Friday Favourites: Toffee Popcorn [Recipe] (2024)

by June on May 30, 2014

Friday Favourites: Toffee Popcorn [Recipe] (1)

Friday night is movie night here in our house. During the week we each tend to do our own thing – reading, listening to music or watching YouTube videos relative to our areas of interest. Come Friday, though, we like to curl up together to watch something a little trashy. Earlier in the evening we treat ourselves to one of our favourite Friday dinners – burgers (which we had today), pizza, fajitas or such like. Then I like to make a big bowl of popcorn to munch in front of the TV. Throw in a few beers and I’m in heaven.

When we go to the cinema there is usually a row over which kind of popcorn we will buy – sweet or salty. Arūnas loves the sweet whereas I prefer the salty. Our local cinema recently started doing a half-and-half box, which I guess is a good solution. But at home I’ve always made salty popcorn. Until recently, that is. A few weeks back we had some friends over for drinks and I made my usual salty popcorn as a snack. One of the girls mentioned that she really liked sweet popcorn and asked how she might make it at home. I hadn’t tried it before so I set off to investigate. And now, a dozen bowls later, I’m bloody addicted to the stuff.

This popcorn is really quick to make – it takes less than 15 minutes from measuring the ingredients to washing the pot. But it is so incredibly scrumptious. I include a tiny pinch of salt which just cuts through the sweetness. The coating is both sticky and crunchy with a rich toffee flavour. For me it’s much nicer than the artificially flavoured stuff at the cinema. Arūnas loves it too, and has been munching on handfuls to boost his sugar levels when he comes in from the gym. It’s an all-round hit.

Friday Favourites: Toffee Popcorn [Recipe] (2)

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 2-4 depending on greediness and/or length of movie.

2 Tbsp rapeseed (canola) or sunflower oil
100 g | 3.5 oz popcorn kernels
50 g | 3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp honey
100 g | 3.5 oz sugar
Pinch salt
1 tsp baking soda


METHOD:

  1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy based saucepan over a high heat. Place one kernel of corn in the saucepan and cover the saucepan with a lid. When you hear the kernel pop, your oil is hot enough to proceed.
  2. Without removing the saucepan from the heat, pour in the remain kernels and quickly replace the lid. Give the saucepan a good shake to mix the hot oil through the kernels.
  3. When you hear the first kernel pop, reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Shake the pot gentle about once per minute to ensure any popped kernels don’t burn.
  4. The kernels should continue to pop vigorously for about 2-3 minutes. When the pops slow to 2-3 seconds apart, remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully remove the lid and pour the popcorn into a heatproof bowl.
  5. Using the same saucepan, melt the butter and honey over a high heat. Add the sugar and salt and stir to fully incorporate the sugar into the honey-butter mix.
  6. Allow the mixture to bubble over a high heat for about one minute, stirring occasionally. (Unlike some caramel mixtures, the sugar in this mix won’t crystallise if it is stirred.)
    NB: Be very careful with the toffee mixture – it is extremely hot.
  7. When the mix is a rich toffee brown, remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly stir in the baking soda. The baking soda causes the mixture to fluff up and expand, ensuring it covers the popcorn more thinly and evenly.
  8. Pour the popcorn back into the saucepan and stir for about one minute to coat the popcorn fully with the toffee mixture.
  9. Pour the toffee popcorn back into the heatproof bowl and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before eating. (Don’t be tempted to try a piece straight from the pot – it’s extremely hot!)
  10. The popcorn will stick together as it cools. Break the popcorn into smaller pieces for serving. (I put it in a bag and whack it a few times with a rolling pin.)


EXCUSE BUSTER:
“The microwave stuff is quicker and there’s no washing up”.
Yep, it probably is quicker, but it is highly likely that the toffee flavour is artificial and won’t taste anything like the real thing. It also won’t have the crunch that comes with real toffee. As a shortcut you could use plain microwave popcorn or bags of pre-popped corn and just make the toffee. However, you’d still have one pot to clean and it would cost much more (up to 5 times the price), so I’m not sure this shortcut is worth it.


MAKE AHEAD:
To ensure maximum freshness and crunch I don’t recommend making any elements ahead of time. The popcorn takes about 15 minutes to make, including washing the saucepan, so there’s really no need.
The best preparation you can do is ensure you have all the ingredients in your pantry so that if you fancy a bit of toffee popcorn you know you can whip in up in a few minutes.


