the instigator

So, here's what made me kick sugar for a while. I got the idea in my head to make homemade caramel corn and had to make it right away. Right away. Like during bathtime right before bed, which was already running very late. I actually said to Pete, "I'm going to just research caramel corn recipes, I won't make it tonight or anything," me=liar. I didn't mean to lie. When he came out of the bathroom, I had a huge bowl of popcorn already popped. There's nothing like hot sugar syrup + kids + chaos + a first time recipe, all after 8:30pm. (More like 9:00pm)  Awesome. My husband is the most patient man ever. The recipe is insane. You actually make all of it in the microwave. (!?) Then it involves stuffing a big brown paper grocery bag full of popcorn into your microwave. Like you have to cram the thing in. It doesn't fit easily, you totally have to shove it in, making it ridiculous to watch.

I found this same recipe in about 20 places after I searched around. I followed it exactly and yes, the sugar coating sticks to the inside of the bag, but there is still plenty left to coat it and it's so sweet anyway, it really is okay if a bunch sticks. Here's the recipe:

1 stick butter
1 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. white corn syrup
1/2 tsp. fancy salt if you have it

add later:
1/2 tsp baking soda
slivered almonds or nuts of your choice (optional)

Put about 3 quarts (I used 3 bags of non-creepy microwave popcorn) in brown bag and set aside. Mix first 4 ingredients and put in microwave. Boil on high for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and nuts. Pour caramel over popcorn and shake. Put in microwave, cook on high, 1 minute. Shake, cook on high for 1 minute again. Shake, spread out on wax paper to cool. You can store this in jars or some other airtight container. This makes a whole lot, like 2 cookie sheet full. Also, in my research, I discovered that you can bag your own popcorn for the microwave, which is wonderful because then you know what's really in it. Or, you could just make it the old fashioned way, or air pop it. Did I mention that this is so very good? I got very very sick eating too much of it for breakfast. Lesson learned.

When I told friends about this in an over excited way they either said, "Oh yeah—sounds good sort of?," or "I thought you got rid of your microwave?" Tough crowd. I did, while pregnant with Liddy, go through a patch of intense paranoia which involved a lot of things (like plastic) and the microwave was taken away and put in the garage and replaced with a toaster oven—which I love to bits. The microwave came out again this Christmas. I still have issues, but it sure is handy.

Comments

[alicia]

oh yum! i've never even thought to make it myself. duh. i have no microwave right now, but i will have to find another way.

[Fer]

Yum-o! Over here (Australia) you can buy it ready made like you would a bag of chips, they're called Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs - cool eh? Can't say it when you've got a mouth full though!

[wendi]

Oh. My. Gawd! That was the best caramel corn I've ever had! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. I went directly from your blog to my kitchen and made a huge batch...can't stop eating it!! Thank you thank you!

[jenny v.]

hehe, you sound as impulsive with your treats as i am. i don't have just one sweet tooth, all my teeth are sweet... tragic! when the desire hits, i have to have. :)

[wendy]

popcorns are my husband n daughter's fave when watching movie. sure looks easy enough to make for them as treats tomorrow... once i get those paper bags. thanks

[lewlew]

ok, you're insane. like, super fun mom kind of crazy, but still crazy.
maybe i'll try this recipe, but not at bath/bed time!!! :)

[Jessica]

That is my ALL TIME favorite childhood snack. My mom and I used t make that at least once a month, seriously. We went though a LOT of corn syrup. I wonder how I have any teeth left?

[Kate]

You should absolutely invest in one of these guys:

http://www.popcornpopper.com/24000.html

My mom was the first to experiment with them and now we all have one in our homes. It makes the best popcorn ever and it keeps all those weird popcorn nightmares away for good.

[Marie]

That looks so interesting. I will have to try it. Have you every heard of Sister Mabel's Caramel corn? If you google, it will come up. I have been using that recipe for years. It always turns out, but it is a little bit of work.

[macati]

I wish I was there! :D
thank you for the laugh!

[Ericka B Traven]

We made popcorn for snack yesterday and ate it in the tent. Just plain butter and salt popcorn, but it was good.

[Nicole]

Hi, I read your blog very regularly. I say that so this doesn't too sound disrespectful. You sounded like you were high when writing this post. Or maybe I added the sugar induced bouncyness. To me it sounded like you were bouncing, jiggling and maybe even giggling. I get like that when I introduce a friend to knitting or crocheting :) Thanks for the wonderful blog.

[AJ]

Sounds very yummy!

[forcryeye]

YUM!! My Grammy used to make this! I gave up sweets for lent, maybe this will have to be one of my first snacks after!!!

[Mellissa - wondermommy]

Yummy, thanks for the recipe!

[JoAnna]

I went through that plastic/microwave thing too, but I think it was from reading your blog! Now I am rocking with your corn syrup infused recipes! I love the extremes Amy! Oh, and have you ever heard of shaking powdered sugar on popcorn?

[Heather]

I am adding you to my bloglist so I remember to come back and link to you when I try this popcorn thing. I am tentative after a major flop trying a different method of caramel corn once. This sounds like something I could really screw up too!

[onlygoodthings]

Too funny. The way you write is hysterical. I'm so trying the receipe but maybe before nine PM.

[Sara]

Really fast. Just wanted to say that I got rid of our microwave too- last May and replaced it with a toaster oven and I miss it very much. So much that it'll be back, but not until it's been a full year so that I'll feel like I have some sort of stick-to-it-tiveness. Here's to one day not having to dirty pots left and right!

[Shannon]

I see why you had to try this recipe immediately. I can't wait to get home and fire up the microwave! Thanks for sharing.

[Shannon]

I can see why you had to try this recipe immediately. I can't wait to go home and fire up the microwave! Thanks for sharing.

[cloth.paper.string]

good lord, amy.
i'm going to have to get a microwave.... or figure out a way to make this at work!

[Desiree]

Wow, that looks sooooo good. I love caramel popcorn!

[Stephanie]

ok- I am an idiot. On the first try, I poured the caramel mixture over the UNPOPPED kernels and micowaved it until it burnt. I thought when you wrote 3 quarts of popcorn that you really meant to say 3 cups- as in unpopped kernels. Duh. Second time worked like a charm. I didn't even put it in the microwave after pouring over the popped corn- I just stirred it up and added a little salt.

[jiru]

Oy. That sounded so good I just made it. Yum. I used Lyle's Golden Syrup because that's all I had and because I thought it might be slightly less creepy than corn syrup. So good. I really don't want to find out what happens if I continue to eat the entire pan.

[Ariella]

After I read your post, I HAD to make it! I have been experimenting with popping corn on the stove top and was unhappy with the results. I love this quick and easy recipe!Thanks so much!

[Weaver]

I've been making that caramel corn for years (and my mom for years before that). It's the only caramel corn I like :) As far as having a microwave... I only have one for making caramel corn and for warming up rice bags. I don't even soften butter in there. People think I am so weird for not using it more. I actually have a big one because it still works and I just can't see buying a new tiny one when I only use it for caramel corn and rice bags :)