Have you ever had caramel corn? It is a delicious, crunchy snack that is simply made by placing popcorn on a cookie sheet and drizzling it with caramel. Caramel popcorn can be hard to make yourself, though. The process of making it at home can take hours and require both baking sheets and a candy thermometer. That's why we've put together this mini guide to teach you how to make caramel popcorn with a proper caramel popcorn recipe at home in only 10 minutes. If you're not convinced yet, just see how easy that would be.
Why do people love caramel popcorn so much?
Caramel corn has two things going for it: the taste of the sweet, buttery flavour and the crunch. Popcorn is a pretty tough snack to make without a machine, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. When caramel corn is being cooked, the water inside of the popcorn turns into steam.
The steam puffs up the popcorn, which causes it to stay tender even after it cools. There's just something about this festive treat that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a blanket and watch your favourite show.
Importance of Caramel Popcorn
Caramel popcorn is also a great treat to make for the kids and grandkids. It's a great activity because it combines all of the fun of making food and candy, with none of the dangers that come from using an open flame on other kinds of homemade candy. This simple, delicious treat is a great snack for any time, but it's especially nice for Halloween parties or when you have kids over for a movie night.
Caramel popcorn isn't just about making it quickly either! It's also about saving money because less expensive foods can be used to make more expensive foods. This is especially important when you are on a budget or don't have access to expensive ingredients such as nuts and chocolate chips.
Collecting Ingredients for Caramel Popcorn
It's also important to know that making caramel popcorn is as easy as finding the right ingredients. The first thing you'll need is the corn kernels. People usually think of this snack as something that's only made with corn, but it can be made with any variety of corn kernels. As long as they're all popped up, you can use them.
Some of the ingredients are
● Corn kernels
● Sugar
● Oil
● A candy thermometer (makes it easier to know when the caramel is cooked).
Some natural colouring or food colouring if you want your popcorn covered in a certain colour.
The corn kernels can be found at most grocery stores and even some superstores, but some specialty food stores may have them, too..
You can also make up a small bulk order with online companies. The popcorn is also available as an ingredient in commercial kits, but make sure that the brand you are using is made just for caramel popcorn and not for other types of candy.
How to Make Caramel Popcorn
Once you have your ingredients, you need to know how to make caramel. It's simple if you have the right tools. You'll need two ingredients for this recipe: sugar and water.
Ingredients for Caramel
● 4 cups of popcorn kernels
● 1 cup of white sugar
● 1/4 cup of light corn syrup
● 1 kilogram bag of dry corn kernels
Portion the kernels out into small brown paper bags for serving or use a small candy bag with enough room for a few handfuls at a time in bigger bags. Test these bags out beforehand so that you can see how long they will take to pop, as well as how thick they will be once they are popped and cooled down.
Steps in Making Caramel Popcorn
Step 1
Heat the sugar, 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of light corn syrup in a saucepan until it is boiling.
Step 2
Lower the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until the caramel has thickened. It will take several minutes to cook well. You can tell when it's done because it will have turned a light amber colour.
Step 3
Pour into your rolling bags.
Step 4
If you are using fancy brown paper bags to make your caramel popcorn in, use a long wooden spatula or spoon to press the kernels into the bag so that they cover as much surface area as possible and even out for air-popping. If the paper bags are too small for the kernels, use a rolling pin or similar heavy object to crush down the kernels until they are broken into small pieces and evenly distributed in your bag.
Step 5
Set it in a cool place to cool down. If you're using plain brown paper bags, fold them over and set them over a baking dish to catch any dripping caramel before it burns on the bottom of your oven.
Step 6
When they are cooled, fill your bags with popcorn and enjoy them.
Purpose of Full Coverage vs Lighter Coated Caramel Popcorns
Full coverage caramel popcorn is made by pouring the hot caramel mixture directly into a brown paper bag. Full coverage can be eaten right away if you wish, but it also has a longer shelf-life than lighter-coated caramel popcorn.
The disadvantage of lighter coated coverage is that you don't get as much caramel on your popcorn. If you like to eat this snack while it's warm, then this may not be an issue for you. This kind of candy should have at least one quarter inch of sugar coating on each piece of popcorn if you want it to look and taste good.
Conclusion
Caramel popcorn can be fun to make and fun to eat. It's one of those treats that people love and look forward to having as part of a holiday celebration or any time when they have friends over. It's a great activity for kids because they get to watch the candy being made, which is far more interesting than just eating it..
You can learn more about making caramel popcorn at this website. The site also has a video that illustrates the process and shows you how easy it is to make it at home. The site even mentions how quick and easy it is to change the way you make caramel popcorn by changing the kind of corn kernels or sprinkles you add in.
FAQs
What do I need to know before making caramel popcorn?
The first thing is that you need the right kind of corn kernels for caramel popcorn. These aren't necessarily the same as the kind you buy for popping on the stove, but they are similar.
Can I make caramel popcorn at home?
Yes, you can make caramel popcorn at home very easily.
How long can caramel popcorn be stored?
It can be stored for up to five days in a conducive environment.