Apple-Popcorn Recipes
Fall is here, and these recipes celebrate October as National
Popcorn Poppin' Month & Apple Month.
National Popcorn Popping Month      Popcorn Nutrition         Popcorn Fixins'
Popcorn Recipes    Halloween Popcorn Recipes
Apple-Popcorn Brittle       Popcorn Caramel Apples

Apple-Popcorn Brittle

1 quart popped popcorn*
2 cups apple and cinnamon flavored cereal
1 cup cocktail peanuts
3/4 cup apple juice**
1 cup sugar
1/4 light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a bowl, toss together popped popcorn, cereal and peanuts. Set aside. Butter sides of a heavy 2 quart saucepan. In saucepan, combine apple juice, sugar, corn syrup, vinegar and salt.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Cook to hard ball stage (250 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer).
Remove from heat. Pour syrup over popcorn-cereal-peanut mixture; toss to coat.
Spread in a buttered 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1-inch baking pan. Cool until hardened. Break into pieces.
*1 ounce of unpopped popcorn kernels (2 tablespoons household measure) makes approximately 1 quart of popped popcorn.
**3/4 cup apple pop wine may be used instead of apple juice.


Popcorn Caramel Apples, photo above

1 quart popped popcorn
1 (9.5 oz.) package caramels, unwrapped (35 caramels)
¼ cup light cream or 'half and half'
4 lollipop sticks (or wooden candy apple sticks)
4 apples
½ cup chocolate chips
Sugar sprinkles
Decorative ribbon, optional

Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside. Place a sheet of waxed paper on work surface.
Heat caramels and cream in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until caramels are melted and cream is blended into caramels.
Push a stick into an apple center and dip into caramel. Spoon caramel over apple to coat completely. Place caramel–coated apple into bowl of popcorn and press popcorn onto caramel to cover completely. Place apple on waxed paper to set; repeat with remaining apples.
Place chocolate chips in a small, resealable plastic bag. Microwave 10 seconds and press chips to aid melting. Repeat, heating at 10-second intervals, until chips are completely melted. Cut a small corner off bag and squeeze chocolate onto each apple allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.
Tie a bow to each apple stick, if desired. To serve, cut apple into slices. Yield: 4