I have always had a complicated relationship with popcorn. I’ve never really loved it–not the plain, salted, buttered version anyways. It doesn’t do much for me snack-wise and I feel like I have to eat an entire housefull just to fill me up. I tend to like something a bit heartier. So I searched around and cobbled together this recipe that has everything you might want in a substantive popcorn: sweetness from a caramel coating and craisins, a kick provided by a dash of cayenne pepper, just the right amount of saltiness and a smooth, buttery crunch from cashew nuts.
Caramel Bacon Popcorn
Description
This recipe has everything you might want in a substantive popcorn: sweetness from a caramel coating and craisins, a kick provided by a dash of cayenne pepper, just the right amount of saltiness and a smooth, buttery crunch from cashew nuts.
Ingredients
1 package microwave popcorn – natural/unflavored variety (I used Newman’s Brand)
6 ounces bacon, chopped
1/2 cup unsalted raw cashews
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt or coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (less if spicy stuff freaks you out a bit)
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Heat popcorn in microwave according to package instructions. After it is finished popping, open the bag (carefully) and pour the popped corn into a large mixing bowl.
Cook chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until almost crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain and cool.
Add bacon and cashews to the bowl with popcorn. Sprinkle in the coarse salt and cayenne.
Mix it up!
Coat a cookie sheet with nonstick spray (you can also use tin foil to protect your cookie sheet from sticky caramel sauce.
Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase the heat to high and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally stirring, about 10-13 minutes.
Once it has turned brown, turn the heat WAY down and add in the heavy cream. Keep stirring until it starts to thicken. Then turn the heat off and continue stirring until it is smooth like caramel (it IS caramel!).
Immediately drizzle caramel over popcorn mixture and toss with spoons until evenly coated. Transfer to the prepared cookie sheet.
Place this whole concoction in the oven and bake until caramel is shiny and coats popcorn, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on sheet on rack, tossing occasionally to break up large clumps.
This can be made 2 days ahead and stored in a giant Ziploc bag in the fridge.
Notes
TIP: It’s likely that you now have a medium saucepan covered in leftover caramel. And it’s also likely that the caramel is not just coating the pan, but STUCK LIKE GLUE on there. Yup. I know how it is. To get it off, add some water to your saucepan (enough to cover all the caramel bits) and heat it up on the stove. The water will loosen up the stuck caramel, and you will be able to pour it all out. AND have a clean pan. Nice, right?
Not into making your own popcorn? Then get your own! My current favorite store-bought variety is from Popcorn, Indiana
