Cinnamon Apple Caramel Corn

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My secret love affair with caramel corn goes way back. I mean waaaayyyy back to when my mother use to make huge batches of sweet, caramel coated popcorn.  It was such a treat to eat and the whole house smelled like caramelly goodness.

Caramel Corn is a delicious classic treat

Lately, we have been making a lot of salty popcorn for snacks and movie nights, but my sweet tooth got the best of me this week. I had to make a big batch of popcorn and turned it into — are you ready? — Cinnamon Apple Caramel Corn.

Looks like fall got the best of me too! I love the addition of the baked apple slices and the hint of cinnamon in the caramel corn.

Here is some important advice when you make caramel corn: have a gigantic bowl to put the popcorn in because when you pour on the caramel, you need to stir it to coat the popcorn.  So in my laziness today I only got out a semi-gigantic bowl and, yes, I had popcorn all over the counter and floor.  Trust me – go big!

Do you make your own popcorn or buy it in bags?  You can go both ways here, but making your own popcorn is easy.

1. Put oil in a pan with a lid and preferably a long handle like a saucepan.
2. Let the oil heat up then add the popcorn and put a lid on the pan.
3. Move the pan back and forth over the flame so the popcorn kernels don’t burn.
4. Wait for the popping to begin.
5. When you don’t hear any more popping it’s done. Remove the lid, add some salt and enjoy!

After the corn has popped place in a large bowl or pan and add the dried apple slices.

If you haven’t made caramel corn you need to give it a try.  Don’t let making the caramel scare you away. There is nothing to it.  It literally takes 5 minutes to make.

Melt your butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and cinnamon in a saucepan.

Once the brown sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbly, add baking soda to magically cause the caramel to foam a little and change colors. The baking soda keeps the caramel from crystallizing.

That really did just take 5 minutes to make the caramel and now it is ready just pour on the popcorn. Give the popcorn a big stir to coat the kernels, in the gigantic bowl. My caramel corn is not totally coated with caramel, just because we like it that way.  If you like your caramel corn totally coated then use less popcorn.

I bake my caramel corn for 45 minutes at 250 degrees because it makes the corn crunchy and lasts longer. Just make sure to stir it occasionally.

This recipe is easy and delicious and makes a perfect treat for parties, a gift or even a treat for your family.

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5 from 5 votes

Cinnamon Apple Caramel Corn

This Cinnamon Apple Caramel Corn is sweet and crunchy with the pieces of dried apples mixed with a touch of cinnamon.,

Course Snack

Keyword caramel corn

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 1 large bowl

Author Jere @One Hot Oven

Ingredients

Popcorn

• 1 tbsp oil
• 2/3 cup popping corn
• salt to taste
• 4 oz. dried apples

Caramel

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Instructions

Pop Corn

• In a large pan with a lid, heat the oil.
• Add the popcorn to the hot oil and plate the lid on the pan.  Shake the pan gently back and forth over the heat so the popcorn kernels don't burn.
• Keep shaking the pan back and forth once the corn starts popping.  Once the corn is done popping turn off the heat, remove the lid and add salt to taste.
• Pour the popcorn in a bowl big enough that you can stir it around.

Caramel

• In a small saucepan add the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and cinnamon. Heat to a boil, stirring the mixture. This takes about 5 minutes.
• Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and add the 1/2 tsp. of baking soda.  This will cause the caramel for foam up slightly. 
• Immediately pour the caramel over the popcorn and apples.  Stir completely to distribute the caramel.

Baking the caramel corn

• Heat the oven to 250 degrees.  Pour the caramel covered popcorn onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes turning the caramel corn over every 15 minutes.
• When done pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap.

I don’t mind sharing with you. There is plenty of this sweet, caramel corn with crunchy apples mixed in for everyone.

Now everyone has their preferences and I don’t like a lot of caramel on my popcorn, but if you do just reduce the amount of popcorn

As always made with love!

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Here are the ingredients you need to make this tasty snack.