It's All in the Color

 

Since I had a new baby at the end of August, my holiday treat making has decreased this season. However, I had to do something fun for my boys. So, we had a movie night and watched a Halloween movie and ate their favorite kettle corn, dyed black and orange. I love this kettle corn recipe. It is so quick and easy. My boys ask me to make it for them all the time. It is fun to mix up the colors to go along with different holidays. A purple and green mix also would have been fun for Halloween, but my boys thought the black and orange combination was really fun.

Kettle Korn (Whirly Pop)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup popping corn
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup popping oil (I only use about 1/8 cup vegetable oil...I just fill my 1/4 cup measure half-way)

Directions:

Preheat electric stove (just above medium setting). For gas stoves, set low, never higher. Preheating is unnecessary. Pour all ingredients into popper. Stir constantly until kernels have finished popping. Quickly empty kettle corn onto cookie sheet. While the corn cools, take popper immediately to sink, run hot water into it with liquid detergent. Close lids on suds and let it soak for easy cleanup. When kettle corn is cool, break into pieces with a wooden spoon. Pick out any upopped kernels. Makes approximately 4 quarts of kettle corn.

To add color: Add a few drops of food coloring on the unmelted sugar when ingredients are put in popper. Don't squirt in one spot; it will lump. Dot small amounts around in 6 or 8 places. Store finished kettle corn in an airtight canister or jar.

To add flavor: Choose from coconut, rum, vanilla, almond, or other flavorings. Try 1/2 teaspoon in the first batch, and increase with each batch to suit your taste.


Source: This came from my Whirley Pop recipe booklet.

Notes: I use less oil than the recipe calls for because seriously, that much just isn't needed. It just makes your hands messier when you are eating it! Even with the Whirley Pop, the hot oil splatters (even through the lid of my popcorn maker). I always stir it while I am wearing oven mitts and an apron...and I stand as far back as I can!

 

Above: Originally posted here. Doesn't the color make such a difference? So fun to mix it up!