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View Full Version : Kettle Corn and Caramel Corn - Comfort Food


Emily
02-21-2009, 02:02 PM
Kettle Corn

If you use white sugar, it will taste like popcorn balls and if you use brown sugar, it will taste like caramel corn

INGREDIENTS



1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil and three kernels in the pot, when all three kernels pop I add the sugar and ¼ tsp salt and stir it around well, then I add the rest of the popcorn kernels and put the lid on. Then I alternate shaking the pot for three seconds with letting it sit on the burner for three seconds until I hear the popping begin to slow down, then I take off the lid and sprinkle some salt in, replace the lid, give it another shake and pour it out into a bowl. Haven't had a batch burn yet with the "3-second shake and sit" technique.

Variation:
This is a great recipe! I used half oil and half butter and added just two popcorn kernels. Once they popped I poured in the popcorn, sugar and a little salt. Just keep shaking it.

Another Variation

Kettle Corn

Ingredients:


1 tbsp peanut oil
quality popcorn (I use Orville Redenbacher's because its popping time seems to have the smallest standard deviation)
salt
1/6 cup sugar
hot mits, safety goggles

Directions:


Use a decent size pot (with a lid) and turn on the heat to high.
Put on your hot mits so you don't burn your hands. You might also want safety goggles so you don't get a super hot popcorn kernel in your eye.
Pour in peanut oil. - Don't use too much oil. Too much oil will sog the popped popcorn and you'll probably get sick to your stomach when you eat it.
Dump in enough popcorn to make a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Roll the popcorn around so it gets covered with the peanut oil.
Add a little bit of salt, to taste
Cover the pot.
When you hear the popcorn start to pop, quickly pour in the sugar. Cover and shake back and forth to coat the popcoorn
Continue to pop, shaking the pot continuously like Jiffy Pop. Watch out for hot steam escaping from the lid. You won't be able to pop every single kernel without scorching the popcorn. Remove the pot from heat when the popping slows and you don't hear many kernels shaking around in the pot. Be sure to get the popped popcorn out of the pot as quickly as possible to prevent scorching from the residual heat in the pot. And watch out for the unpopped kernels; they're wicked hot.


Caramel Corn
INGREDIENTS



1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 quarts popped popcorn

DIRECTIONS



Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.


A slight variation:
Yes you too can make caramel popcorn at home. It's not hard but it works better if you have a BIG bowl.
1 1/2 cups unpopped corn1 cup margerine or butter 2 cups brown sugar 1/2 cup corn syrup 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla Method: 1. Pop the corn 2. Melt the margerine, sugar and syrup in a small pot. Boil this for about five minutes without stirring (I don't know why you shouldn't stir -- I often do). Don't cook this on maximum heat or you're going to be sorry. CAUTION: Hot syrup is dangerously hot and sticky. 3. Take the syrup/sugar mixture off the heat and add the vanilla and soda. This is a fascinating process. The alcohol in the vanilla boils off rapidly (though not in my experience explosively) and the soda reacts quickly with the brew to make a caramel coloured froth about the consistancy of sticky shaving foam.4. Mix this sauce into the popped corn. You need lots of stirring here and AFTER IT COOLS A BIT you should use your hands. 5. Bake this in the oven on low heat (120 C) stirring every 15 minutes for 30-60 minutes. It will be crispier if you bake it longer.

Liberty
02-22-2009, 06:12 PM
Ai-yi-yi, what a disaster this was for me today. DH and I went to the movies for the first time in years and got some popcorn. They had some shaker containers of flavors and we tried the kettle corn flavoring which was delicious! So when we got home I tried the recipe. What a scorched mess! Stunk the whole house up and set off the smoke detector, got a call from the security company and had front and back sliders open to air out the smoke even though it's snowing!

Obviously it was on too high of heat. I did shake every three seconds, but the sugar instantly turned black and scorched. When you said to put on high heat, I did. Wrong move.

Maybe I better stick with the microwave, and shakable flavorings.

It was a good thought though! Thanks!

Turnpike Jim
08-10-2009, 04:13 PM
Illinois just sent out a memo saying that among other things, Caramel Corn would now be taxed at the highest rate.

I just took out the first batch of the above recipe 20 minutes or so ago.

Best Caramel Corn ever!

Thanks.

Jim

Emily
08-10-2009, 04:28 PM
Illinois just sent out a memo saying that among other things, Caramel Corn would now be taxed at the highest rate.

I just took out the first batch of the above recipe 20 minutes or so ago.

Best Caramel Corn ever!

Thanks.

Jim

It is delicious isn't it?

I love the kettle corn too - so easy to make - takes just a few minutes and it is 100 times better than the store bought stuff.

goatlady
08-10-2009, 05:13 PM
My kids have always call that Kettle corn "German popcorn" cause that's how they make it in Germany, at least when we lived there. Love it that stle - don't get so thirsty as with plain salted stuff.

rafter
08-10-2009, 05:35 PM
Years ago DH and I did kettle korn at festivals. We had an old cast iron kettle and DH stirred it with a boat paddle. The kettle was heated with a propane burner.

