Peanut Caramel Corn

Name: Peanut Caramel Corn
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 2 quarts.
Ingredients: 8 cups air-popped popcorn; 1/2 cup salted peanuts; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 3 tablespoons light corn syrup; 4-1/2 teaspoons molasses; 1 tablespoon butter; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

A sweet, crunchy, lighter alternative to traditional caramel corn, this can't-stop-eatin'-it treat won't stick to fingers or teeth! Wonderful for gifts, too. —Lois Ward, Puslinch, Ontario

Ingredients

8 cups air-popped popcorn
1/2 cup salted peanuts
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
4-1/2 teaspoons molasses
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Place popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; set aside.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup,
molasses, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 2-3 minutes without stirring.
Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture will foam). Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well.
Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from pan and place on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 181 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 155mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Caramel Corn in Healthy Cooking December/January 2012

Reviews

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Average Rating:

cherstad

Oct 6, 2013

Delicious and easy! I made this for my son's birthday party, and adults and children alike raved about it. I followed the recipe as-is, with the one exception of using honey roasted peanuts instead of salted peanuts. Turned out wonderfully, and you'd never know this was a lighter recipe.