Witches' Kettle Caramel Corn

A twist on a classic treat made with nuts, candy corn and tootsie rolls.

Prep Time:  5 minutes   |    Cook Time:  30 minutes   |    Total Time:  35 minutes   |    Servings:  6

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons  Simply Nature  Organic Coconut Oil
• ½ cup  Clancy's  Popcorn Kernels*
• ½ cup  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter
• ½ cup  Baker's Corner  Corn Syrup
• ½ cup  Baker's Corner  Brown Sugar
• 20 tootsie rolls
• ½ teaspoon  Stonemill  Iodized Salt
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon  Baker's Corner  Baking Soda
• 1 cup  Southern Grove  Mixed Nuts
• 1 cup  Sunrise  Candy Corn*

*These are ALDI Finds and Seasonal items that are only in stores for a limited time and may no longer be available.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250°.
2. In a large pot, with a lid, melt coconut oil over medium heat.
3. Add three kernels of popcorn. When they pop, remove from heat and add remaining kernels. Cover with a lid and let rest 30 seconds.
4. Return pot with lid to stove over medium heat, shake gently when popcorn starts popping. Remove from heat when popping slows, about 3 seconds between pops.
5. Pour into a large bowl, sifting out unpopped kernels.
6. In the same pot, melt butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, tootsie rolls and salt. Stir until tootsie rolls have melted.
7. Add vanilla and baking soda, stir to combine and pour over popcorn. Toss to combine.
8. Stir in nuts and candy corn.
9. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet, or split between 2 baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway.
10. Allow to cool completely, stirring occasionally to break up clumps.
11. Serve when cool or store in an airtight container.

Tip: While warm, form into popcorn balls for a fun treat. If kernels are unavailable, pop two bags of your favorite popcorn in the microwave.  

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Alyssa, ALDI Test Kitchen