snackdiggitylicious
Recipe: bourbon caramel popcorn
So Thanksgiving was last week, but it feels like it was more than a month ago. Jeremy and I spent the days leading up to Thanksgiving installing some temperature sensors around our place in Crested Butte and getting passes squared away for the mountain as well as the nordic center.
exploring the nordic trails
last light at the end of the day
The mountain opened the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we went up to see what was what. It was our first time skiing at Crested Butte. All the while when we were looking for a place, our realtor (who also telemark skis) would ask if we were going to hang out and “play” (read: tele). And I always shook my head. We would ski AFTER we found a place, I told Jeremy. Promise kept.
glorious sun on opening day
thanksgiving corduroy
It was amazeballs. Good snow, great mountain, not crowded, and just up the road. We got a couple hours in on Thanksgiving morning before cleaning our place and heading home to Nederland. Once home, I realized that I had cleaned out the refrigerator before we left. I also realized that everything in our town was closed for the holiday at 7pm (rightfully so). Usually I can cobble anything together, but I had very little to work with. So I prepared instant kimchi ramen for dinner. And I ate applesauce straight from the jar (I was hungry). Then I made a big batch of popcorn. So that was our Thanksgiving dinner. The next evening, my parents had us over to their place for Chinese Thanksgiving dinner.
lots of seafood: lobster, shrimp, squid
my happy plate
The following night, it was our turn to host my parents (and my friend, Erin) for dinner. When they arrived, I had appetizers set out on the table for guests to enjoy while I finished dinner prep. I also set a bowl of leftover popcorn out from our impromptu Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn’t any old popcorn, but an addictive bourbon caramel popcorn. My mom sidled up to the bar to chat and watch me work. The bowl of popcorn was right under her nose, so she tried some. And she tried some more. And more. She really liked the popcorn. I set it out again at dessert. She adamantly refused a slice of cake, claiming to be too full, but as the conversation wore on, she kept picking bits of the popcorn off and popping them into her mouth. I love when I make something that my mom likes.
you’ll need: popcorn, vanilla extract, bourbon, sugar, butter, salt, baking soda
fluffy popped popcorn
The first time I made this recipe, the caramel to popcorn ratio was just too high for my liking. So I upped the amount of popcorn to 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels and it was still a little too much sugar. I have 3/4 cup of unpopped kernels in the recipe below, but if you really enjoy a sugarfest, feel free to reduce the amount of popcorn used. As for popping, you can use whatever technique you like best. Air popping is a healthy alternative, although I really do enjoy the taste of oil-popped popcorn. I follow Elise’s technique for popping corn on the stovetop and get perfect results every time.
pouring the bourbon into the sugar, salt, and butter
adding vanilla extract
I sat and stirred the sugar mixture for a long time before the sugar began to dissolve. Be patient. It WILL dissolve, but it takes several minutes. Things start happening when you see a dark liquid begin to pool in the middle of the sugar. After that, the whole thing begins to turn a dark caramel color rather quickly. Don’t let it go too long because even after you take it off the heat, it will continue to cook and darken. In fact, the moment the whole thing starts to change color, move it off the burner (or if you like a slightly burnt caramel, leave it on a few more seconds).
stir in the baking soda
keep stirring until it’s completely incorporated
When you add the baking soda to the hot caramel, it will balloon up. This can be a little intimidating. Keep stirring it to let the gases escape and please don’t let the caramel get on your hands or face or anywhere that you don’t want to be burned, because it is hot and it will burn like a mofo. Be quick about stirring it all in because the caramel is still cooking while it is in the pan. Now you add it to the popcorn. I divvied my popcorn up into two of my largest bowls so I could mix the popcorn and caramel together easily.
pour caramel over the popcorn
immediately stir or toss the popcorn with the caramel
spread it out on a silpat to cool
Let the caramel popcorn cool for about 15 minutes before breaking it into smaller pieces. You will have some caramel loss because it will harden like cement onto the pan and the sides of the bowls. But it’s easy to clean up if you just give everything a good soak in water for several minutes. Bourbon caramel popcorn is a great snack for noshing and it also makes a lovely homemade gift to let someone know that they’re worth the danger of working with molten sugar.
sugar love
don’t forget to sample some for quality control
Bourbon Caramel Popcorn
[print recipe]
slightly modified from this recipe
3/4 cup popcorn kernels
3 cups sugar
3 tbsps butter, unsalted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsps kosher salt
1/4 cup bourbon
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
Pop the popcorn: You can air pop the popcorn if you like, but my favorite way to do it comes from Simply Recipes. Pour 3 tablespoons of canola or other high smoke point oil into a large saucepan with a lid (large, because I’m popping 3/4 cup). Drop four kernels of corn into the pan. Cover and set over high heat. After all of the kernels pop (you’ll hear them – be sure to count that they all pop lest you get one in the eye – ouch!) turn off the heat. Pour in all of the kernels and cover with lid. Wait 30 seconds. Turn the heat back on to high. The popcorn should be done when you no longer hear popping. Just to be safe, when you empty the popcorn into your bowl(s), pour it away from you in case an unpopped kernel decides to pop. I put my popcorn in two large bowls.
