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Ultimate Cracker Jack Caramel Popcorn Snack Mix Easy Game Day Recipe

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A sweet, crunchy, and addictive caramel popcorn snack mix with roasted nuts and pretzels, perfect for game day and easy to make in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch more for finishing
  • 1 cup (140g) roasted peanuts, unsalted or lightly salted
  • 1 cup (about 50g) pretzels, broken into bite-sized pieces

Instructions

  1. Pop about 1/2 cup (90g) of kernels to yield roughly 12 cups (about 300g) of popcorn. Place in a large mixing bowl, removing any unpopped kernels (about 5 minutes).
  2. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  3. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter. Stir in 1 cup (200g) brown sugar, 1/4 cup (60ml) light corn syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a gentle boil while stirring constantly. Let boil without stirring for exactly 4 minutes to reach about 235°F (113°C).
  4. Remove from heat and quickly stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. The mixture will foam up.
  5. Immediately pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn in the large bowl. Add 1 cup (140g) roasted peanuts and 1 cup (50g) broken pretzels. Gently fold the caramel into the popcorn mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly coated (about 2-3 minutes).
  6. Transfer the coated popcorn mix to the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out evenly. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent clumping.
  7. Remove from oven and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt flakes on top while still warm. Let cool completely on the baking sheet (about 30 minutes). Once cooled, break apart any large clumps and transfer to an airtight container.

Notes

Use a candy thermometer to monitor caramel temperature for best results. Stir sparingly during boiling to avoid grainy caramel. Baking step is essential to dry out caramel and achieve perfect crunch. Work quickly when mixing caramel with popcorn as it hardens fast. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzels or omit pretzels and add extra nuts. Variations include adding cayenne pepper for heat or drizzling chocolate after baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel popcorn, snack mix, game day recipe, Cracker Jack, caramel popcorn snack, sweet and salty snack, roasted peanuts, pretzels, easy snack

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/ultimate-cracker-jack-caramel-popcorn-snack-mix-easy-game-day-recipe/