I came across this recipe in my November 2010 Better Homes and Gardens magazine (p. 222) and couldn't wait to try it. I did modify it (of course) to substitute healthier alternatives for the brown sugar and corn syrup, and include slivered almonds instead of whole, which I thought would be easier and safer for my children to eat. But the poor kids didn't get any because my husband and I ate it all (over a few days)--oops! Darn...now I'll have to make another batch...Cranberry-Orange Caramel Corn
12 c. air-popped popcorn (about 1/2 c. kernels)
1 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. raw sugar
1/8 c. honey
2 Tb. orange juice (I might even use more next time, since it wasn't very orangy)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. In a very large bowl combine popped popcorn (be sure to sift out unpopped kernels), cranberries, and almonds; set aside.
In a 2-quart saucepan cook and stir butter, raw sugar, and honey over medium heat until butter is melted. Stir in orange juice. Bring to boiling over medium heat. Boil at moderate, steady rate for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture will foam up).
Pour syrup mixture over popcorn mixture in bowl; stir to coat well. Transfer to a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan (cookie sheet with a lip) or shallow roasting pan. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring twice. Transfer caramel corn to large sheet of greased heavy foil; cool. Makes 20 (1/2 c.) servings.
12 comments:
I absolutely hate honey. Could you taste it? Or does the orange overpower it.
I guess we could taste it...but we love honey and eat it all the time, so we're used to it. The orange I actually couldn't even really taste and was thinking of adding more next time I make it.
Going to try this soon!!!
that looks amazingly delicious! I'll have to try it soon! Very soon!!!
Made this tonight...can't stop eating it!!! I used 2 Tbs of oj concentrate and it didn't really taste orangey to me. Next time I'll add more, too. G liked it, but not the cranberries (go figure). But he DID eat the almonds.
It's kind of addicting, isn't it? I couldn't really taste the orange either and keep adding more each time to see how much it really takes...
How much have you added so far?
I don't quite remember...maybe 3 Tb., but it still wasn't enough. How about you?
2 Tbs of frozen concentrate.
Let me know if you get it just right. I've been using frozen juice concentrate too, but skimping with it since the recipe calls for juice. I guess it should call for concentrate.
Okay...I've made this a few more times. I'm up to 6 Tbs of orange juice concentrate. I can taste the orange BEFORE it's baked (yes I was testing for the
orangey-ness. :) With 6 Tbs there was a hint of orange flavor AFTER baking.
Great to know! Thanks for the followup. Next time I make it I'll use 6 Tb too...
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