinterest. Let me start by saying, that I had never purchased Puffcorn before....holysugar!!! That stuff is delish!! I used to make caramel corn, but like most, hated the kernels. This is such an easy recipe, and incredibly good! Thank you! By the way, I doubled the batch, used two roasting pans, and still, a very easy process.

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    1. well I'm glad you found it and I'm glad you liked it! It's so addicting! Thanks for the tip on doing two pans at once....I think!! Now I'll really be eating a lot of it!!

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  25. Holy mother of puffcorn....that DOES look awesome!!! :)

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  26. This is exactly how I make mine - except I have never heard of this kind of popcorn. I will look for it so I can make some of it for myself.

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  27. Hi Danni, I'm going to try this one of these days. Did I remember Marci saying something about drizzling chocolate over it?

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  28. Danni,
    Stopping by to read a few posts and of course this one caught my eye since I love caramel corn. My recipe uses just popped popcorn and I will definitely try this which sounds so much easier. All I have to do is find the Chester's Puffcorn and I will be ready to make it. Thanks for stopping by The Checkered Apple!

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  29. Caramel corn is so yummy and I LOVE when you can make it hull-less!

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  30. If you want a new twist add 1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon to caramel mixture. when done drizzle with white chocolate.

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  31. Just made this - so YUMMY!!!!!!! - definitely a keeper! Now the thing is to save for SNACK TIME only😉

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  32. Is it possible to add peanuts to this like cracker jacks stuff??? Never even thought of using puff corn!! I love caramel corn but hate the husks and hard teeth breaking pieces that you take the chance of eating with each scrumptious bite. My husband loves the stuff with peanuts and I DESPISE the peanuts kind. Want to make seperate batch of each!!! I was thinking of adding like a cup of chopped peanuts ( shelled and roasted- not the raw kind). I guess about a cup tossed into the mixture while it is being stirred up and then baked would be ok. I mean would the nuts burn or not get all coated with the caramel when made together or do i add them after it is done baking? I have heard of gormet corn being drizzled with chocolate and adding other nuts or like m and m's and all. I can not believe I did not ever think of using puff corn for the pop corn in making caramel corn!!!! No husks!! No unpopped kernals!!! Yessss!!! Ohhh my goodness thank you sooo very much!!!!!

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  33. So addicting!!! My mother in law makes this every christmas and now you gave me the recipe here! Very dangerous!!! Lol. But so yummy!!!!

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  34. One of my kids gave me this in holiday tin for Christmas, I drive a school bus, and it was so good. She told me that her and mom made it, so off to pinterest I went to find a recipe. I've made this more times than I care to admit. As a matter of fact, there's a batch in the oven right now. This is the best stuff ever!

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