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Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 125 reviews

This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn recipe combines freshly popped popcorn with a rich, buttery caramel glaze infused with warm holiday spices. Enhanced with slivered almonds for a delightful crunch, this festive treat is perfect for holiday gatherings and cozy movie nights. The caramel’s blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves creates a comforting spiced flavor that captures the essence of Christmas.

Ingredients

Scale

Popcorn

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil (omit if air popping with a popcorn maker)
  • 1/3 cup popping corn (to yield 10 cups popcorn)
  • 2/3 cup slivered almonds

Caramel

  • 100g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (170g) light corn syrup or glucose
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Christmas Spices

  • 3 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 2 tsp ginger powder
  • 1/2 tsp allspice powder (or additional cinnamon)
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves (or additional cinnamon)

Instructions

  1. Pop the Corn: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the popping corn and cover with a lid. Shake the pot occasionally until popping slows to about 2 seconds between pops. Remove from heat and transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl, discarding any unpopped kernels.
  2. Toast Almonds: In the same pot, lightly toast the slivered almonds over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 3-4 minutes. Remove and add to the popcorn, mixing well to combine.
  3. Make the Spiced Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once melted, add brown sugar, light corn syrup, salt, and Christmas spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves). Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Allow it to boil for 3-4 minutes without stirring to reach a smooth syrup consistency.
  4. Add Vanilla and Baking Soda: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in vanilla extract and baking soda carefully; the mixture will bubble and foam, which helps create a light, crunchy caramel coating.
  5. Coat the Popcorn: Immediately pour the hot caramel sauce over the bowl of popcorn and almonds. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, quickly and thoroughly toss to evenly coat all the popcorn with the spiced caramel sauce.
  6. Cool and Set: Spread the coated popcorn mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spreading it out evenly. Let it cool and harden at room temperature for about 30 minutes before breaking into clusters and serving.

Notes

  • For a healthier alternative, use air-popped popcorn and omit the vegetable oil.
  • You can substitute glucose syrup with light corn syrup or golden syrup.
  • Adjust the spice levels by adding more or less cinnamon and ginger according to taste.
  • Store leftover popcorn in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain crispness.
  • Use parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking while cooling the caramel popcorn.

Keywords: Christmas caramel popcorn, holiday snack, spiced popcorn, caramel corn recipe, festive popcorn

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/christmas-spiced-caramel-popcorn-recipe/