Description
This Caramel Puffcorn recipe offers a delightful twist on traditional caramel popcorn using airy puffcorn coated in a rich, buttery caramel glaze. Perfectly crispy and sweet, this snack is easy to prepare and baked to perfection, making it ideal for parties, movie nights, or anytime sweet cravings strike.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Snack Base
- 1 (8 ounce) puffcorn
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the caramel-coated puffcorn.
- Make Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and light corn syrup. Warm over medium heat, stirring continuously to blend all ingredients smoothly.
- Simmer Caramel: Once the mixture just begins to bubble lightly, set a timer for 2 minutes and keep stirring to prevent burning and achieve a smooth caramel.
- Add Baking Soda: Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately stir in the baking soda to aerate the caramel mixture.
- Coat Puffcorn: Place the puffcorn in a large bowl or pan. Pour the hot caramel over the puffcorn and stir thoroughly to coat every piece evenly with the caramel glaze.
- Prepare for Baking: Spread the coated puffcorn onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Bake Puffcorn: Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to evenly bake the caramel puffcorn without burning.
- Cool and Serve: After baking, transfer the caramel puffcorn onto wax paper, break it into bite-sized pieces, and allow it to cool completely before serving to achieve maximum crispness.
Notes
- Stirring continuously during caramel preparation prevents burning and ensures smooth texture.
- Baking at a low temperature allows the caramel to harden slowly, creating a crispy coating.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to avoid sticking and ease cleanup.
- Allow the puffcorn to cool completely for the best crunch and to prevent it from clumping together.
- Store caramel puffcorn in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Caramel Puffcorn, caramel snack, sweet puffcorn, baked caramel corn, homemade caramel puffcorn, party snack
