Poppin’ Popcorn Brittle

Found another goodie on Pinterest via Simple and Delicious and thought I would share.

My dad, whose 61st birthday is TODAY, loves salty and sweet snacks.  This is a man who goes to the gym for nearly 2 hours at a whack at least 4 times a week.  Good for him to indulge every now and then!

So I made him a birthday treat! Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as he does!

1. 1 bag of your favorite butter flavored microwave popcorn (I used Whole Foods 365 Brand)
2. 1 cup M&M’s® brand milk chocolate candies
3. 1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar
4. 1 stick unsalted butter
5. ½ cup light corn syrup
6. ½ tsp. vanilla extract
7. 1 cup lightly salted peanuts
8. ½ tsp. baking soda

Method:

1. Prepare popcorn according to package directions. Remove all unpopped kernels. Spread popped corn evenly in 15×10-inch nonstick shallow baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies; set aside.
2. Place sugar, butter, corn syrup and vanilla in medium heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Add peanuts. Cook an additional 2 minutes or to the hard-crack stage, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add baking soda and mix well.
3. Immediately pour caramel mixture evenly over popped corn and candy until coated. Do not stir. Let stand 30 minutes or until caramel has cooled and hardened.
4. Break into pieces. Store in tightly sealed container.

*Hard crack stage, 300 to 310 degrees F on a candy thermometer, is when a small amount of boiling sugar syrup dropped into very cold water separates into hard brittle threads.

I imagine this would make nice homemade holiday gifts.  I am all about that!

Tweet