Baseball Season Popcorn Caramel (Printable)

Crunchy popcorn and roasted peanuts coated in rich caramel for a sweet and salty treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Popcorn

01 - 10 cups freshly popped popcorn (approximately 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)

→ Nuts

02 - 1 cup roasted, salted peanuts

→ Caramel

03 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/4 cup light corn syrup
06 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Place freshly popped popcorn and roasted peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine thoroughly.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches a gentle boil.
04 - Allow caramel to boil for 4 to 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. The mixture will foam considerably.
05 - Quickly pour hot caramel over popcorn and peanuts. Using two spatulas or wooden spoons, toss continuously until the mixture is evenly coated.
06 - Spread the caramel-coated mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
07 - Bake for 45 minutes, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent burning.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. Break into clusters before serving or storing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy popcorn, crunchy peanuts, and chewy caramel hits every texture craving at once.
  • Forty-five minutes of low-heat baking means the caramel sets perfectly without burning, even if you're distracted by the game.
  • It doubles as a gift, a party snack, or that 3 p.m. moment when you need something to do with your hands.
02 -
  • Timing the baking soda addition is critical—add it after removing the pan from heat, and do it immediately, because the caramel cools fast and you'll lose that essential foam.
  • Those 15-minute stirs aren't optional; skipping them results in heavy, clumpy clusters instead of individually coated pieces that release easily from the pan.
03 -
  • If you're making this for a crowd, double the batch and use two baking sheets, rotating them halfway through baking for perfectly even results.
  • The moment you smell sweet caramel and roasted nuts together, you'll know it's gone from ingredient list to tradition—that's when you know you've nailed it.
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