Homemade Cracker Jacks Copycat Caramel Corn With Peanuts Recipes

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACK® CARAMEL CORN RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 200°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet (18 x 13-inch) with parchment paper (or use a deep roasting pan, which is my preference. Pour the popped corn into a large bowl (at least 6 quarts); remove any un-popped kernels. If using, add the peanuts, mix and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat cook the molasses, brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Stirring occasionally, boil the syrup for 5 minutes. The syrup will darken slightly. Note: This is about 230°F, close to softball stage in candy making. Remove the pan from the heat, add the vanilla, and add the baking soda. Stir well as the mixture turns foamy. Immediately (and carefully) pour the hot syrup over the popped corn and stir until the corn is well coated. Spread the hot caramel corn into the parchment-lined pan. Note: I spread mine onto two baking sheets. Bake at 200°F for one hour. Stir the corn every 15 minutes during this time. Remove from the oven. This caramel corn is a warm, sticky, sweet and crunchy treat straight from the oven. It can also be cooled and stored airtight for several days. This recipe doubles and triples very well. KAF Notes: To make popcorn balls on a stick, omit the baking soda from the recipe. As soon as you can handle the corn without burning yourself, form it into 1-cup balls, inserting a lollipop stick or skewer at one end of each. Be sure to assiduously remove any unpopped kernels; you'll get most of them by shaking the bowl of popped corn, and scooping out the hard kernels that sift to the bottom. If you don't remove them, the syrup will allow them to adhere to popped kernels, and the next thing you know - ouch! A dental bill.

CRACKER JACK - COPYCAT

Steps:

• Mix popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl or roasting pan. Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
• Melt butter in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
• Quickly pour over warm popcorn while tossing until well coated. Spread in a shallow baking pan or roasting pan.
• Bake at 250°F for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Make sure every piece of popcorn has been moved around on the bottom.
• Remove from oven and turn out onto foil to let cool.
• Store in a tightly covered container.

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS - COPYCAT CARAMEL CORN WITH PEANUTS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Whisk together brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt in a small pan over low heat until the butter is all melted. Don't let the mixture boil.
• Cook without stirring for three minutes, then add the baking soda and vanilla to the pot.
• Mix the popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl. Pour the hot caramel sauce over the peanut and popcorn mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until evenly coated.
• Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees. Break into pieces before serving.

CLONE OF A CRACKER JACK®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Spread popcorn in the bottom of a large, deep roasting pan. Sprinkle peanuts over the popcorn.
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until sugar and butter are melted and sauce is thick and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour caramel sauce over the popcorn and peanuts and stir to coat popcorn and peanuts completely, scooping any peanuts and caramel that fall to the bottom of the roasting pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until caramel and popcorn are crisped, about 45 minutes. Turn popcorn out in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to cool completely.

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACK

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees and grease two large rimmed baking sheets with neutral oil.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons neutral oil and 2 kernels to a large pot. Cover and heat over medium. Once you hear those first two kernels pop, add the remaining kernels, cover and cook, shaking occasionally, until the popping slows down, about 4 to 6 minutes. You should hear a few seconds of silence between pops. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer the popcorn to a large, heatproof bowl and discard any unpopped kernels. Add the peanuts to the popcorn and toss to combine. Set the vanilla and baking soda near the stove for easy access.
• In a small saucepan, stir the butter, brown sugar, molasses and salt over medium until the butter melts. Once the butter has melted, attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and cook the mixture, undisturbed, until the temperature reaches 248 degrees.
• Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the vanilla and baking soda. The mixture will become foamy. Immediately pour it over the popcorn and use a wooden spoon to coat it evenly.
• Spread the popcorn out onto the two prepared baking sheets. Bake until the mixture is dry, about 20 to 25 minutes, tossing occasionally. The mixture will dry out as it cools but may still be slightly sticky. Sprinkle with a bit more salt, to taste.
• Let the popcorn cool completely. It's best enjoyed the day it's cooked, but you can also store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days.