Since college I've used my roommate's recipe for caramel popcorn -- it's the perfect combination of golden, soft, buttery caramel drizzled over popcorn. Every time I make it, I wonder why I don't make it more.
My roommate, Leslie, is so fun and sweet -- just like the caramel popcorn.
Recently I misplaced the recipe and had to go online for an alternate (OK, I didn't HAVE to, but I was really in the mood for caramel popcorn!). I picked the one that was as close to Leslie's as possible and made it. It was edible, but nowhere close to the gooey goodness of my usual recipe.
I immediately e-mailed Leslie and asked her to re-send me her tried and true formula. This time I'm posting it on my blog, so I'll never lose it again:
Leslie's Gooey Caramel Popcorn
*Pre-pop 4 bags of microwave popcorn and sift out unpopped kernals. Spread on two large baking sheets for mixing. (I use the "movie theatre butter" version -- all that butter flavor and salt goes perfectly well with the caramel. No calorie counting allowed when eating caramel popcorn!)
1 C Sugar
1 C Brown Sugar
1/2 t Cream of Tartar
1/2 C Corn Syrup
1 C Butter
1/4 C Warm Water
Combine the above ingredients and cook on medium low until "softball" stage. (If you like crispier popcorn, cook longer -- "hardball" or "hardcrack". I love it soft.) Add 1 t baking soda, and immediately pour over popcorn. Mix together and enjoy.
