Can I use bagged popcorn or do I need to pop it fresh?

I like popping fresh popcorn myself, but bagged popcorn is perfectly fine too! Get the plainest popcorn that you can so that the other flavors can shine through.

Can I use any kind of nuts?

You can! Sometimes I make this with just peanuts, and once I made it with macadamia nuts and practically died of happiness.

Can this be made ahead of time?

Yes! This will keep for several days stored in an airtight container.

Have a question that I didn't cover?

Pop your question in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!

Reindeer Crunch

Reindeer Crunch!

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5 from 3 reviews

This recipe for reindeer crunch is the perfect easy, sweet and salty gift from your holiday kitchen! And don’t forget to make a batch for yourself.

Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Yield: 10 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Microwave and Oven
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

12 cups plain popped popcorn
1 1/2 cups salted mixed nuts
1/2 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 ounces chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 250 and grease two rimmed baking sheets.
Combine popcorn and nuts in large bowl.
Melt butter in medium heavy saucepan. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring now and then. Stir in vanilla.
Working quickly and carefully (sugar mixture is super-hot!), pour sugar mixture over popcorn and nuts. Stir with a wooden spoon until coated.
Spread mixture in a single layer on two lightly greased two baking pans. Bake at 250 for 30 minutes, stirring once.
Cool in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes and break into chunks.
If you are using candy melts, melt them according to the directions on the pacakge. If you are using chocolate chips, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave (if you use the microwave, melt on 50% power for 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds until melted). Drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn.
Cool until chocolate hardens (this goes faster in the fridge.) Store in airtight container. If you even need to store it, because this stuff disappears fast! :)

Notes

- Popcorn: You want plain popcorn, not flavored with butter or anything else. You can either pop it yourself or pick up a couple of bags of plain popcorn (salted is finee).

- Corn Syrup: Corn syrup is a thick sweetener made from, yep, corn! You want the light version for this recipe (the dark version contains molasses which will change the caramel flavor). You can find it in the baking aisle of your supermarket.

- Chocolate: You can use whatever kind of chocolate you like – I always opt for the mini chips because they melt faster.

- Nuts: Yes, you can leave them out if you need to, or you can use a single variety of nuts (one day I am going to make this recipe with only macadamia nuts!)

Find it online: https://www.framedcooks.com/reindeer-crunch/