Halloween Caramel Corn Recipes

TRICK-OR-TREAT CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees F.
• Combine popcorn and pretzels in large roasting pan; set aside.
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 18-20 minutes or until mixture comes to a full boil. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, 3-5 minutes or until small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a soft ball or candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees F. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
• Pour mixture over popcorn and pretzels; sprinkle with peanuts. Stir until all popcorn is coated.
• Bake 20 minutes; stir. Continue baking 20 minutes. Stir in chocolate pieces and candy corn. Continue baking 5 minutes. Immediately spread onto waxed paper to cool. Store in tightly covered container.

CARAMEL POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to a 4 quart saucepan, and heat over high heat. When oil is hot, add 1/2 cup of popping corn. Keep pan moving constantly. When corn stops popping, remove from heat. Place popped corn in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan with a candy thermometer inserted, combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Stir well and bring to boiling over medium heat. Stir in condensed milk; simmer, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads 238 degrees F (114 degrees C). Stir in vanilla.
• Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat. Butter hands lightly; shape popcorn into balls about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

HALLOWEEN CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Cook brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt for 5 minutes.
• Add vanilla and soda.
• Coat corn with mixture.
• Bake at 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Watch carefully to avoid burning.

WORMY CARAMEL CORN FOR HALLOWEEN

Steps:

• Spray non-stick spray (such as Pam) over lower half of the inside of an ordinary brown paper grocery bag (helps keep popcorn from sticking to bag).
• Pop corn in microwave bags. Pour into prepared grocery bag, being careful to discard any unpopped kernels. Pour chow mein noodles and peanuts on top of popped corn - don't stir - they're fine to sit on top of the popcorn.
• In a large glass mixing bowl, combine butter, Karo and brown sugar. Microwave on high 3 MINUTES. Stir; then microwave an additional 2 MINUTES, stirring each minute.
• NOTE: You can also make the syrup on the stovetop - combine ingredients, bring to boil over medium heat. Cook 4-5 minutes, stirring each minute to scrape down sides and keep bubbles under control. Old fashioned candy-makers use the cold water test to determine if the syrup is done (spoon a thin line of the cooked mixture into cold water - the candy thread should harden. In candy-making terminology, this is called the Hard Ball stage).
• Once your candy mixture is done, remove from heat; then sprinkle baking soda on top while stirring to combine (careful - it will foam up!)
• Quickly pour this VERY HOT mixture into the grocery bag, on top of the popped corn, peanuts and chow mein noodles. Fold over top of bag and give things a good shake to combine.
• Put folded bag into microwave - heat 1 MINUTE - shake bag. Microwave another 30 SECONDS - shake bag. Microwave another 30 SECONDS - add candy corn - shake bag to combine and then pour mixture onto trays to cool. Store in air-tight container.