HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS POPCORN WITH PEANUTS

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS WITH PEANUTS- So much better than you remember!

Did you used to eat Cracker Jacks when you were a kid? I did and I loved them. Even today, I love anything that has popcorn in it. But, I bet you never had anything as good as these sweet, slightly salty butter toffee chunks of popcorn with roasted peanuts? This is such an easy recipe that uses microwave popcorn and just a few other ingredients. And it’s ADDICTIVE! No matter what your age, the kid in you will love these homemade Cracker Jacks!

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS WITH PEANUTS- So much better than you remember!

Homemade Cracker Jacks are even more fun to eat out of a Mason jar! A perfect individual serving!

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS WITH PEANUTS- So much better than you remember!

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS WITH PEANUTS

A scrumptious, grown up version of Cracker Jacks. Sweet and slightly salty butter toffee covered popcorn with roasted peanuts. OH, YUMMY!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 bags of bagged popcorn popped
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup salted peanuts

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with butter and set aside.
  • Sift through the popped popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. Put the popcorn into a very large bowl and set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a medium size saucepan over medium heat until melted. Add sugars and syrups and bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Take the pot off the heat and add the salt, vanilla and baking soda. Stir until the foaming stops and the caramel is light and fluffy.
  • Stir the caramel into the popcorn and add nuts. Use a plastic spatula. Stir gently until all the popcorn and peanuts are covered. Transfer to the buttered baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes at 250 degrees. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes. Break apart and it's ready to eat!

Notes

You can use all light brown sugar and light corn syrup in this recipe for a lighter, butter toffee look and taste.
Author: Yvonne @ StoneGable
I hope you make this sweet, caramelized popcorn treat for the ones you love!

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HOMEMADE CRACKER JACKS WITH PEANUTS- So much better than you remember!

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35 Comments

  1. Such a fantastic idea! This would make a great food gift for the holidays! Plus I just want to make a bunch to nibble on here at the house.

    1. It’s hard to just nibble. It’s so so good! It would be a fabulous holiday gift! Thanks for the great idea Susanne!

  2. I don’t use microwave popcorn…I cook it on the stove. How many cups of popped corn is needed to make the recipe?

      1. I made ‘caramel corn’ from a similar recipe 2 days ago and it called for 20 cups of popcorn. The brown sugar and syrup amounts were about the same. I’m happy to read of your technique though, because the recipe I used said that I had to ‘stir the caramel corn every 15 minutes during baking’ and that was a bit of a hassle. So glad to know I don’t have to do that next time!
        Thank you for sharing- I’ll add peaunuts next time too!

  3. Kay Schulz says:

    In Australia we don’t have sticks of butter, could you please tell me how many grams. I think it is a great idea for neighbors.
    Also the time you have for baking I’m sure is a typo mistake. Does it mean 4-5 hours or is it 45 hours.
    Love your blog.
    Hugs Kay

    1. Thanks, I’ll correct that. I’m not sure about the grams but 2 sticks is 16 TBS butter.

  4. Janis Stufflebean says:

    Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for this recipe. Memories of cracker jacks …
    Janis

  5. Lanita Anderson says:

    Yvonne,
    I, too, loved Cracker Jacks as a kid and can’t wait to try your recipe! It not only looks wonderful, it sounds really easy to make! Thanks for sharing…..
    Happy Fall,
    Lanita

  6. I’m going to add a surprise like we got with Cracker Jacks. Something more adult than “lick and stick” tatoos though!! Thanks for the recipe!

  7. I was just going through my recipes yesterday and stumbled across one for homemade carmel corn given to me by a relative when I got engaged! I was planning to make it soon! It’s a little different and doesn’t have the yummy peanuts tho! I think I’m gonna try your’s first – it sounds so easy! Thanks for sharing!!

  8. I made something very similar but substituted maple syrup for the corn syrup, which I try not to use? The hint of make syrup was soooo good. I will always use ms. 🙂

    1. I was scrolling down to say that I used maple syrup and saw that I am not the only one. Tasty.

  9. My husbands grandmother made this lot when were first married..38 yrs. ago 🙂
    She gave me the recipe, but it was very hard to make as you had to stir and stir to get it to
    the hard crack stage then pour over the popcorn. This would be much easier to put in the oven.
    Thanks for the recipe….Love your blog !

  10. What size jar did you use and it looks like it was a wide mouth

  11. The recipe sounds great, thank you. Love how you used the canning jars, they are just too cute.
    Have a great day!

  12. Oh, yes! Definitely going to make this and also add it to my list of Christmas gift basket goodies. Love the mason jar containers.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe!! Have a great day!

  13. Janie Jones says:

    I love how you have this displayed too! Makes me want to take a jar and sit down for a movie. I’m going to keep this in the back of my mind for the Thanksgiving holiday when my kids will all be home. I know everyone would love this! Thanks!

  14. Donna Horne says:

    Made the cracker jack this afternoon for to-night’s ball game. It is yummy, thanks for the recipe.

  15. Yvonne, Your cracker jack recipe looks yummy! I’m making it this weekend, however I have a question. How many ounces are in the bagged popcorn you use? There are so many sizes too choose from.

  16. Well, take me out to the Ballgame (or the World Series). Now I know what I can serve to friends as we watch them slug it out! Thanks for the recipe, it looks scrumptious!

  17. Yvonne, the cracker jacks are delicious. Made them to give to neighbors for Christmas treat. However, when I followed the recipe and allowed them to cool on the buttered cookie sheet, it was near impossible to remove. Had quite a mess all over the kitchen. What I ended up doing was to put bake into a warm oven for a few minutes. Then when softened, immediately removed to wax paper and allowed to cool on there. That worked out perfectly. Everyone has been asking for the recipe.

    1. Great idea! I had to pry them off the cookie sheet a little too. But aren’t they worth it? YUM!

  18. This is my husbands most favorite snack. Trust me he loves it more than anything. This will be great. Thanks.

  19. O My Goodness these look and sound like they would be soooooo goooood !

  20. I’m printing out the recipe now and making it this weekend. Yummy! 🙂

  21. Cynthia Conant says:

    What size bags of popcorn do you use for this recipe? It sounds delicious!!
    Thanks

      1. Cynthia Conant says:

        Would you have any idea of the ounces of the bags you use? Popcorn comes in many different bag sizes! Sorry to be a pest. Didn’t want to screw up the recipe though.
        Thanks very much