Distracted Homemaker

My Granny B made the best Apple Pies. She always cut pretty patterns out of the top crust and sugared it. That sugar glistened when it came out of the oven and gave each bite a crunchy sweetness. Pies are not my forte… I can make them, but they never seem to compare to my Mother’s or Granny B’s. Since it is “apple week” here on my blog… I thought I would give you my own idea of a quick and easy apple pie fix. It doesn’t have any apples in it or a crust or pretty patterns… um, it actually doesn’t have much to do with a pie other than the simple fact that it “tastes” like an apple pie. Just shut your eyes when you eat it and pretend it’s pie. Each and every bite melts in your mouth. It is one of those things that once you start eating it, it is hard to stop. Until it is gone, that is.

(click title to download and print recipe)

Apple Pie Popcorn

First make Caramel Corn using the following recipe or buy ready made caramel corn to save time. I made my own because I am a caramel corn snob and wanted it to taste extra buttery!

Caramel Corn

• 6 Quarts of Popped Mushroom Popcorn (I fill my air popper 2 times and that makes about 6 quarts popped)
• 1 Cup Butter
• 2 Cups Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 tsp Butter Extract

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray a large roasting pan with non-stick spray and put popped corn in it. I use my double lasagna pan. I scoop the popped corn out of the bowl into the roasting pan with my hands gently so all of the little bits and unpopped kernels are left in the bottom of the bowl. Place popped corn in the oven as you want it to heat up while you are making the caramel mixture. In a heavy pot melt butter on medium heat and then add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Stir constantly and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils STOP stirring it and let it boil for 5 minutes. NO STIRRING! Remove from heat and stir in soda, vanilla and extract. (if you don’t have or can’t get butter extract in your area, don’t fret… you can leave it out and this will still be divine!) Remove popcorn from the oven and pour the caramel mixture on it gradually while mixing gently and tossing… make sure ALL pieces are coated with the caramel. Bake for 1 hour at 250 degrees stir and toss every 15 minutes. When done baking dump pan onto kitchen counter to separate and cool.

              
Apple Pie Popcorn

• 6 Quarts Caramel Corn
• 24 Ounces White Chocolate
• 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 TBSP Apple Pie Spice

Stir powdered sugar and spice together until fully blended. Put 3 quarts of caramel corn into a large bowl ( I do 3 quarts at a time since my bowl isn’t big enough) Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate (I do this in the microwave at 30 second intervals until it is smooth) and pour onto caramel corn. Toss (while white chocolate is still wet) with 1/2 of your powdered mix. Repeat with the other 1/2 of the popcorn, chocolate and powder. Then indulge yourself ’till the cows come home. This is a decadent fall treat!
    
Holy cow that was a long post! You may have noticed in some of the pictures that I decided to throw in some chopped pecans… well it wasn’t as delicious as I had hoped so I stuck to giving you my pure unadulterated recipe! Yum!

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