Lantern Cracker Jack Recipes

LANTERN CRACKER JACK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the popcorn, rice and peanuts evenly on the sheet pan and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sesame seeds, five-spice powder and baking soda and set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, sorghum and salt and stir to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to cook until the syrup reaches 250 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract and sesame-seed mixture. Stir quickly with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Pour the hot syrup evenly over the popcorn and nuts.
• Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to coat evenly. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature.

JACK-O'-LANTERN CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Cut 4-inch length from green end of 1 onion; slice remaining onions. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups cheddar with mixer until blended. Stir in sliced onions and peppers. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Shape into ball; roll in remaining cheddar. Cut pepperoni into shapes for the jack-o'-lantern's eyes, nose and mouth; press into cheese ball to make face. Insert green onion piece into top for stem.
• Serve with crackers.

CLONE OF A CRACKER JACK®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Spread popcorn in the bottom of a large, deep roasting pan. Sprinkle peanuts over the popcorn.
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until sugar and butter are melted and sauce is thick and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour caramel sauce over the popcorn and peanuts and stir to coat popcorn and peanuts completely, scooping any peanuts and caramel that fall to the bottom of the roasting pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until caramel and popcorn are crisped, about 45 minutes. Turn popcorn out in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to cool completely.

CRACKER JACK - COPYCAT

Steps:

• Mix popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl or roasting pan. Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
• Melt butter in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
• Quickly pour over warm popcorn while tossing until well coated. Spread in a shallow baking pan or roasting pan.
• Bake at 250°F for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Make sure every piece of popcorn has been moved around on the bottom.
• Remove from oven and turn out onto foil to let cool.
• Store in a tightly covered container.

JACK-O'-LANTERN

Steps:

• Spread crackers evenly with cheese snack.
• Cut apple peel into small pieces for the jack-o'-lanterns' eyes, noses and mouths. Arrange on crackers as desired.
• Add parsley for the pumpkin stems.

CEREAL JACK-O'-LANTERNS

Steps:

• Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. In large saucepan, melt margarine and marshmallows over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in food color until well blended. Add cereal; stir until well coated.
• Spray 1/3 cup measuring cup with nonstick cooking spray. Place rounded 1/3 cupfuls of mixture onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Shape into 3-inch rounds, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Decorate rounds with icing, licorice and candy corn to make jack-o'-lantern faces. Flatten gumdrops; shape into leaves and eyes. Attach to top of jack-o'-lanterns with icing. Place on waxed paper; let stand about 10 minutes or until firm.

JACK O LANTERN CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• 1. Let grated cheddar sit out to room temp till soft. Blend well-softened cream cheese and cheddar cheese; mix in Worcestershire sauce.
• 2. Form ball and roll in shredded cheddar cheese.
• 3. Form eyes, nose, and mouth with sliced olives.
• 4. Stick leaf from celery stalk on top for "stem." Refrigerate 10 minutes then serve with crackers.