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Friday Favourites: Toffee Popcorn [Recipe] (3)

Tags: country life, food, Friday Favourites, homemade, Lithuania, photography, popcorn, recipe, self-sufficiency, toffee

From: My Food Odyssey

Friday Favourites: Toffee Popcorn [Recipe] (2024)

FAQs

Is caramel and toffee popcorn the same? ›

People often use toffee and caramel popcorn interchangeably. However, the two products are different. Although both sugary candies are a favorite in desserts and snacks, they have vast differences in test, consistency, and effect. The variations become very apparent when added as a popcorn flavor.

Is toffee popcorn a sweet? ›

Using our secret recipe, our generously covered Toffee popcorn is a taste sensation, a perfect sweet treat to share. Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Popped Maize, Salted Butter (MILK), Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Cane Molasses, Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup, Single Cream (MILK), Emulsifier: Lecithins.

How to make popcorn crunchy? ›

A top reason popcorn turns out chewy is because steam gets trapped in your pot when the popcorn kernels are popping. Fix this by using a well-vented lid or leave the pan slightly open to make a light and crispy popcorn.

How to season popcorn at home? ›

For savory popcorn: Olive oil, kosher salt, and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is the perfect seasoning if you want cheesy flavor but also want vegan popcorn seasoning. For sweet popcorn: Olive oil, cinnamon, and a dash of brown sugar. This will satisfy your sweet cravings without making your teeth hurt!

Is toffee just burnt caramel? ›

The difference between toffee and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas toffee is made with butter and brown sugar and cooked to 295 - 309 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can diabetics eat toffee popcorn? ›

Popcorn has few calories and is high in fiber, which can make it a suitable snack for people with diabetes. However, adding butter, sugar, and other toppings may mean it is no longer a healthy choice.

Why is toffee popcorn round? ›

The round popcorn is often preferred for things like kettle corn and carmel corn. The more consistent shape allows for better coating of the piece of popcorn (or so they say).

Is it OK to eat caramel popcorn? ›

While caramel-coated popcorn may be a tempting snack, its simple carbs and high sugar content can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia and other health problems.

What can you do with old popcorn? ›

Simply spread it out in an even layer on a baking sheet and place it in a 250°F oven for about five minutes, until it's warmed through. You'll want to check on the popcorn frequently as it's in the oven just to ensure it doesn't begin to burn. Once warmed and crisp again, pour it into a bowl and snack as usual.

Why does my popcorn get soggy when I add butter? ›

The reason it goes soggy is because butter contains 15% water. Yes, water is what is making your popcorn soggy!

Why do you soak popcorn in water? ›

As the hydrated kernels soak, water travels through their hulls into their starchy interiors, making them expand and making the hull weaker. This causes the hydrated kernels to pop before much pressure builds up inside the kernel.

What can I add to popcorn to make it taste better? ›

You can use seasoning mixes or create your own by combining different spices. Some ideas for flavors include Classic Butter: Melted butter and a pinch of salt. Cheese Lovers: Sprinkle powdered cheddar cheese or nutritional yeast on the popcorn. Sweet & Salty: Mix caramel sauce with a dash of sea salt.

What can I add to popcorn for flavor? ›

The savory one includes smoked paprika, onion powder, a little cumin, a pinch of cayenne, and fine salt. Both are open to variation, depending on my mood and what's in the pantry. Another great flavor to add to popcorn is grated parmesan, but only if you've got the good stuff.

What's the difference between caramel and toffee? ›

The difference between caramel and toffee is greater, as caramel has a more liquid consistency and is usually pure sugar (it doesn't contain butter or flour). Still, the taste of caramel, fudge, and toffee is relatively similar, as they are all made from mostly sugar (as well as butter in the case of fudge and toffee).

Is caramel and toffee nut the same thing? ›

Toffee nut incorporates that delicious candy into a sweet syrup. It is almost like a combination of caramel and some kind of nuts, and boy, is it tasty. The nutty flavor can come from almonds, hazelnuts or pecans and creates a depth to the flavor of coffee drinks and other tasty beverages that you add it to.

What is the difference between caramel and toffee color? ›

While they share a golden-brown colour and a sugary base, toffee and caramel are distinct in ingredients, preparation, and texture. Toffee, known for its hard and brittle nature, contrasts with caramel's soft, chewy consistency. Join us as we uncover these two beloved confections' subtle yet significant differences.

What's the difference between caramel popcorn and regular popcorn? ›

What's the difference between these two unique crunchy sweets? Caramel corn is made from regular popping corn. Once popped, it is mixed with hot caramel that creates a thin, crunchy, and sweet coating over each popped kernel. Historically, caramel corn was sweetened with molasses.

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