Diabetic Popcorn Crunch Recipes

SUGAR FREE CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Let's first make the caramel.. You will need a deep pot for this!! Slowly heat up your Swerve sweetener on medium-low.. stirring so it doesn't burn. It will slowly melt and caramelize. It will also smoke a little, so dont be alarmed. Once you have a deep amber colour, time to add in the butter. When you toss in the butter, you'll notice that it will bubble up. That's normal and why we used a deep pot for it. Stir until the butter has melted. Pour in your cream., Again, the mixture will bubble up even more and then slowly go back down. All normal! Stir for an additional 2-3 minutes then take the mix off the heat. Let it cool down.. Stir occassionally to get rid any crystalization of the Swerve. Once gets near room temp, you'll notice it has gotten thicker and has the consistency of caramel sauce! Now is the time to pour the mix on top of the popcorn. Mix it thoroughly but don't worry if you still have parts that aren't caramel. Put the popcorn onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 225 for roughly 45 minutes. Mix it often, so that the caramel transfers to more of the popcorn! Take it out and let it cool and you will have nice, crunchy caramel popcorn!

LOW CARB (& SUGAR FREE!) CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Get your popcorn ready! You can either buy a bag of (salted!) buttered popcorn or pop your own. One batch of caramel is enough for 4 to 5 cups, depending on how coated you like it. Transfer to a lined baking tray and set aside.
• See video for how to whip up my keto caramel. The one difference will be that you'll be adding a touch of baking soda at the very end (for easier coating and a candy-like texture).
• Add butter to a large dutch oven over medium/low heat and simmer, stirring every so often, until fully browned (about 5 minutes). (My top tip: I like to use salted butter for a salted caramel version!) Add in the sweetener, heavy cream and salt (leave out if using salted butter), stirring until fully combined. Add in the molasses (optional), and stir briefly until just combined.
• Simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes (don't stir at all!), taste for seasoning.
• Note: if your caramel splits (too high temperature is usually the culprit!), you might still be able to save it. Remove it from the heat, allow the mixture to cool down for about 5 minutes, bring it back on the stovetop over low heat, and gently whisk in a tablespoon of water until it comes back together (should happen almost instantly).
• Mix in the baking soda into the caramel at the *very* end: it will bubble up rapidly (this is why we're using a larger dutch oven here), and immediately pour it over your prepared popcorn. Rapidly mix it for even coating with a spatula, sprinkle some flaky sea salt (optional, but highly suggested) and set aside to cool completely.

DIABETIC POPCORN CRUNCH

Steps:

• Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Remove and discard unpopped kernels from popcorn and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine sugar, molasses, water and stir to mix well.
• Cook over medium heat stirring with a wooden spoon until it comes to a full boil.
• Boil stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• With a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla. Mix well.
• Very slowly drizzle syrup over the popcorn, stirring well to coat evenly (keep fingers away from hot syrup).
• Spread popcorn evenly in the pan.
• Bake on centre oven rack 5-6 mins until popcorn begins to crisp slightly.
• Remove from oven and stir.
• Let cool.
• Syrup will harden and popcorn will crisp further as it cools.
• When cool store in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container for 2-3 days (if it lasts that long!).
• EXCHANGE: 1 carbohydrate.