PREP: 20 minutes BAKE: 20 minutes at 300°F MAKES: 18 cups
14 cups popped popcorn
2 cups whole almonds and/or salted roasted cashews (optional)
1½ cups packed brown sugar
¾ cup butter
⅓ cup light-color corn syrup
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Put popcorn and, if desired, nuts into a 17×12-inch roasting pan. Keep warm in oven while preparing caramel.
2. Butter a large piece of foil; set aside. For caramel, in a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, without stirring, 5 minutes more.
3. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour caramel over popcorn; stir gently to coat. Bake 15 minutes. Stir mixture; bake 5 minutes more. Spread caramel corn on prepared foil; cool.
To Store: Transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature up to 1 week.
PER 1 CUP CARAMEL CORN: 171 cal., 8 g fat (5 g sat. fat), 20 mg chol., 97 mg sodium, 25 g carb., 1 g fiber, 1 g pro.