Caramel corn with peanuts

1 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2quartsFreshly popped corn (8 c.)
½cupRaw, shelled peanuts
¼cupPacked light brn. sugar
3tablespoonsUnsalted butter
¼cupLight corn syrup
¼cupLight molasses
½teaspoonSalt
¼teaspoonVanilla extract or flavor
¼teaspoonBaking soda

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 250 F. 2) Spread popcorn in lge, well-buttered roasting pan. Sprinkle peanuts on top and set pan aside. 3) In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, and salt. Stir over med. heat until the mixture boils. Continue boiling gently, without stirring, until a candy-jelly thermometer in syrup reads 250 F. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and baking soda. 4) Pour the syrup over the popcorn and peanuts and rapidly mix with a spatula to coat the pcs. evenly. 5) Bake caramel corn in preheated oven for 1 hr, stirring occasionally, then cool the candy in the pan. 6) Slip the cooled candy out of the pan with spatula and break into fairly large chunks. Store airtight up to 1 wk.

Yield: 6 to 7 cups