Caramel Popcorn

Hello again Shel's ​Kitchen friends!!!  Oh how I've missed you!  It's Coco again with another tasty sweet treat!  As you know, it's SPRING!!!  Yes, it's finally here!!!  Along with spring comes busier schedules.  ​Busier schedules that could include practices, yard work, school functions, or maybe even a backyard BBQ or two!!  For many of these functions, people ask you to bring a side dish, snack, or even a dessert.  Well, this Easy Caramel Corn recipe fits all categories so well!  It's a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and no hassle!  No hassle in making it and no hassle worrying about it while it's sitting out!  Also, no candy thermometer needed!  That's a win win in my book!  I KNOW you will enjoy!  Enough of the talking... let's get to the good stuff!  

Easy Caramel Corn (adapted from ourbestbites.com)

12 c. popped popcorn (1/2 c. kernels if you're making it stove top)

1 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. light karo syrup

1/2 t. salt

1 stick unsalted butter

1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla

parchment paper

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  Pop the popcorn and set aside in a large bowl.  Place the brown sugar, syrup, salt and butter in a microwave safe dish.  Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir.  Microwave an additional 2 minutes and stir. Microwave for 2 more minutes and remove from microwave.  To the bubbling hot mixture (resist the urge to stick your finger in for a taste) add the baking soda and vanilla.  Stir well and then pour over the popcorn.

Next, you will need to stir the caramel into the popcorn.  You will want to stir kinda quickly since the ​caramel will start to cool.  Try to get the popcorn covered evenly with the caramel.  Alrighty, you're almost there!  I place parchment paper on 2 cookie sheets then pour the popcorn/caramel mixture evenly between the two sheets and make sure the mixture is in a single layer.  I put one cookie sheet on the top rack and the other cookie sheet on the bottom rack and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.  Take out the cookie sheets and stir the popcorn around a bit and place them back in the oven on the opposite racks.  Bake for another 10 minutes.  Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and give the popcorn another stir.  Now let the popcorn sit out for about 10 minutes so that it's cool to the touch and break the popcorn up into smaller chunks with your fingers.  If you happen to see any kernels get rid of those so no one bites into them!  And most importantly enjoy!  

12 servings (154 calories each serving) according to my calculator on loseit.com