Caramelized Cane Sugar Popcorn Explosion

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup real cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Prepare the Popcorn:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Add a few kernels of popcorn to the pot as testers. Once they pop, add the remaining 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels.
- Cover the pot with a lid and shake it occasionally until the popping slows to one pop every few seconds. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Set aside.

2. Make the Caramel Coating:
- In a medium-sized saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of real cane sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Continue stirring constantly so the sugar does not burn.
- Once the mixture reaches a boil, stop stirring and allow it to boil for about 4 minutes until the color darkens to a golden brown. You can test the caramel readiness by dropping a small amount into cold water — it should form a soft ball.

3. Add Baking Soda:
- Remove from heat and immediately add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the caramel, stirring quickly to combine. This will create a foamy texture.

4. Coat the Popcorn:
- Quickly pour the hot caramel over the popcorn, and use a spatula to gently fold and coat the popcorn evenly.

5. Cool and Serve:
- Spread the coated popcorn onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow it to cool completely before serving. The caramel will harden as it cools.

Total Time

PT15M
15 minutes

Type of Dish

Snack

Keywords

caramel popcorn, cane sugar, stovetop snack, quick snack, popcorn recipe, caramel snack, easy snacks, sweet treat, caramel coating, homemade popcorn

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 540 calories

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