When I was a kid, there was a caramel corn shop at our local mall. When you stepped out of a store, that buttery, sugary aroma from the cooked caramel would be soooo tempting- you’d eventually go get a bag. One of my friends worked there and gave me the recipe. I have made this recipe every fall for decades now- it is a fall tradition that I wanted to pass along to you! xo

BAKED CARAMEL CORN

INGREDIENTS

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 quarts popped popcorn

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 250 F.

Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Spread out the popcorn in one even layer.

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat and stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then boil without stirring, for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. Gradually pour the hot caramel over the popped corn.

Bake for 1 hour, turning over the popcorn every 15 minutes. Cool completely and store in a covered container.

National Popcorn Day!

Popcorn is one of my all-time favorite party foods. There is just so much you can do with it. I like to season it with different spices or even herbs. Rosemary-Sea Salt is one of my favorite combos. For something over the top and decadent, try this one. White and dark chocolate. Salt. Popcorn. What's not to love?

Double Drizzled Kettle Corn - white and dark chocolate over salty popcorn. Decadent. Delicious. Deadly addictive! Photo credit: Tamika Moore/Birmingham News

DOUBLE DRIZZLE KETTLE CORN

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup popcorn kernels

3 tablespoons sugar

1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt

½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips

½ cup white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot or stock pot with a lid, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add the popcorn. When the oil begins to hiss, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover with the lid. Hold the lid down with a potholder and shake the pot over the heat until the popping begins. Shake vigorously until the popping begins to slow down. (It goes from popped to burnt very quickly) Remove from the heat; toss with the salt. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the popcorn out onto the pans, being careful not to overlap the kernels.

Melt the chocolate separately in a heatproof bowl over a double boiler. Stir frequently and keep the heat low because the chocolate will burn easily.

Dip a fork in the chocolate and drizzle it over the popcorn. Do the same with the white chocolate. Allow to set until dry. Break into pieces to serve. You can store it in an airtight container in a cool spot for up to a week.