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Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

homemade cracker jack

ClubFoody avatar
Recipe by
Francine Lizotte
@ClubFoody
Surrey South, BC

This easy snack is perfect for parties, baseball, football game or when watching a movie.

►
yield 8 servings
prep time 3 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For homemade cracker jack

  • 14 c
    popcorn, un-popped kernels discarded
  • 2 1/2 c
    roasted peanuts
  • 1/4 c
    flavorless oil (canola, grapeseed, etc.), or as needed
  • 11 Tbsp
    unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 1/2 c
    brown sugar
  • 1/2 c
    corn syrup
  • 3 Tbsp
    molasses
  • 1/2 Tbsp
    ground himalayan sea salt, divided and to taste
  • 1 tsp
    pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking soda

How To Make homemade cracker jack

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 200ºF.
  • 2
    In a large bowl (or two), combine popcorn and peanuts; stir and set aside.
  • 3
    Grease the bottom and up the rims of two large baking sheets with flavorless oil; set aside.
  • 4
    In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses and ¼ tsp. salt; stir until the butter and sugar are melted.
  • 5
    Attach a candy thermometer and let the mixture simmer, undisturbed, until the temperature reaches 250ºF, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  • 6
    Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda. Immediately pour it over the popcorn-peanut mixture; stir to coat evenly.
  • 7
    Divide the popcorn mixture between the two prepared baking sheets and spread evenly into a single layer. Sprinkle salt on top.
  • 8
    Transfer to the preheated oven and bake until the mixture is drier, about 30 minutes.
  • 9
    Remove from the heat and let the popcorn cool completely, about 2 minutes, before transferring to a bowl or bucket.
  • 10
    To view this recipe on YouTube, click on this link >>> https://youtu.be/Fny04hQirGU
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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