Homemade Chewy Caramel Corn

It doesn’t get any better than this rich ooey gooey real caramel corn, my family loves making this easy no-fail recipe.  Homemade caramel candy poured over popcorn.  The smell is irresistible as it is cooking.  You will definitely want to save some caramel for fancy sliced caramel apples.  The best apples to use for caramel apples is Macintosh, Jonathon, Pink Lady or honey crisp – a sweet but tart apple.

Chewy Deluxe Caramel Corn – 2 cups sugar, 1 cube real butter, 1 cup light karo syrup, 1 can evaporated milk, 3 -4 bags butter microwave popcorn, 1-1/2 tsp. real vanilla

Directions: Combine all ingredients (but popcorn and vanilla) in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil turn down to medium heat stirring every few minutes with a wooden spoon.  In the meantime start microwave popcorn – be careful not to burn – make sure all hard popcorn kernels are removed and place popcorn in a large metal or glass bowl.

Use 3 bags when saving caramel for apples – use 4 bags when using all for caramel corn.   Cook to just under a soft ball or check using ice cold water, if caramel forms a soft ball in your fingers after sitting in water its done.  It usually takes 15-20 minutes to cook and has a medium golden caramel color, remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  If you feel you may have gotten it cooked to long you can slowly add a couple of Tbsp. of milk before you coat popcorn.

For Fancy caramel apples – slice and core one apple in thin slices in a bowl, drizzle plenty of caramel over top, top with toasted nuts, toasted coconut, chocolate chips, sprinkles, marshmallows, cherries, what ever you love works great.  So much better than a whole apple that is messy and hard to eat.

For Deluxe Caramel Corn while still hot spread out on a cookie sheet – sprinkle on any desired toppings and dig in.   Makes the BEST homemade hot caramel sauce for Christmas pudding or ice cream.

For chocolate caramel corn add 1/4 cup cocoa – mix with the sugar and cook as directed – makes the BEST Homemade Hot fudge sauce