Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts and Chocolate
- 1 cup unpopped kernels or 24 cups popped corn
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- 2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups salted peanuts
- 8 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, melted and tempered (see Notes)
- 8 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (60 to 72%), melted and tempered (see Notes)
- If you are starting with kernels, pop them using any method you prefer and let them cool.
- (We like a hot-air popper.)
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Place the popcorn in a large roasting pan.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, start to melt the butter.
- Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and molasses, and stir gently with a heatproof spatula.
- Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring only occasionally, until the mixture starts to boil.
- Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and bring the syrup to the soft-ball stage, approximately 240 degrees F. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the salt, the baking soda, and vanilla.
- Pour the caramel over the popcorn in large streams, then sprinkle with the peanuts.
- Use your spatula to fold the popcorn until it is completely coated with caramel.
- Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Use a spatula to lift, flip, and coat the popcorn in the warm caramel, then continue baking for another 20 minutes.
- Cool the caramel popcorn in the pan for 5 minutes and transfer it to the lined sheet pan.
- Cool for approximately 15 minutes and drizzle the milk chocolate and dark chocolate in crisscross patterns over the top.
- Let the chocolate set before breaking the popcorn into serving-size pieces.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
kernels, unsalted butter, brown sugar, light corn syrup, unsulfured molasses, salt, baking soda, vanilla, peanuts, milk chocolate, chocolate
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/caramel-popcorn-with-peanuts-and-chocolate (may not work)