Audrey loves creating new flavors by tweaking recipes to include healthier ingredients. But everyone deserves a sweet treat now and then!

Caramel Corn Recipe

Here is a super easy Christmas candy idea that you can make ahead, store in airtight containers, and then incorporate as part of a gift basket or a stand-alone gift in decorative tins or pretty bags!

Ingredients:

• 6-7 quarts (24-28 cups) of freshly popped PLAIN popcorn (I use an air popper)
• 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt if desired
• 1 cup margarine or butter (2 cubes)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the popcorn in two shallow greased baking pans, jelly roll pans, disposable roasting pans, or even a large roasting pan.
3. Add the peanuts to the popped corn. Set aside.
4. Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter or margarine, cream of tartar (if used), and salt in saucepan.
5. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend.
6. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.
7. Remove from the heat. Stir in the baking soda and vanilla—you can beat rather vigorously. The mixture will become light and foamy.
8. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pan(s) and stir to coat. (Don't worry at this point too much about getting ALL the corn and nuts coated)
9. Bake for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes, remove the pans from the ovens and give them a good stir.
   
10. Line a counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces.
11. Allow to cool completely and then store in airtight containers or resealable bags.

Amaretto Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 3 quarts popped popcorn
• 1 cup unblanched whole almonds
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup Amaretto

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Arrange popcorn on two jelly roll pans; sprinkle almonds over popcorn.
3. In small saucepan, melt margarine over low heat; stir in the brown sugar and Amaretto.
4. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Pour over popcorn; toss until thoroughly coated.
6. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour; spread on foil or wax paper to cool. Store in loosely covered container.

Chocolate Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 5 quarts popped popcorn
• 1-1/3 cups brown sugar
• 1-1/2 cups butter, divided
• 2-1/2 cups light corn syrup, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
2. Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray.
3. Place the popcorn in the roasting pan and keep warm in the oven.
4. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup corn syrup. Heat, without stirring, to 250 to 265 degrees F or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball. (Suggest using a candy thermometer)
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
6. Pour syrup over popcorn and stir to coat. Return popcorn to oven.
7. In the same saucepan, combine chocolate chips with remaining 1/2 cup butter and 2 cups corn syrup.
8. Cook, stirring, over medium heat, until chocolate is melted.
9. Remove from heat and quickly pour over popcorn, stirring to coat.
10. Return popcorn to oven for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
11. Remove and pour out onto waxed paper lined sheets to cool completely.

Comments

Rachel on October 19, 2015:

Is it hard to clean the pans when done?

Audrey Kirchner (author) from Washington on August 09, 2012:

That sounds great, Laura---more good ideas~

lauramaryscott from Boise, Idaho on August 09, 2012:

akirchner, I like to make a four-bean salad. That recipe calls for a small jar of pimientos. Those litte jars I save just for broken-glass candies. I plan to write a HubPage on this in a day or two.

moonlake from America on August 09, 2012:

They all sound so good. Thanks for sharing your recipes. Voted Up.

Audrey Kirchner (author) from Washington on August 09, 2012:

Thanks for reading all my candy recipes, Laura - it is a great idea putting them in little tiny jars~

lauramaryscott from Boise, Idaho on August 09, 2012:

akirchner, thank you for sharing your recipes. I haven't made broken-glass candy for years. I plan to read that recipe next. One Christmas season when the budget was too lean for gift giving, I made several batches of boken-glass candy; different colors and flavorings. I filled little baby food bottles with the candies and tied ribbons around the neck of the bottles. The different colors in each bottle looked pretty and the contents sparked a lot of chatter and fun for the kids and adults. Thanks for sharing.

Audrey Kirchner (author) from Washington on November 08, 2010:

I don't just because I'm not a spice girl....well, not that way - but I'll have to look into it, Lela!

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on November 07, 2010:

Do you have a recipe for the red hot popcorn? I love that stuff! I would eat bags of it at airports. The caramel kind is yummy too, but too sweet.

Steve Leveen on October 29, 2009:

I'm gaining weight just reading this. Almost as tempting as malted milk balls.