Cracky Snack

Name: Cracky Snack
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 15
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 0 teaspoons baking soda; 3 Tbsps light corn syrup; 237 milliliters packed dark brown sugar; 2 Tbsps dark molasses, such as Grandmas Robust; 4 liters plain popped popcorn (from about 1/2 cup kernels), unpopped kernels removed; 177 milliliters roasted, salted peanuts; 1 teaspoons fine salt; 6 Tbsps unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 6 pieces, plus more for coating the pan; 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

You can never have too many hor d'oeuvre recipes, so give Cracky Snack a try. One serving contains 169 calories, 2g of protein, and 5g of fat. This gluten free and vegetarian recipe serves 15. Head to the store and pick up salt, roasted, brown sugar, and a few other things to make it today. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes about 1 hour.

Instructions

Heat the oven to 250°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a large roasting pan with butter.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Equipment you will use

Roasting Pan

Oven

Place the popcorn and peanuts in the pan and stir to combine; set aside.

Ingredients you will need

Peanuts

Popcorn

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Place the brown sugar, measured butter, corn syrup, molasses, and salt in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Continue to boil without stirring for 3 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Brown Sugar

Corn Syrup

Molasses

Butter

Sugar

Salt

Equipment you will use

Sauce Pan

Spatula

Remove from the heat, add the vanilla and baking soda, and whisk until the caramel is light in color, foamy, and has doubled in volume, about 10 seconds. Immediately drizzle over the popcorn and peanuts, stir with the rubber spatula until thoroughly coated, and spread into an even layer.

Ingredients you will need

Baking Soda

Caramel

Peanuts

Popcorn

Vanilla

Spread

Equipment you will use

Spatula

Whisk

Bake, stirring with the rubber spatula every 15 minutes and scraping up any caramel from the bottom of the pan, until a cooled piece of popcorn is very crunchy, about 45 minutes total. (To test for doneness, take a few pieces of popcorn out of the oven and let cool for 30 seconds. If they’re crunchy, then the Cracky Snack is done.)

Ingredients you will need

Caramel

Popcorn

Equipment you will use

Oven

Spatula

Frying Pan

Transfer the Cracky Snack to a work surface or rimmed baking sheet to cool completely (it will crisp as it cools). Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet