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Holiday Caramel Corn Mix Recipe

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4.3 from 68 reviews

  • Author: Jane
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: About 12 cups
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Holiday Caramel Corn Mix is a festive, crunchy snack made with buttery caramel-coated popcorn combined with a delightful blend of salty pretzels, roasted nuts, and colorful candy-coated chocolates. This irresistible treat is easy to prepare, ideal for holiday parties, movie nights, or as a thoughtful edible gift that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Popcorn Mix

  • 10 cups popped popcorn (plain, no butter)
  • 1 cup mini pretzels
  • 1 cup roasted peanuts or mixed nuts
  • 1/2 cup holiday-colored candy-coated chocolates

Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
  2. Combine Popcorn Mix: In a large bowl, mix the popped popcorn, mini pretzels, and roasted nuts evenly. Spread this mixture onto the prepared baking sheets in an even layer.
  3. Make the Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, light corn syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, and let it cook for 4 to 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  4. Add Baking Soda and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat and carefully stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract. This will cause the caramel to bubble up, making it lighter and fluffier.
  5. Coat the Popcorn: Pour the hot caramel sauce evenly over the popcorn mixture on the baking sheets. Gently stir to coat all ingredients evenly but be careful not to crush the popcorn.
  6. Bake the Mixture: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. This ensures the caramel coats the popcorn mix evenly and becomes crisp.
  7. Cool the Caramel Corn: Remove the caramel-coated popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheets so it hardens properly.
  8. Add Candy Coated Chocolates: Once the caramel corn is fully cooled, gently stir in the holiday-colored candy-coated chocolates. This step prevents the chocolates from melting.

Notes

  • Allow the caramel corn to cool completely before adding the candy-coated chocolates to prevent them from melting.
  • Store the caramel corn mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain freshness and crunch.
  • This snack mix makes a great gift when packaged in decorative tins or cellophane bags.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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