Yep for sure wear goggles. DH did and I was bagging and I still got hit by hot corn once in a while.

It was a good gig till the microwave kettle corn came out.

Deemy
08-10-2009, 06:13 PM
I've been making caramel corn for years and hate the microwave kettle corn. Will have to try this. Sorry, you had such a bad experience Liberty. Try again.

mrsbreeze4007
08-11-2009, 04:02 PM
SNOWING???:-o In AUGUST? Where are you, Liberty? It's 90+ here...

A Simple Pine Box
02-20-2010, 04:35 PM
Emily,

I just tried this recipe for the caramel corn and it is absolutely fantastic! I added a 9 oz. can of mixed nuts. It meets that sweet & salty with the popcorn crunch. Next time I make it will be Kettle Corn. So much better than store bought.

Karen

momof23goats
02-20-2010, 08:33 PM
Ai-yi-yi, what a disaster this was for me today. DH and I went to the movies for the first time in years and got some popcorn. They had some shaker containers of flavors and we tried the kettle corn flavoring which was delicious! So when we got home I tried the recipe. What a scorched mess! Stunk the whole house up and set off the smoke detector, got a call from the security company and had front and back sliders open to air out the smoke even though it's snowing!

Obviously it was on too high of heat. I did shake every three seconds, but the sugar instantly turned black and scorched. When you said to put on high heat, I did. Wrong move.

Maybe I better stick with the microwave, and shakable flavorings.

It was a good thought though! Thanks!
:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen: this is the funniest post I have read in a while.

i have a very simular recipe that I make for carmel corn. I got it from the amish.
it is wondrful really great .my family gobbles it right up, and fast.

Belle
02-20-2010, 08:36 PM
I just finished making the Kettle Corn and it's delicious! I let it scorch a little in the bottom of the pan because I forgot to have a bowl standing by and the pan got too full. While I was gone to get a bowl, the bottom scorched a little, but it didn't ruin it.

Thank you, Emily. It's a keeper!

Belle
02-20-2010, 08:46 PM
Uh, oh, problem with the Kettle Corn... It brought out all the vultures! My kids were in bed until they smelled it. Even hubby came searching for whatever was smelling so good. The bowl is nearly empty!

Emily
02-21-2010, 09:13 AM
Ai-yi-yi, what a disaster this was for me today. DH and I went to the movies for the first time in years and got some popcorn. They had some shaker containers of flavors and we tried the kettle corn flavoring which was delicious! So when we got home I tried the recipe. What a scorched mess! Stunk the whole house up and set off the smoke detector, got a call from the security company and had front and back sliders open to air out the smoke even though it's snowing!

Obviously it was on too high of heat. I did shake every three seconds, but the sugar instantly turned black and scorched. When you said to put on high heat, I did. Wrong move.

Maybe I better stick with the microwave, and shakable flavorings.

It was a good thought though! Thanks!

First - To everyone but Liberty here - Thank you for the updates everyone - so glad to hear you all are enjoying it.

I make this recipe now once a week and have resolved some problems I ran into that other folks may run into as well.

So Liberty - this answer is for you now that I have some:

1. You must have FRESH popcorn or it will not pop before the sugar burns.

2. Because the freshness of the popcorn is so important, if your popcorn is not real fresh, you may need to lift the pan above the heat source midway through the popping to continue popping but not too much heat on the sugar.

3. You must have the right pan. One that is not to heavy but not to thin either. A good quality, even heating pan that will transfer the heat enough to pop the corn but not allow it to get so high that the sugar burns first. So this may be trial and error as to which pan is your 'Kettle Corn' pan.

4. When the popping slows down - take it off the heat source. The kernels will continue popping but the sugar will not burn.

5. When you distribute the popcorn in the hot oil - pour the sugar/salt mixture evenly on top. You have time - it won't start popping for at least 30-45 seconds but it is important you make the layer of popcorn and the sugar/salt on top even or you may have clumps of burned sugar that will throw the whole thing off. And remember to use METAL utensils if you are going to redistribute. Anything else will instantly melt in the hot oil. (LOL had a good laugh over that mistake the first time DUH)

Hope that helps for anyone else who has had problems. Clearly, I have had my share too but it is worth the time and effort to perfect this amazing, inexpensive and quick and delicious treat. It can be done.

AnnieOakley
02-21-2010, 10:56 AM
Just got home from church and decided to hop on here while eating a handful of Kettlecorn....thanks Emily. I'm sure your recipe is healthier than what I'm presently consuming.

bbbuddy
02-21-2010, 02:12 PM
I make kettle corn all the time in my stainless steel Whirley Pop, never any scorching!

Belle
02-21-2010, 02:51 PM
I don't like the recipe that came with the Whirley Pop. It isn't sweet enough. I like Emily's recipe a lot better.

ovendoctor
02-21-2010, 07:03 PM
great stuff Emily

just made a batch of kettle corn and its all gone

Doc.