Description
Delight in this irresistible Praline Popcorn, a perfect sweet and crunchy treat featuring caramel-coated popcorn and pecan halves baked to perfection. Ideal for holiday snacking or gifting, this American classic blends buttery caramel with nutty pecans for an unforgettable snack experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn Mix
- 10 cups plain popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
- 1 cup pecan halves
Caramel Coating
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Combine Popcorn and Pecans: In a large mixing bowl, gently mix the 10 cups of popped popcorn with 1 cup of pecan halves, ensuring an even distribution of nuts throughout.
- Make Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter. Stir in 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup of light corn syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes to fully dissolve and caramelize the sugar.
- Add Baking Soda and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat and carefully stir in 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; the mixture will foam slightly, which is normal and helps create a lighter caramel coating.
- Coat Popcorn Mixture: Immediately pour the hot caramel sauce over the popcorn and pecans. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece is evenly coated with caramel.
- Spread and Bake: Spread the coated popcorn and pecan mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to promote even baking and coating distribution.
- Cool and Store: Once baked, remove the praline popcorn from the oven and allow it to cool completely on the baking sheet. Break it into clusters and store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.
Notes
- For extra crunch and deeper flavor, toast the pecans lightly before adding them to the popcorn mix.
- This praline popcorn makes a wonderful homemade gift when packaged in festive treat bags or decorative tins.
