Zebra Caramel Popcorn
With a name like Zebra Caramel Popcorn, you know it’s gotta be something special. Crunchy, buttery caramel popcorn is coated with double layers of chocolate for the ultimate treat.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Yield: 20 cups 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 TB vegetable oil
- 1 cup good quality unpopped corn kernels
- 1½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup (I use half light, half dark)
- 1 tsp table salt
- 1 cup salted butter
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250F, with rack on lower position.
- In a very large heavy pot, add 5 TB oil and 3 corn kernels. Heat on medium-high with lid on and start to listen. Once the first kernel pops, carefully add the 1 cup corn kernels. Shake pan to coat kernels with oil. Place lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape during popping. Shake pot occasionally during popping. Once the popping slows to 2-3 seconds in between, immediately remove from heat and transfer popped corn into a large roasting pan.
- Place roaster in oven to keep popcorn warm.
- In a heavy saucepan, add brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, and butter. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring. Boil 5 minutes, stirring/scraping constantly. Remove from heat and gently add the baking soda and vanilla. Mixture will turn foamy as you stir. Stir until mixture is thickened.
- Pour mixture over warm popcorn and stir to coat as much as you can, with popcorn in an even layer. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to coat.
- Transfer caramel corn to a lined baking sheet to cool, in a single layer. Let cool completely. While popcorn is cooling, place chocolates in separate microwave-safe bowls. Microwave 30 seconds per bowl at a time, stirring between each interval, repeating until smoothly melted. Drizzle evenly over popcorn. Let drizzled chocolate cool completely before carefully separating the popcorn into pieces (some of the hardened chocolate will break apart; this is normal.) Keeps well in airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
If you’re making double the amount, do it in separate batches. I’ve found that if the roaster is too full with popcorn, it won’t crisp up as nicely.
- Category: appetizer, snacks