Homemade Cracker Jack
This easy Homemade Cracker Jack is the perfect snack for parties, baseball, football game or when watching a movie.
Ingredients
- 14 cups popcorn, un-popped kernels discarded
- 2 1/2 cups roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup flavorless oil (canola, grapeseed, etc.), or as needed tips & tricks
- 11 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup tips & tricks
- 3 tbsp. molasses
- 1/2 tbsp. ground Himalayan pink salt, divided and to taste
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
Directions
- Preheat oven to 200ºF.
- In a large bowl (or two), combine popcorn and peanuts; stir and set aside.
- Grease the bottom and up the rims of two large baking sheets with flavorless oil; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses and ¼ tsp. salt; stir until the butter and sugar are melted.
- Attach a candy thermometer and let the mixture simmer, undisturbed, until the temperature reaches 250ºF, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda. Immediately pour it over the popcorn-peanut mixture; stir to coat evenly.
- Divide the popcorn mixture between the two prepared baking sheets and spread evenly into a single layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 tsp. salt on top.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and bake until the mixture is drier, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let the popcorn cool completely, about 2 minutes, before transferring to a bowl or bucket.