Salted Caramel Corn

This recipe was my grandmother's. She made this every year at Christmas time and it was possibly my favorite part of the dinner at her house. My grandmother had very specific times of year that she made recipes and she did not stray from her very EXACTING menu plans. So it could have been that I got so excited about this caramel corn because I only got it once a year, but I'm pretty sure it's actually because it is so amazing.

I've added a little flaked salt to the top as it cools because I have never had anything that wasn't better with a little salt. Espcially caramel.

makes 12 cups

STEP 1

Spread popcorn out on a baking sheet lined with a sol-pat or buttered parchment paper.

STEP 2

Place sugar, corn syrup, butter, table salt, vanilla and baking soda in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, boil four more minutes without stirring.

STEP 3

Remove from the heat and pour over the popcorn. Stir quickly to caramelize every kernel, Sprinkle flake salt over the popcorn.

STEP 4

Place in a safe place at room temperature for at least three hours until dry. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to one week.

12 cups air popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups tightly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon flake salt or fleur du sel