Candied Popcorn with Pretzels + Nuts
I LOVE POPCORN.
Like, seriously love popcorn.
I bought a Whirley Pop a few months ago and use it so often I typically leave it on the stove in between uses rather than putting it away in the cabinet. Popcorn is so yummy and is such a satisfying treat. It’s also a pretty healthy snack when you air pop it at home. I’d take my homemade popcorn over movie theater popcorn any day.
My favorite salty and sweet snack combination is popcorn and candy corn. It’s life changing. Trust me. (You might be wondering, “How does she have candy corn in June!?” Well. Once Halloween was over I bought a 4.5 pound bag from Sam’s Club to tide me over for the rest of the year until next Halloween! Best decision ever.)
Back to the candied popcorn! This mixture is delicious and would make a great homemade gift for friends or would be perfect to set out at a party. Or, it makes a really yummy snack that you can keep all to yourself!
You start with 10 cups of freshly popped popcorn. I made mine in my Whirley Pop. If you don’t have a Whirley Pop, you can still air pop popcorn in a heavy stock pan. If you want step by step instructions let me know and I can post them for you! I don’t think microwaved popcorn would be as good for this but if you give that a try, let me know how it works.
In a large brown bag you combine the popcorn, pretzels and nuts.
I used Snyder’s gluten-free mini pretzels. You can use your favorite shape of pretzel, but I think the standard twists are best for this.
Then you create the caramel sauce on the stove with butter, brown sugar, a little corn syrup and baking soda.
Pour the sauce over the popcorn-pretzel-nut mixture in the brown bag and shake the bag really well to coat all of the pieces evenly. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for an hour!
Then voila, delicious, homemade candied popcorn.
Hugs, kisses + yummy dishes… xoxo
Lauren
Candied Popcorn with Pretzels + Nuts
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- YIELDS about 13 cups
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- In a paper bag (or a large mixing bowl) combine the popcorn, pretzels and nuts.
- In a small sauce pan, melt the stick of butter.
- Add in the brown sugar and corn syrup. Stir until combined and bring to a boil. Let the mixture boil for about a minute.
- Turn off the heat. Add the baking soda and stir the mixture until it starts to foam and expand.
- Pour the mixture over the popcorn, pretzel and nut combination in the paper bag or bowl, and mix to combine so that every piece is coated with the sugar mixture. (Either shake the brown bag or get your hands dirty to mix everything in the bowl!)
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and spray with cooking spray.
- Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake for an hour. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container.
[…] of my all-time favorite snacks is popcorn + candy corn mixed together. It’s the BEST.) My Candied Caramel Popcorn is also pretty […]