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Popcorn has become a favorite snack food around the globe and there are various ways you can make it. The simplest way is to cook popcorn kernels in hot oil or butter until they are golden brown.
However, there are other methods that involve baking or roasting the corn. These methods produce a crunchier texture and give the popcorn a nutty taste.
In most cases, popcorn is seasoned with salt or sugar, even though it is also possible to coat the finished kernels with chocolate, caramel and toffee.
Toffee popcorn is a sweet and creative take on the classic snack, as it produces a firm popcorn that is bursting with the flavor of cooked sugar. So if you want to make your own toffee popcorn, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we are going to teach you how to make your own toffee popcorn from scratch, using simple ingredients from your local store. We have also included some useful tips to ensure a perfect batch.
So if you have a sweet tooth and want something to snack on, this article has everything you need to get started…
What Is Toffee Popcorn?
As you have probably guessed, toffee popcorn is a kind of popcorn that has been coated in melted toffee, which results in a sweet and crunchy treat. In most cases, the toffee is made by combining butter with brown sugar, which helps to produce the best consistency to cover the popcorn.
Besides this, toffee popcorn is extremely easy to make and can be made with any popcorn as the base. However, we would recommend using white popcorn instead, as this tends to yield the best results.
Because of its sticky texture and golden color, many people mistake toffee popcorn for caramel popcorn. However, there are some notable differences that set the two confections apart.
But what are these differences and how do they impact the way the popcorn is made? Well, let’s take a look and see.
Toffee Popcorn Vs Caramel Popcorn
While many mistake toffee and caramel for the same thing, they are actually two very different candies, which are produced using different methods. Because of this, there are some notable differences between the two candies that should be considered.
For example, caramel is much softer than toffee and is known for its chewy texture. In contrast, toffee can be identified by its firmness and overall brittle composition.
But what happens when you use these candies to flavor popcorn? Well, in most cases, this creates a delicious and sweet snack, although there are some differences between the final results.
While both confections form a hard coating around the kernels, caramel popcorn is much softer and easy to eat. On the other hand, toffee popcorn is much harder, which results in a crunchy and chewy texture.
Of course, which one you prefer comes down to your own preference. But we personally think that both popcorns are delicious and make for a welcome addition to any movie night with family and friends.
Now that you understand the difference between toffee and caramel corn, let’s take a look at how you can make your own toffee popcorn from scratch…
How To Make Toffee Popcorn
To make toffee popcorn, you will need to make your own toffee and spread it over the finished kernels. Fortunately, making homemade toffee is not a difficult process and can be done using the oven or stove.
All you need is some sugar, butter and corn syrup to make the base.
While it is possible to use light corn syrup, we do recommend using dark corn syrup instead, as this will deliver a more sinful taste.
If you want to start making your own toffee popcorn, then we have outlined some different methods in the sections below:
Toffee Popcorn (In The Oven)
Ingredients
- Kernels (½ cup)
- Vegetable oil (3 tablespoons)
- Butter (1 cup)
- Light brown sugar (2 ¼ cups)
- Dark corn syrup (¾ cup)
- Salt (½ teaspoon)
- Vanilla extract (2 tablespoons)
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
- Roasted salted peanuts (3 cups – optional)
Method
- Grease 2 baking sheets and line with parchment paper before setting aside. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
- Place a saucepan over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add some kernels to see if they pop.
- Cover the saucepan with foil and use a sharp knife to poke holes into the surface, this will allow the steam to escape.
- Return the saucepan to the heat and continue cooking while shaking the pan back and forth.
- When the popping slows down, remove the pan from the heat and uncover the foil, transfer the popcorn to a large bowl.
- Remove any unpopped kernels and allow the popcorn to cool while making the toffee sauce.
- Place a large saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. Once it has melted, add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat before leaving the mixture to simmer for 3 minutes.
- When the mixture has thickened, add the vanilla extract and baking soda. This should make the toffee bubble.
- Pour the toffee over the finished popcorn and then add the peanuts while making sure that everything is evenly distributed.
- Spread the popcorn onto the baking sheets and bake for 1 hour while stirring the mixture every 20 minutes. The popcorn should deepen in color and harden as the toffee bakes.
- When the hour has passed, remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the popcorn to cool before transferring to a bowl or airtight container.
Now, we understand that some people don’t feel comfortable using an oven to make their popcorn, which is why we have included the following recipe…
Toffee Popcorn (On The Stove)
This recipe uses the same ingredients and measurements as the first recipe. However, it can be made entirely on the stove.
Method
- Follow steps 1 – 6 from the previous recipe.
- Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat and combine the toffee ingredients until they form a thick mixture.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat before allowing the pan to simmer for 3 minutes.
- Once the mixture has thickened, add the vanilla extract and baking soda, which should make the toffee bubble.
- When the toffee is ready, pour the mixture over your warm popcorn and stir with a wooden spoon until the corn is evenly coated.
Final Thoughts
Like many popcorn recipes, toffee popcorn is a fast and convenient way to enjoy a sweet snack while watching a movie. While the popcorn is crunchier than its caramel counterpart, it is still bursting with flavor and promises to satisfy your needs while watching your favorite show or film.
