My ultimate salted caramel corn recipe is exactly what you need to put your family game or movie night over the top! Game nights play a big part in our house, something we’ve been calling “family time” for the last two years. I’ve got the reasoning behind that, the recipe, and an amazing giveaway all coming up in this post!
How Family Game Nights Saved Our Family
Our family went through a rough year last year, with one of our kids struggling at school with bullying. There was no one solution for us, it was a combination of therapy, time, patience, and finding the right distractions to build confidence at home. That’s where the idea of “family time” came into play.
We started off by splitting the kids up every night, some with mommy, some with daddy, and alternating each night so that every kid gets one on one time during the week. The kids had 20 minutes to tell us what they wanted to do, and we did it. Parents can’t say no, and the kids make up all the rules. Sometimes Bo was playing with dolls, sometimes I was drawing dinosaur skeletons, but every night the kids were smiling ear to ear for 20 minutes before bedtime.
As everything slowly went back to normal at home and at school, our family time morphed more and more into game nights (the kids choice), where we could all play together. I can’t tell you enough how great this has been for our family. It forces Bo and I to put everything else aside for a bit and just become kids again. More importantly though, it makes our kids SO HAPPY.
Pie Face Giveaway
This last week the kids and I played Pie Face. I say the kids and I – but by the end it was only Anna and I, because we were the only two that got whip-creamed – I have the worst luck. And Bo was enjoying sitting across from us and taking pictures too much to join in.
Seriously – I think someone rigged our game because I’m THE ONLY ONE that kept getting Pie Faced.
I did get my own revenge on Anna laughing at me though. As a Mom is aught to do. She’ll never ask for a mouthful of whipped cream again!
GIVEAWAY TIME! Here’s your chance to win a prize pack of 6 Hasbro games (including Pie Face), and Gay Lea product coupons! Good Luck!!
PTPA & Gay Lea Pie Face
Giveaway
I just want to say one last time how excited I’ve been over the last year to be an ambassador for Gay Lea Foods Coop and all their amazing products. I’ve had so much fun sharing the products I’ve always loved with you in some of my favourite recipes, and it’s been awesome hosting all these giveaways with you! Good luck on this last one!!
Ultimate Caramel Corn = Ultimate Game Night Snack
In our house food always goes hand in hand with what we’re doing. I have a meal or snack for everything. Seriously, I have bad day meals, good day meals, rainy day treats, sad day sweets, even movie night on the couch hand held dinners. Food is a great reflection of emotion here, and nothing is more fun than grabbing a handful of crunchy, sweet, and salty caramel corn between turns during game night.
I know, you’ve all had the caramel corn at the mall. It’s ok. It is. When you’re at the mall, or in a pinch with a craving. But it has NOTHING on making it yourself at home. I promise it isn’t hard. You might be worrying that you have to get it to a certain temperature, which means a candy thermometer…. I hope I didn’t lose you there, because you don’t need either!
You just bring some brown sugar and your favourite butter to a boil – I always use Gay Lea Salted Butter – and let it boil for 4 minutes. Mix in the vanilla, salt, and nuts if you want them. Pour it over the pre-popped popcorn, then put it in the oven. This won’t be the fastest popcorn you’ve every made, but I promise it will be one of the best!
How I make movie theater style popcorn at home
One other suggestion – use a popcorn that you like. Microwave popcorn works great (I’m an extra buttery movie theatre style gal). In our house though popcorn is sacred. I always pop ours on the stove top in a whirly pop with butter seasoned coconut oil and some flavacol just like the movie theaters do. I’m crazy, I know, but it’s so worth it!
I hope you all have some sweet games nights in your future!
Ultimate Caramel Corn – A Game Night Favourite!
Ingredients
- 10 - 12 cups of popped popcorn (1/2 cup kernels if making your own, or 2 bags microwave popcorn)
- 3/4 cup salted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup almond slivers (optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 250ºF with a rack in both the upper and lower third of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Put the popped popcorn in a large, heatproof bowl and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium pot. Add the brown sugar and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Let boil for 4 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the vanilla, kosher salt, baking soda, and almond slivers if you're using them.
- Pour 1/3 of the caramel onto the popcorn and give it a stir with a large spatula. Repeat twice with the remaining two thirds of caramel. Continuing tossing the popcorn with the spatula until it's all evenly coated.
- Pour the popcorn out onto the two prepped baking sheets and place in the oven for 1 hour, stirring it every 15 minutes.
- Let cool before eating.
Need another great game night snack?
Try my five minutes fresh salsa – it’s a must make for all our family parties and get togethers!
Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Gay Lea and I received Compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Melissa
Jen