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But First We Brunch ยป Recipes ยป Dessert

Homemade Cracker Jacks

Modified: Aug 30, 2021 by Cynthia Christensen ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท Leave a Comment

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This caramel coated popcorn and peanut recipe will remind you of eating those tiny boxes of Cracker Jacks as a kid, but in a big bowl! Bring your own prize!

Homemade cracker jack spilling onto a wooden cutting board.
An Overflowing Box of Homemade Cracker Jacks

Save This Recipe! ๐Ÿ’Œ

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Now that Iโ€™m a grown up ๐Ÿ˜Š I appreciate the caramel corn portion of Cracker Jacks so much more than the jinky prize they give you, so why not make my own?  Whatโ€™s the special something that makes Cracker Jacks (and my version) so much better than classic caramel corn?  Molasses.  Itโ€™s really not an optional ingredient in this recipe, so youโ€™re gonna have to go get some.  Weโ€™ll wait.

Looking for more easy snacks?

  • Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Brownies
  • Peanut Butter-Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats
  • Rocky Road Chocolate Shortbread Bars

๐Ÿ“– Recipe

Homemade cracker jacks spilling onto a wooden board.

Homemade Cracker Jacks

This caramel coated popcorn and peanut recipe will remind you of eating those tiny boxes of Cracker Jacks as a kid, but in a big bowl! Bring your own prize!
No ratings yet
Author: Cynthia Christensen
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings 8 servings
Calories 493 kcal
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Ingredients
 

Caramel Ingredients

  • 10 cups popped popcorn one bag of microwave popcorn
  • ยพ cup packed brown sugar
  • โ…“ cup light corn syrup
  • 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • ยฝ teaspoon fine grain salt

Stuff to Add After the Caramel is Done

  • ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup peanuts

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 250ยฐ. Spray a large sheet pan with non-stick spray, line it with parchment paper, and spray it again. Get your baking soda (NOT baking powder! Check that label!), vanilla, and peanuts measured and put to the side, ready for their big moments! Once the caramel is ready, things move very fast! Pop all your popcorn, put in in a very large bowl, big enough for assertive stirring in a just a bit.
  • In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses, butter, and salt. Cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly, until temperature reaches 250ยฐ with a thermometer or about 2 minutes after bubbles first appear. Take the caramel off the heat and immediately whisk in the vanilla and baking soda. It will bubble and pop! Just letting you know ๐Ÿ˜‰
  • Pour over the popcorn, using a rubber spatula to get all the caramelly goodness out of the pan, add the peanuts (if using) and stir stir stir to evenly coat the popcorn with caramel.
  • Pour onto your prepared baking sheet and spread evenly with the spatula. Bake for 20 minutes, stir, bake for another 20 minutes, stir, and bake for a final 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir one last time, then place on a cooling rack until completely cooled.
  • This would last up to one week in a tightly covered container or ziplock bag if you didnโ€™t just eat it all, but you did.

Save This Recipe! ๐Ÿ’Œ

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!

Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 174g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 26g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 6mg

The nutritional and caloric information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It does not assert or suggest that readers should or should not count calories, and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionistโ€™s or doctorโ€™s counseling.

Tried this recipe?I would love for you to leave a comment!

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Picture of the author with a banner, stating welcome to my blog I am Cynthia.

In our house we get up with the sun, and most of us don't stop working until late in the night, so breakfast and brunch are our family meals. So join me at the kitchen counter, where I cook up delicious food for my busy family, starting first thing in the morning!

More about me โ†’

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