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Holiday Caramel Corn Mix Recipe

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4.1 from 88 reviews

  • Author: Chef
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: About 12 cups
  • Diet: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Description

Holiday Caramel Corn Mix is a sweet, crunchy, and festive snack featuring buttery caramel-coated popcorn blended with crunchy pretzels and colorful holiday candies. This delightful treat is perfect for Christmas parties, cozy movie nights, or creating edible gifts that wow your friends and family.

Ingredients

Main Mix

  • 10 cups popped popcorn (air-popped or lightly salted)
  • 2 cups mini pretzel twists
  • 1 cup red and green M&M’s
  • ½ cup roasted peanuts or cashews (optional)

Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
  2. Combine dry ingredients: In a very large bowl, mix together the popped popcorn, mini pretzel twists, and roasted nuts if you are using them. This forms the base mix for your caramel coating.
  3. Make caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in brown sugar, light corn syrup, and salt. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture comes to a gentle boil, then let it boil for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
  4. Add finishing touches to caramel: Remove the saucepan from heat. Carefully stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract—the mixture will foam up, giving it a lighter texture ideal for coating.
  5. Coat the popcorn mix: Pour the hot caramel sauce over the popcorn and pretzel mixture. Gently stir with a spatula to coat every piece evenly without breaking the popcorn.
  6. Bake the mixture: Evenly spread the coated popcorn mix onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure uniform baking and prevent clumping.
  7. Cool the caramel corn: Remove the trays from the oven and let the mixture cool completely on the baking sheets. This allows the caramel to harden and the clusters to form.
  8. Add holiday candies: Once cooled, stir in the red and green M&M’s gently so they don’t melt or break apart.
  9. Serve and store: Break the cooled caramel corn into clusters of desired size. Serve immediately or package as gifts. To store, place in airtight containers for up to one week to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • Do not add chocolate candies before baking, as the heat will cause them to melt and lose their shape.
  • Microwave shortcut: Instead of making homemade caramel sauce, melt caramel candies with cream for a quicker alternative.
  • Store the caramel corn in airtight containers for up to 1 week to keep it fresh and crunchy.
  • For gifting, package the caramel corn in holiday tins or festive treat bags for a colorful presentation.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Snack, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://kitchenmartha.com/holiday-caramel-corn-mix-recipe/