You ready?
Here’s the secret to the Best Kettle Corn Recipe Ever:
There is no kettle involved and it bakes for just 20 minutes in the oven.
I’ve been craving kettle corn. But I get sticker shock whenever I pick up a bag, because the good kind is expensive. (It’s like 5 bucks for 4 cups…how much does it cost to make… about 25 cents a silo? Maybe it’s the cute bags they package it in…sigh.)
The cheap stuff (which still costs too much) just doesn’t taste that great. So I thought about finding a recipe and just making it. It’s what Recipe Warriors do right? I looked up dozens of recipes for Kettle Corn, and they all looked like directions on how to burn sugar in the bottom of a pot.
So what’s a woman with a craving and expensive taste for Kettle Corn to do? I put on my Domestic Diva/ Mad Scientist Hat and headed blindly for the kitchen of course. (And no, I don’t have an actual hat but I need one. 😛 )
Shortcuts make it Easy
You all know that I love shortcuts, hence the Goody Mix and the 7 Mix-ups. So my mind naturally turned to the path of least resistance in this case: the microwave popcorn, skip the kettle altogether and then bake it in a foil line pan and put it in the oven to crisp everything up perfectly.
When it comes out of the oven you just flip it out onto wax paper or baking parchment on your counter and let it cool. And, yes, it is bragging when I tell you it takes less than 20 minutes to make, but I can’t help it. I’m smiling as I’m munching.
This Kettle Corn is just what I was hoping for. Oh and the clean-up was super easy. All you have to do is pour the kettle corn into a bowl and clean up the paper and foil. That’s it. Wash out the bowl you made the syrup in. The baking pan you used will be clean because of the foil lining. Great, right?
So, after several bags of popcorn, sugar and corn syrup all over the counter and burning the tip of my tongue, I happily offer you the recipe for the Best Kettle Corn Ever. Enjoy! — Laura
Like popcorn? You might also enjoy:
Recipe for Best Kettle Corn Ever
Best Kettle Corn Ever Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-10 cups popcorn (2 bags microwave popcorn)
2 ½ Minute Syrup:
- 1/3 cup corn syrup (Karo)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 T . water
- 2 T . sugar (for sprinkling)
- coarse salt to taste (opt)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line with foil and grease or vegetable spray an 18″ x 9″ pan cake pan.
- Spread popcorn on foil in pan.
- In a deep 16-24 oz micro-proof cup or bowl, stir together corn syrup, sugar and water.
- Heat sugar mixture in microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Gently Stir.
- Microwave again 1 minute and stir.
- Microwave 30 seconds more till syrup is foamy. Syrup will be extremely hot. Use caution in handling.
- Quickly and thinly drizzle syrup evenly over popcorn.
- Sprinkle with 2 T. additional sugar.
- Sprinkle with coarse salt if desired.
- Bake in oven for 5 minutes.
- Stir with large spoon and bake 3- 5 more minutes. Do not allow popcorn to scorch.
- Remove from oven and flip onto wax paper or baking parchment.
- Cool completely and break apart before serving. 6 servings.
Notes
More Popcorn treats:
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Sounds great but I don’t have a microwave can I make the syrup on the stovetop like the Crispy Jello Popcorn?
I think that should work but I haven’t tried it yet. If you do try it, please let us know if it works.
This is a wonderful kettle corn recipe and very easy. The only change I made was that I used Guava syrup instead of corn syrup. It worked great and made very good kettle corn!
thanks for the recipe!
Ooh! Nice to know that works. Thank you for your comment.