Candied Christmas Popcorn

This is so yummy and easy! The kids will love making this and using bright Christmas colors create a really fun effect. Put it in a decorative tin or hand stenciled paper lunch sack and you have a delightful, homemade gift.

Ingredients:

non-stick cooking spray (e.g., PAM)
16 cups of popped popcorn
2 cups of granulated sugar
1/2 cup of light corn syrup (also called golden syrup in the UK)
2 t. almond extract
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
red and greed paste food coloring

Note: you can try using liquid food coloring, but paste food coloring gives a much more vibrant color.

Directions:

Spray the inside of a 14-inch by 20-inch oven cooking bag with cooking spray. Place popped popcorn in the bag. In a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave on HIGH power (100%) for two minutes or until mixture boils. Stir and microwave two minutes longer. Stir in almond extract, salt, and baking soda; tint sugar mixture red OR green. (Use only one color per batch.) Pour syrup over popcorn; stir and shake until well coated. Microwave on HIGH power (100%) for three minutes, stirring and shaking after each minute. Spread on aluminum foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

Yield: approximately 17 cups of candied popcorn.

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