This recipe requires a little more adult involvement (than we usually have) with the making of the caramel, but it is well worth the time involved, and the children really love trying the popcorn plain (when it is first popped) and then again after the batch has been made into golden caramel popcorn!



Ingredients Needed:

1 cup unpopped popcorn
Oil
2 sticks of softened butter
2 cups of brown sugar
1/2 cup Karo syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda


Utensils Needed:

Covered pot to make popcorn
Large pot to make caramel
Soup Pot to mix popcorn in
Large Cooking spoons for stirring
Cookie sheets for cooling popcorn

Directions:

Wash and dry hands.
Have an adult prepare the popcorn in the covered pot using oil to cover the bottom of the pot and 1/2 cup of the popcorn kernels.  Pop corn and pour into soup pot to cool. *Or popcorn can be popped in the microwave by placing kernels(no oil)  in a paper bag, sealing the bag and microwaving on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
The children can stir and sample the cooling popcorn.
Prepare the remaining popcorn and pour into the soup pot- you should have 8 cups or more of popped corn.
In large pot combine the butter, Karo syrup and brown sugar.  Cook over medium hear until mixture starts to boil.  Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  remove from heat, and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
Pour caramel over the popcorn.
Using the large spoons, stir the popcorn to mix the caramel until all popcorn is coated with the candy mixture.
Pour out onto cookie sheets, spread out and let popcorn cool.
Break into small clusters and put into decorated pot.
Tie up with cellophane and colored ribbons and give someone a pot of gold they will really enjoy.