Take me out to the ball game! Have you ever bought your kids come Cracker Jack? Share teh nostalgic memories you enjoy today by making them a batch at home. It’s easy-peasy!
Child-hood memories of red and white boxes filled with crunchy, sweet popcorn and peanuts flood your memory bank when you hear the name “Cracker Jack”. Don’t forget the added bonus of a mystery surprise toy inside the box. Now you can pass on memories with your kiddos using this recipe that tastes even better than Cracker Jack — it really does!
One of my girls absolutely despises peanuts, almonds, pecans — anything in the nut family! To make her happy, I just leave out the peanuts. If your child has a peanut allergy or just doesn’t like those yummy crunchies, you can easily omit the nuts and still have a yummy, caramel popcorn.
Always be careful when making caramel popcorn that you are patient and watch carefully. You want to cook the candied mixture long enough where it is sticky enough the the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. However, you do not want to burn it. Yuck! Burned caramel is NOT yummy!
These are also cute to use at a baseball themed birthday party. Large batches of this recipe can be made easily by doubling and tripling the recipe. Plus, you can make it one or two days ahead to save on time and clean-up for a party or get together.
I also use this snack as a fun, Friday night movie snack. It’s fun to offer the kids a sweeter popcorn instead of the traditional buttered popcorn. Everyone likes a change once in a while!
Print Homemade Cracker Jack Popcorn
This homemade Cracker Jack popcorn is a sweet, salty, and crunchy treat that beats the store-bought version every time. Made with fluffy popcorn, roasted peanuts, and a buttery caramel coating, this old-fashioned caramel popcorn recipe is irresistibly snackable and perfect for movie nights, parties, and homemade gifts.
- Prep Time 10 mins
- Cook Time 15 mins
- Total Time 25 mins
- Yield 16 servings 1x
- Category Snack
- Cuisine American
Ingredients
- 2½ cup white sugar
- 6 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp pancake syrup
- 1 cup shelled peanuts, unsalted
- ½ tsp salt
- 16 cup popped popcorn, unpopped seeds removed
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine salt, sugar and butter.
- Cook on medium-high heat and stir constantly for about five minutes.
- Then, add pancake syrup and continue to cook.
- If sugar begins to burn, turn down heat and add some cooking oil or additional butter.
- Keep stirring and cooking until mixture becomes sticky and caramelized; approximately 15 minutes.
- Once it has reached the caramelized state, remove from heat and stir in peanuts.
- Let mixture stand for about 5 minutes.
- Then, pour over popped popcorn and mix thoroughly.
This looks like a perfect movie night snack!!! Sounds absolutely delicious!
I gotta try this! Every time I think about cracker jacks, it brings back such childhood memories. This would be wonderful to make with my kids. Visiting from Duck ‘n a Row. Just had to stopped by and check out the popcorn…
These look delicious!
Love your blog! Would love for you to link up on A Peek Into My Paradise T.G.I.F. Link Party on Friday!
Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
I’ll try to stop by Cathy!
Oh, I loved Cracker Jacks as a kid. Haven’t had them in years. I so going to try this recipe out soon. Pinning this!! Visiting you from TFT party, hope you stop by for a visit too.
Have a wonderful day!
That looks like a fun treat and project to do with my kiddo! Yumm! :)
Alison, thank you for sharing this recipe. I love Cracker Jacks and now I have a way to make my own at home. I am now following you on Twitter.
Yum! This would be fun to make and I could leave the peanuts out so I could eat it, too. Fun!
Thanks so much for linking up at the Real Family Fun link party! Hope to see you next week.
KC
Oh, this looks great! And with baseball season here, this is perfect! I just may have to whip up a batch of this soon. :)
Thank you for sharing at Marvelous Mondays this week!
This looks amazingly delicious, Alison. Great treat!! I like it so much that it is being FEATURED at Tasty Thursdays this week. Thanks for linking up!! Nichi http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2013/05/tasty-thursdays-40-and-giveaway.html