This treat is perfect for you if you're a fan of salty and sweet snacks. Chocolate-covered kettle corn bars are a fun and unique twist on the classic combination of popcorn and chocolate.
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When you go to fairs or festivals, do you ever buy a bag of kettle corn? I mean the really big bag. For some reason, I think for $2.00 more, that really big bag is worth it. But I have realized you can keep eating and eating that kettle corn, and the bag is still full. Am I right? I have the solution for all that leftover popcorn, make these no-bake Chocolate Covered Kettle Corn Bars.
Now if you find yourself with extra kettle corn, these bars are super simple to make and are similar to Rice Krispie treats, a little chewy and gooey, but better.
But wait, it's in the middle of the week, and no one is making kettle corn; what to do? Just run to the store and grab a bag, or even homemade kettle corn works great in this recipe.
We love popcorn at my house and think everyone else does too; that is why we make Christmas Crunch Popcorn and give it as holiday gifts.
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Kettle Corn Bar Ingredients
- Popped kettle corn
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Chopped pecans
- Brown sugar
- White sugar
- Corn syrup
- Condensed milk
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt
How To Make Chocolate Covered Kettle Corn
Add the kettle corn, chocolate chips, and pecans in a large bowl. Stir the mixture to combine.
Make the caramel
Cook the caramel glaze by combining the sugars, corn syrup, condensed milk, and butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir constantly and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and boil gently for 6 to 8 minutes until the caramel becomes a nice golden brown color and bubbly all over. Then add the vanilla and give a quick stir.
Pour the caramel over the kettle corn mixture and stir to coat. I spray my spoon with cooking spray to keep it from sticking to the caramel. Make sure you use a super big bowl for mixing; otherwise, you will be picking up popcorn from your floor.
Pour the mixture into a 13" x 9" dish that is coated with butter and pack it down with the back of your spoon really well so when you cut the bars, the kettle corn sticks together. Now, let this pan of yumminess cool.
It's that time to add the finishing touches to these bars and make them over-the-top delicious.
This final step involves melting chocolate chips in the microwave and then spreading the chocolate over the cooled kettle corn.
After you spread the chocolate on top of the kettle corn, add a sprinkling of Maldon sea salt. This is optional, but the salt adds just a bit of wonderful texture on top of the creamy chocolate and then that perfect salty taste that adds to the flavor of the chocolate, caramel and kettle corn.
You can learn about Maldon Sea Salt here. If you like, you can purchase a box of Maldon Sea Salt here. This salt adds a distinctive flavor to your baked goods, savory dishes, and cocktails.
These kettle corn snack bars are sweet, salty, and deliciously crunchy. Once that creamy chocolate sets on top of the popcorn bars, cut into squares and enjoy.
More bar favorites
- These rich and nutty Butter Pecan Blondies have that classic butter pecan taste.
- For a fruity bar, try these Easy Raspberry Peach Crumb Bars; they are a big hit in the summer during peach season.
- We go both ways with this Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal. I like these squares for breakfast, and the kids eat them for a snack. Either way, they are hearty and packed full of good things.
- Lucky Charms Bars are made with the classic cereal and are full of all those colorful marshmallows we all love.
And if you are looking for another chocolate-covered treat, try these 5-ingredient Oreo Ice Cream Bites.
FAQs
The classic version of kettle corn is made in large kettles. The corn is popped in the kettle, and then oil, sugar, and salt are added to coat the popped corn. This gives the kettle corn a sweet and salty taste.
Variations
This recipe is very flexible; there are so many options to add to these bars.
- If you are not a fan of pecans, leave them out or add chopped almonds or hazelnuts.
- Change out the semi
- Toffee bits
- White chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Peanut butter
- Chopped peanuts
- Chopped pretzels
- Coconut
- You can even add spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
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Recipe
No-Bake Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Bars
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Equipment
- 1 13 x 9 sheet pan
Ingredients
- 8 cups kettle corn
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- 1¼ cups chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ⅔ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Maldon Sea Salt optional
Instructions
- Butter or spray cooking spray in the bottom of a 13" x 9" pan
- In a large bowl mix the kettle corn, pecans and mini chocolate chips
- In a medium-sized saucepan mix the butter, sugars and sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and boil gently for 6 to 8 minutes until the caramel becomes a nice golden brown color and bubbly all over. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the kettle corn mixture with a wooden spoon that is sprayed with cooking spray.
- Once the mixture is combined pour into the 13" x 9" pan. Spread the mixture out in the pan and pack down with the wooden spoon until it is compact. Let cool.
- Place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring each time until melted.
- Immediately pour the chocolate on top of the kettle corn mixture in the pan, and sprinkle with the Maldon Sea Salt (optional)
- After the chocolate has set up cut the bars into squares.
- Store at room temperature in a covered container for three days
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog. Please leave a comment to say Hello, or just let me know what you are baking these days; I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or want to chat about the recipe? My contact information is on my About page, and I’ll be happy to help.
About Jere'
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Rob
Such a creative and delicious use of all that leftover kettle corn! I especially love how easy this is to make and that it is no-bake.