Amish-Style Caramel Corn

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature for this recipe. Next, take two baking sheets and grease them thoroughly to prevent sticking.

Divide the popped popcorn and peanuts evenly between the two prepared baking sheets. This ensures that both components receive equal attention during the cooking process.

In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, and salt. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to achieve a smooth consistency. Once boiling, continue cooking for 5 minutes, constantly stirring the mixture.

Once the mixture has reached its boiling point, remove it from the heat and stir in vanilla extract and baking soda. The mixture should now appear light and fluffy, indicating that it's ready to be combined with the popcorn and nuts.

Immediately pour the hot sugar mixture over the popcorn and nuts, stirring until they're well-coated. This step is crucial in ensuring that every component is evenly distributed.

Bake the mixture in your preheated oven for 1 hour, removing the pans every 15 minutes to give them a good stir. This helps prevent any clumps from forming during the cooking process.

Before serving, line your countertop with waxed paper to make cleanup easier. Remove the popcorn and nuts from the oven, dump them onto the waxed paper, and separate any large clumps. Finally, allow the mixture to cool completely before serving.