Spicy Caramel Popcorn Recipes

SPICY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Lightly coat two large, heatproof rubber spatulas and a large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large saucepan or pot with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover and keep the saucepan moving until all of the kernels have popped, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared bowl, removing any unpopped kernels.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cayenne pepper.
• Have two large baking sheets ready. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, salt and 1/2 cup water. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until the mixture becomes a light golden caramel, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the baking-soda mixture (the mixture will bubble up).
• Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn. Working quickly and carefully, use the prepared spatulas to toss the caramel and popcorn together, as if you were tossing a salad, until the popcorn is well coated.
• Spread the popcorn onto the baking sheets and quickly separate them into small pieces while still warm. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

SPICY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Lightly coat two large, heatproof rubber spatulas, a very large mixing bowl and two large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray or a thin slick of oil.
• In a large saucepan or pot with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover and keep the saucepan moving until all of the kernels have popped, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared bowl, removing any unpopped kernels. Toss with salted peanuts, if using.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cayenne pepper.
• Have the two large baking sheets ready. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, salt and 1/2 cup water. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until the mixture becomes a light golden-yellow caramel, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the baking-soda mixture (the mixture will bubble up).
• Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and don't fuss if it doesn't all come out of the pot - you'll have plenty. Working quickly and carefully, use the prepared spatulas to toss the caramel and popcorn together, as if you were tossing a salad, until the popcorn is well coated.
• Spread the popcorn onto the baking sheets and quickly separate them into small pieces while still warm. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to two weeks or two minutes.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl. Heat the coconut oil in a very large pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated. Serve immediately.

SPICY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Lightly coat two large, heatproof rubber spatulas, a very large mixing bowl and two large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray or a thin slick of oil. In a large saucepan or pot with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover and keep the saucepan moving until all of the kernels have popped, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared bowl, removing any unpopped kernels. Toss with salted peanuts, if using. In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cayenne pepper. Have the two large baking sheets ready. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, salt and 1/2 cup water. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until the mixture becomes a light golden-yellow caramel, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the baking-soda mixture (the mixture will bubble up). Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and don't fuss if it doesn't all come out of the pot - you'll have plenty. Working quickly and carefully, use the prepared spatulas to toss the caramel and popcorn together, as if you were tossing a salad, until the popcorn is well coated. Spread the popcorn onto the baking sheets and quickly separate them into small pieces while still warm. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to two weeks or two minutes, if you've got a family like mine.

LOVELY LISA'S SWEET AND SALTY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure baking soda and vanilla extract into separate small bowls; set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan; add popcorn, cover, and cook, shaking often, until fully popped, about 5 minutes. Transfer popcorn to a large roasting pan using a strainer or your hands, leaving unpopped kernels in the saucepan. Distribute chopped licorice and broken pretzels evenly over popcorn.
• Bring the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and cream of tartar to a boil in a heavy pot, stirring constantly. Place a candy thermometer into the caramel mixture, and continue boiling, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 265 degrees F (129 degrees C), about 10 minutes.
• Remove caramel from heat. Stir vanilla and baking soda into the caramel; it will foam and rise slightly. Pour hot caramel over popcorn mixture, stirring gently to coat evenly. Spread the popcorn mixture loosely onto the prepared baking sheets. Season to taste with sea salt; set aside to cool, about 20 minutes.
• Break popcorn mixture into chunks. Store in airtight bags or containers.

SPICY CARAMEL POPCORN WITH PEANUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line two baking sheets with nonstick baking mats. Set aside.
• Heat oil with 3 popcorn kernels in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. When kernels pop, add remaining 1/2 cup kernels. Cook, covered, shaking pan occasionally, until popping stops, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove pan from heat; let stand, covered, 1 minute.
• Divide popcorn evenly between prepared baking sheets; set aside. In a medium saucepan heat sugar, butter, and corn syrup over medium heat until butter is melted, sugar is dissolved, and mixture is golden brown. Stir in salt and cayenne pepper; add peanuts and stir to coat. Pour mixture over popcorn. Spray a spatula with nonstick cooking spray and toss to combine.
• Transfer baking sheets to oven and bake, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

SPICED CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread nuts on a small rimmed baking sheet, and bake until fragrant and beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand until cool. Coarsely chop; set aside.
• Line a baking sheet with a Silpat (a French nonstick baking mat); set aside. In a medium stockpot, heat oil over high heat. Add popcorn, and cover. Once the corn begins to pop, shake the pan constantly. When the corn has finished popping, remove from the heat, uncover; set aside.
• In a large deep pot, at least 12 inches wide, stir together water, sugar, and corn syrup. Add vanilla pod and seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat without stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush down the sides of the pan to remove any undissolved sugar granules. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, tilting and swirling the pan, until the mixture just begins to smoke and is a deep caramel color, 4 to 5 minutes more.
• Stir in the popcorn and nuts. Cook, stirring, while moving the pot on and off the heat to prevent the caramel from burning, until the popcorn is completely coated and the mixture is deep mahogany in color. Pour onto prepared baking sheet, and spread in an even layer. Let cool. Remove and discard vanilla bean. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

SPICY CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• *Note: Make sure your chile powder is made from 100% chiles with no added spices like garlic and salt or it will ruin the flavor of your caramel corn. I nearly made this mistake once with Kroger chile powder but thankfully noticed it smelled more like prepared chili than plain hot chiles and sure enough, they had added the spices you would want in it if you were using it for chili (but not for your caramel corn!).
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Divide the popcorn into two large bowls or put in a large tub that allows ample room for stirring so that you'll have no trouble coating the popcorn when the caramel is ready. Sprinkle 1 cup nuts over each bowl of popcorn.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except for the baking soda. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once it begins to boil, stop stirring and allow to boil for 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Stir well and make sure that no lumps remain.
• Pour half of the caramel over each bowl (or all of it over just the one if you're using a tub) and stir each thoroughly, until the popcorn and nuts are pretty evenly coated.
• Pour into a large roaster pan or two jelly roll pans and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Spread onto waxed paper to cool. Serve once it is dry or store in an airtight container.