Sweet and Salty Popcorn Mix

By boscobojo

Ingredients

• 5 cups popcorn
• 5 cups assorted Japanese rice crackers (not fish flavor)
• 1 1/2 cups cocktail peanuts
• 1/2 cups sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 cups wasabi peas
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dark or light corn syrup
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Toss the popcorn, rice crackers, peanuts, sesame seeds and wasabi peas in a large bowl.

Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then cook, stirring, until thick, about 1 more minute. Remove from the heat. Carefully stir in the vanilla and baking soda (the caramel will bubble).

Pour the hot caramel over the popcorn mixture and stir with a metal spoon. (Don't worry if the caramel is too thick to coat the mix; it will melt in the oven.) Spread on the prepared baking sheets; bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until evenly coated, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool completely. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.