Caramel Apple Popcorn Mix
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups popped popcorn (plain or lightly salted)
- 2 cups dried apple chips, broken into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet or a roasting pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- In a very large mixing bowl, combine the popped popcorn, dried apple pieces, and nuts. Gently toss them together until they are evenly distributed. Make sure to remove any unpopped kernels from the popcorn beforehand.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Once it reaches a boil, stop stirring and let it bubble for about 4 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Immediately stir in the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and baking soda. The mixture will foam up and become light in color; this is normal and helps create a thin, crisp coating.
- Quickly pour the hot caramel mixture over the popcorn and apple mix. Use a large spatula to gently fold and coat everything as evenly as possible. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect yet; the oven time will help spread the sauce.
- Spread the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. This ensures the caramel covers every piece and dries out to become perfectly crunchy.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the mix cool completely on the sheet. As it cools, the caramel will harden. Once cool, break any large clumps apart with your hands and serve.
Find it online: https://www.pleasecook.com/snacks/caramel-apple-popcorn-mix/