Caramel Popcorn Trail Mix Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Place popcorn in a large pot with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Over a low heat, begin to pop the popcorn. Constantly shake the pot to ensure that the popcorn kernels and oil do not burn. Once the popping has slowed, remove the pot from heat.
• In a large saucepan, mix butter or margarine, brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring this mixture to a boil (over a medium heat) while stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and do not stir for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and mix in baking powder and vanilla extract, stirring carefully.
• In a large baking pan, combine popcorn, pretzels, cereal and pecans. Pour the butter mixture over the popcorn mixture, stir to coat.
• Bake for 30 minutes, stirring the mixture after the first 15 minutes have elapsed.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
• Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250°F.
• Cover 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment; spray with cooking spray.
• Microwave caramels, butter and milk in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 to 3 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring after 1-1/2 min.
• Add popcorn and trail mix; stir until evenly coated. Spread onto prepared baking sheets.
• Bake 45 min., stirring every 15 min. Cool completely.

Steps:

• For the Cheddar popcorn: Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and fold in the popcorn to coat. Sprinkle in the cheese powder and mustard powder. Fold together to evenly coat. Transfer to a large serving bowl.
• For the caramel popcorn: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and generously spray with nonstick spray.
• Wipe the large pot clean of any excess popcorn residue. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to the same pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to let it boil, without stirring, until it turns a deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the salt, vanilla and baking soda. Gently fold in the popcorn until well coated (spraying a rubber spatula works well, here!). Transfer the popcorn to the prepared baking sheet and bake until the caramel has melted around the popcorn and nicely coats the kernels all over, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet, about 10 minutes. Break into pieces and add to the serving bowl.