Tasty Tangents

Food, life and other morsels

Caramel Popcorn in the Microwave

Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts

Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts

I’m one of those people who gets cravings. I’m definitely not pregnant, but every now and then I get a hankering for something in particular. It can be salty or sweet, chocolate or ice cream, but I generally have to do something about it before it will go away.

This time it was some kind of Crunch ‘N Munch, Fiddle Faddle or Poppy Cock or some sweet and salty combination of popcorn, nuts and caramel that I was really hoping for.

So I was excited when I found this great, quick microwave recipe on AllRecipes.com that I adapted to what I had on hand. You may want to follow the recipe’s suggestion of using a big paper bag to coat the popcorn with the caramel, but I didn’t have any.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unpopped or 4 quarts popped popcorn
1/2 cup salted peanuts
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
In a large heat-proof bowl combine all ingredients except baking soda, peanuts and popcorn. Microwave for 3 minutes, remove and stir. Then return to microwave for another 1 1/2 minutes.

Here’s where you need to move quickly. Place the popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl greased with cooking spray. Remove the bowl of caramel from the microwave and add baking soda. Then pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Be careful, it’s hot!

Return the coated popcorn to the microwave for 1 minute and 10 seconds. Remove, stir again and microwave for another minute.

This is the part where you’re supposed to lay out the mixture on wax paper to cool, but mine didn’t make it that far, it was devoured very hot, and very quickly. Enjoy!

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