Sweet and Spicy Popcorn Crunch

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn Crunch

This popcorn is sweet, salty, and a little spicy. Add as much or as little cayenne as your spice-o-meter desires! This treat has been a huge hit around my house and is the perfect treat whether one has a trick or not!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of canola oil
  • 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels
  • 1 cup of salted peanuts
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/4 cup of light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or less, depending on your taste)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick baking mats; set aside.
  2. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium heat.
  3. Add 3 popcorn kernels and cover until they pop.
  4. Add remaining popcorn kernels, cover, and shake pot continuously over the burner until popcorn is completely popped (about 3 to 5 minutes).
  5. Transfer popcorn to a large bowl; add peanuts and set aside.
  6. Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup in a medium pot over medium heat.
  7. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved.
  8. Increase heat to medium-high and cook without stirring until golden brown (about 5 minutes), swirling the pot occasionally.
  9. Remove mixture from the heat and quickly stir in salt and cayenne with a heatproof spatula or spoon.
  10. Immediately pour over popcorn mixture and stir to incorporate.
  11. Divide popcorn mixture evenly between baking sheets. Transfer to the oven and bake (about 30 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  12. Let cool on sheet pans before breaking apart into clusters. Store popcorn in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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Lesley Wolman

All things fabulous! ❤️️

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