Make the caramel: Have a baking sheet lined with a silpat or foil at the ready. [Take care not to touch the caramel as it get very hot and can burn you pretty badly.] Place the sugar, butter, vanilla, kosher salt, and bourbon in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar melts. After a few minutes (took me several minutes) the caramel will begin to turn a caramel color. It turns dark in a matter of seconds, so I suggest removing the pan from the heat immediately as it will continue to darken. Quickly stir the baking soda into the caramel. It will balloon up, but just keep stirring so it doesn’t bubble over.
Make the caramel popcorn: Once the caramel is well mixed, immediately pour it over the popcorn. If you have two bowls, pour half over one bowl and the other half over the other bowl. Stir the popcorn with the caramel quickly to ensure coating as much of the popcorn as possible, then spread it out onto the baking sheet to let it cool. When the popcorn is completely cooled, break the pieces up. Makes about 24 cups of bourbon caramel popcorn.
more goodness from the use real butter archives
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December 5th, 2013 at 4:38 am
This popcorn flavour is a dream!! I’m so on this!
December 5th, 2013 at 5:20 am
You make anything look delicious!!!!
December 5th, 2013 at 6:19 am
Oh wow…that sounds wonderful! Gotta stock up on sugar & give it a try.
December 5th, 2013 at 8:38 am
My husband and I met (and solidified our love) tele-ing at Crested Butte. There are many great powder stashes that are ideal for tele-ers, requiring just a bit more mucking about to get there (e.g., trees off of teocalli) and with early season fun. But beware getting yourself cliffed out by exploring too much terrain without someone who knows where they’re going. You are going to have years of fun there!
December 5th, 2013 at 9:10 am
PERFECT timing! I was going to make Smitten Kitchen’s spicy caramel corn for my bf’s bday, but I think his new love for bourbon will make this version much appreciated!! Or, I could make both to ensure I get some too.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Jen, I could never ever make this because I would eat the whole batch without even thinking about it. But maybe I’ll try it just this once…
December 5th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
I make a microwave caramel corn, but this sounds pretty dang easy so I might have to give this one a try. My mom would eat it all, too!
December 5th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Jen this stuff looks amazing! Pinned! Anything with molten sugar and bourbon is right up my alley :)
December 5th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Oh dear. I have all the ingredients for this on hand, right now. If my boyfriend returns home to find me in a sugar coma, he’ll know who to blame (after, I’m sure, he finished off whatever I didn’t before I lost consciousness).
Seriously. I need to get invited to a holiday party, STAT, so I can make this.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:55 pm
My daughter (13) says you sound like the kind of person she would like to meet! We need to go to Colorado! We love anything with vanilla…
December 6th, 2013 at 7:25 am
Jen, I just found a recipe similar to this with the bourbon, but it also had dry roasted peanuts and – are you ready?- crispy little nuggets of Pancetta. The popcorn was popped in the pancetta fat. Haven’t tried it yet, but I can’t wait!!!
December 6th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Wow, this looks AMAZING. I can’t remember the last time I made caramel corn… but with bourbon? Genius!
December 7th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
[…] Bourbon Caramel Popcorn (Use Real Butter) This looks utterly amazing; it would make a great homemade Christmas gift, packaged up in pretty cellophane bags with tags. […]
December 8th, 2013 at 10:12 am
I may have to switch from cinnamon-sugar pecans (a P.E.O. recipe), and Spicy Pecans, to Bourbon Caramel Popcorn for some holiday gifts. I’m afraid my new crown would come out with this, however!
December 8th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
I love caramel popcorn but am not so in love with booze… Is this a very boozy snack?
December 27th, 2013 at 9:37 am
Katrina – everyone who has tried it loves it!
debbie – awww, thank you! xo
Kristin – ;)
Twila – NICE! We have been discovering the pow stashes in the trees, but probably had no business going through a gully glade in early season ;) Where we live on the Front Range, we NEVER get such good snow and good weather (i.e. no wind) several days in a row! This will take some getting used to, and then I’ll be ruined for life ;)
Anna – ha ;)
Dana – oh, I think you should totally make it. It’s lovely and you can even share with the boys (because all of the booze gets boiled off)!
Abbe – I love how moms are suckers for bourbon caramel popcorn.
Averie – I hope you liked it! You can use the “excuse” that the bourbon means you don’t have to share with kids ;)
Christina – If you make a few batches and invite friends over, you’ve got your holiday party right there!
Broken Nose Vanilla – :)
Gourmande – Get outta here!! Whoa….
Kate – the bourbon is what makes it extra awesome :)
jill – it’s more crunchy than sticky, so you’re safe!
Sherry – it’s not terribly boozy (and I’m not a boozehound), and all of the alcohol gets burned off during the cooking process. Try it and see if you like it. If not, you will have zero problems giving it away to someone :)
December 24th, 2014 at 9:12 am
[…] saw this Bourbon Caramel Popcorn by Use Real Butter and knew I wanted to do something similar. I opted for whiskey simply because […]