Fast, easy to clean up after, and utterly snackable.
The secret is a big brown paper bag.
And its all thanks to a microwaveno candy-making skills required.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Microwave caramel corn is incredibly simple yet deftly impressive.
Make it on a whim as a snack or plan ahead to give it as a gift.
It was a fixture in our family every Christmas.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Minutes later, there was sticky, golden-brown carmel corn for the whole family to greedily gobble.
It uses the same ingredients but comes together faster and requires no candy thermometer or candy-making guesswork.
Once the caramel corn is finished, you simply throw the dirty bag away.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Troubleshooting Microwave Caramel Corn
Microwave wattages can vary.
I developed this recipe for a 1000-watt microwave.
If your microwave is more or less powerful, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
This does not include the time it takes to make the popcorn.
Safety first!The caramel mixture is hot.
Always monitor kids when you make this, and use potholders when handling the caramel.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
I prefer thestovetop(yes, I know this is a microwave recipe).
You want 8 to 9 cups of popped popcorn (a little more or less is fine).
This is 1/4 cup unpopped kernels.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Place the popped popcorn in a large, clean, sturdy paper grocery bag.
Grease a rimmed baking sheet and set it aside.
No need to stir.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Microwave on high, uncovered, for 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla and baking soda to the hot caramel and stir with a silicone spatula to combine.
The cooked caramel syrup will foam up and become lighter in color.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Immediately scrape a third of the hot caramel over the popped popcorn in the bag.
Fold the bag closed and shake it vigorously to coat the popcorn.
Pour another third of the caramel over the corn, then fold the bag and shake.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Pour the remaining caramel over the popcorn and shake one last time.
Have them hold the bag by the top and shake it.
Place the bag in the microwave and microwave on high for 45 seconds.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Remove the bag and shake it.
The bag is hot at this point; only adults should handle it.
Wear oven mitts, or hold the bag by its top fold and bottom corners to avoid burns.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
If your bag has handles, avoid touching them directly once youve microwaved the bag.
The adhesive can get hot in the microwave.
After shaking the bag, microwave it on high for 45 seconds one last time, then shake.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Nows when the bag is at its hottest; you may see greasy spots on the bottom.
Just throw it away with the bag.
This is simply the cost of microwave popcorn; you wont get every last bit.
Let the caramel corn cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Break it apart and enjoy!
Store in a tightly covered container for up to 3 days.
It may last longer, but ours has never been around that long.
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