Something about the twinkling Christmas lights and the cold weather has me craving the popping sound of delicousness in the popcorn cart. Or maybe it’s because the tree displaced the cart from its location in our family room. I don’t know, but we’ve been popping up a storm.
Last week, the girls and I made some strings of popcorn to decorate their little tree that’s set up in their bedroom. Addie’s attention span to the activity didn’t last long, but Olivia and Grace really had fun.
We just put a big bowl of popcorn on the table and I gave them each a long string of twine with a blunt needle on the end. Worked like a charm – no one got poked and the popcorn got strung.
Today, we did the same thing and made popcorn necklaces – less guilt than those candy necklaces that they love and perhaps it will dissuade them from chewing the popcorn right off the tree when they’re supposed to be going to sleep!
Along with the chewy chocolate mint snowtop cookies, caramel corn is one of my absolute must-make holiday treats! I cooked up a batch today to challenge my calorie counting for the day (still made it under my limit!!) I shared the recipe a couple years ago, but today, you get it again!! It’s too good!
Caramel Corn
3 quarts popped corn
Place popped corn in a shallow baking pan in a 250 degree oven while making the caramel. (I divide the popped corn between two 9×12 pans, glass or metal work fine).
In saucepan, mix together:
1 C. packed lite brown sugar
1/2 C. lite corn syrup
1/2 C. butter
1/2 t. salt
Stirring constantly over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil. Once it starts boiling (really boiling), stop stirring and set the timer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in:
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. baking soda
Pour the caramel over the popped corn and stir it to coat evenly. Bake at 250 degrees for a total of one hour, stirring it every 15 minutes. After one hour, remove the caramel corn from the oven and immediately dump it out onto the countertop. Allow it to cool, break it apart, and start eating!
Store the caramel corn in an airtight container!!!
I’ve got a few more ideas bookmarked for our future popcorn endeavors!
Popcorn Brittle – this looks really good though I’m not sure it’s super low-cal
Christmas Coal Popcorn – Fun! I’d like to make up a batch of this and put it in someone’s stocking
Reindeer Paper Bags – cute for packaging popcorn to-go or a holiday party!
Peppermint Popcorn Bark – I love peppermint and this looks super yummy!
Popcorn Wreath – We are SO doing this for an “I’m bored” activity this week!
Christmas Decorating for the Birds – Love this!! So country chic!
Christmas Decorating for the Birds – Love this!! So country chic!
Stringing Popcorn and Cranberry Garland – Wouldn’t this be awesome on a tree outside, too?
Do you love popcorn at your house? Salt and butter and a Christmas movie?? Baked up into a sweet treat? Tell me, what else should I add to the list?
The Cottage Mama says
That caramel corn looks SO yummy! I think I’m going to have to give that a try. We have an air popper and the girls absolutely love making popcorn and watching it come pouring out of the popper. So fun!!
Ruby Jean says
Oh I am SERIOUSLY wishing I was your neighbor.. I LOVE LOVE popcorn 🙂
Angelina
Lanie says
Beautiful pictures! Mark would die, he loves popcorn so much. We’ll come for a visit soon, the girls will have to pop him some popcorn! He’ll be in heaven!!
I loooove Caramel corn!
Ashley Turner says
I used to love stringing popcorn for the tree (and eating it along the way…)
Ashley P says
This post is really inspiring me! What type of popcorn maker did you get? Do you recommend it?
-Ash P
Stef says
Hi Ashley!
This is the one we got: http://www.amazon.com/Funtime-FT860CB-Antique-Carnival-Style-8-Ounce/dp/B002NLKXAQ/ref=sr_1_15?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1355364135&sr=1-15
It’s been great so far! Kinda splurgy, but we’re making it worth it by using it so much!
Lots of variations to choose from on Amazon! Happy shopping!