Caramel Crunch

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 45 min.

Makes

about 4-1/2 quarts

Updated: Oct. 21, 2022
Our whole family has a sweet tooth, so this caramel-drizzled mix of popcorn, almonds and cereal goes quickly. My "off-limits" batches are divided into plastic bags, tied with ribbon and shared with all the snackers on my Christmas list.

Ingredients

  • 9 cups popped popcorn
  • 9 cups Crispix cereal
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

  1. In a very large heat-proof bowl, combine the popcorn, cereal and almonds; set aside. In a large heavy-duty saucepan, melt butter; stir in corn syrup and brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove from the heat. Stir in baking soda. (Mixture will foam up and get lighter in color.) Carefully pour over popcorn mixture; stir to coat evenly.
  3. Transfer to two 15x10x1-in. baking pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight containers.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 324 calories, 15g fat (7g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 312mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.