Caramel Apple Popcorn Clusters

By Tinkysmom55

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 4 cups dried apple chips, broken into pieces
• 1 cup unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
• 2 cups apple juice
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

Details

Servings 24

Preparation

Step 1

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Heat the vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels; cover and cook, shaking the pan, until the popping subsides. Remove from the heat and let any remaining kernels pop for 30 more seconds. Divide the popcorn between the prepared baking sheets, discarding any unpopped kernels. Scatter the apple chips and almonds on top.

Make the caramel: Bring the apple juice, brown sugar and corn syrup to a boil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook without stirring until the mixture is deep amber and a candy thermometer registers 280 degrees F, about 30 minutes (the caramel will bubble vigorously toward the end of the cooking time).

Stir the butter into the caramel until melted. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the apple pie spice. Remove from the heat. Pour the hot caramel over the popcorn mixture and carefully toss with two rubber spatulas. Let cool slightly, then separate the mixture into clusters while still warm. Let cool completely.