Baseball Season Popcorn Mix (Printable)

Crunchy caramel popcorn mixed with roasted peanuts, perfect for sharing during games or movies.

# What You Need:

→ Popcorn

01 - 10 cups freshly popped popcorn (approximately 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)

→ Nuts

02 - 1 cup roasted, salted peanuts

→ Caramel

03 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/4 cup light corn syrup
06 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Place the popped popcorn and roasted peanuts in a large mixing bowl and toss together until evenly distributed.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches a gentle boil.
04 - Allow the caramel to boil for 4 to 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and immediately add baking soda and vanilla extract. The mixture will foam vigorously.
05 - Quickly pour the hot caramel over the popcorn and peanuts. Using two spatulas or wooden spoons, toss continuously until all pieces are well-coated.
06 - Transfer the coated mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
07 - Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent burning.
08 - Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Break into individual clusters before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The caramel stays crispy for days, which means you can make it ahead and actually enjoy the game instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • It's the rare snack where sweet and salty balance so perfectly that everyone reaches for just one more handful and then disappears for ten minutes.
  • Roasting it low and slow means the flavors deepen without anything burning, giving you that toasted complexity that feels fancy but happens almost by accident.
02 -
  • The baking soda is non-negotiable; without it, you're just making brittle candy instead of this airy, crispy snack that feels totally different in your mouth.
  • Stirring every fifteen minutes during baking prevents the edges from burning and the center from staying chewy—set a phone alarm so you actually remember to do it.
03 -
  • Don't skip the parchment paper; it makes cleanup trivial and prevents the caramel from sticking to the sheet in ways that test your patience.
  • If your caramel seizes up (gets grainy), add a tablespoon of water off heat and stir gently until it smooths out again—I've rescued many batches this way.
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