Caramel Corn with Goodies: MOOSE MUNCH

There used to be a Harry and David outlet store nearby.  I loved their MOOSE MUNCH:  caramel popcorn mixed with nuts and chocolate.  Yummy!  I saw this recipe on Cooking Classy..and realized it was almost the same as moose munch. My sweetheart had been expressing a craving for caramel corn so here was a great chance to try the recipe.  It was too easy...make the caramel in the microwave in 4  minutes!   It is also another one of those great treats to make up and give away for the holidays.  So make some up, and if you don't eat it all yourself right away...share with friends!

Fancy Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup un-popped popcorn kernels
• 2 ½ cups mini pretzels, broken into pieces*
• 1 cup lightly salted peanuts or chopped almonds
• ½ cup salted butter
• 1 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
• ½ cup light-corn syrup
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ cup milk chocolate chips
• ½ cup white chocolate chips

Directions

• Pop popcorn kernels in a popcorn popper into a very large bowl. Be sure to remove any un-popped kernels (so no one breaks a tooth). Add in crushed pretzels and peanuts and gently fold mixture together, set aside. In an large microwave safe bowl, melt butter, it should take about 50 seconds. Stir in brown sugar, light corn syrup and salt. Mix well. Microwave mixture for 2 minutes, then stir and immediately return to microwave and cook 2 more minutes. Remove from microwave, add in vanilla and baking soda and stir until frothy, about 10 seconds (don’t be tempted to dip your finger in and taste test, it is HOT). Pour caramel over popcorn mixture and gently stir until evenly coated. Pour caramel coated popcorn mixture onto a parchment or wax paper covered cookie sheet (if you don’t have either paper you could even just butter the cookie sheet).
• Melt milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, on 50% power in 30 second intervals stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate into a piping bag or ziploc bag and cut the tip off and drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn. Repeat this step with the white chocolate chips.
• Place chocolate covered popcorn in refrigerator until chocolate hardens, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and break popcorn into pieces. Store popcorn in an airtight container.