Best 4 Homemade Cracker Jack Clone Recipes

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Homemade Cracker Jack is a delightful sweet and salty snack that combines crispy popcorn, crunchy peanuts, and a luscious caramel coating. This classic treat is a favorite among people of all ages, and it's surprisingly easy to make at home. This article provides two recipes for homemade Cracker Jack: a traditional version and a healthier alternative made with popped sorghum and maple syrup. Both recipes are simple to follow and result in a delicious snack that's perfect for parties, movie nights, or simply enjoying on a lazy afternoon.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CLONE OF A CRACKER JACK®



Clone of a Cracker Jack® image

This peanutty, caramelly popcorn recipe tastes close to the original. It's very easy to prepare at home and makes great gifts! For a thicker coating of caramel, reduce the popped popcorn to 10 cups.

Provided by themoodyfoodie

Categories     Desserts     Candy Recipes     Popcorn Candy Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 11

Number Of Ingredients 6

11 cups popped popcorn
1 cup Spanish peanuts
1 ¼ cups dark brown sugar
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
¼ cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
  • Spread popcorn in the bottom of a large, deep roasting pan. Sprinkle peanuts over the popcorn.
  • Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until sugar and butter are melted and sauce is thick and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Pour caramel sauce over the popcorn and peanuts and stir to coat popcorn and peanuts completely, scooping any peanuts and caramel that fall to the bottom of the roasting pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until caramel and popcorn are crisped, about 45 minutes. Turn popcorn out in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 348.7 calories, Carbohydrate 37.4 g, Cholesterol 27.8 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 4.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 313.8 mg, Sugar 26.3 g

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACK RECIPE



Homemade Cracker Jack Recipe image

This Homemade Cracker Jack Recipe is the perfect treat to take to parades, fireworks, barbecues, or the beach!

Provided by ElizabethKnicely

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 1h10m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

10 -12 cups popped popcorn (or 3.5 ounce bag of Microwave Popcorn)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup salted peanuts

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 250°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Pop the popcorn,.
  • Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Add popcorn.
  • Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and water in a pan.
  • Simmer over medium-high heat stirring frequently until temperature reaches 250°F (firm to hard ball stage).
  • Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and baking soda.
  • Pour over the popcorn and use spatula to gently fold the caramel into the popcorn until well coated.
  • Stir in the peanuts.
  • Pour the mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread out.
  • Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven, and allow to cool.
  • Carefully break up and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 294.2, Fat 17.4, SaturatedFat 6.2, Cholesterol 20.3, Sodium 279.8, Carbohydrate 32.2, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 20.4, Protein 5.5

HOMEMADE CRACKER JACK



Homemade Cracker Jack image

A salty-sweet, caramel-coated popcorn often eaten at baseball games, Cracker Jack is one of the many well-known confections from Chicago. While molasses-covered popcorn was already popular in the Northeast, the creation of Cracker Jack's special formula is credited to German brothers Frederick William and Louis Rueckheim. Besides coming up with the signature combination of popcorn, molasses and peanuts, they even devised a special package to keep it fresh and crisp. By the late 1800s, the snack was so loved that their company was producing four-and-a-half tons a day. This homemade version is best enjoyed the day it's made, though it will keep for up to three days in an airtight container. Use large, red-skinned peanuts in this recipe if you can find them, as the skins lend a pleasant bitterness that works well with the molasses-caramel coating.

Provided by Samantha Seneviratne

Categories     candies

Time 45m

Yield About 16 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 tablespoons neutral oil, plus more for greasing the pans
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 cup roasted, salted red-skinned peanuts
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chopped into pieces
1 packed cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more for sprinkling

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 250 degrees and grease two large rimmed baking sheets with neutral oil.
  • Add the remaining 3 tablespoons neutral oil and 2 kernels to a large pot. Cover and heat over medium. Once you hear those first two kernels pop, add the remaining kernels, cover and cook, shaking occasionally, until the popping slows down, about 4 to 6 minutes. You should hear a few seconds of silence between pops. Remove from the heat.
  • Transfer the popcorn to a large, heatproof bowl and discard any unpopped kernels. Add the peanuts to the popcorn and toss to combine. Set the vanilla and baking soda near the stove for easy access.
  • In a small saucepan, stir the butter, brown sugar, molasses and salt over medium until the butter melts. Once the butter has melted, attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and cook the mixture, undisturbed, until the temperature reaches 248 degrees.
  • Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the vanilla and baking soda. The mixture will become foamy. Immediately pour it over the popcorn and use a wooden spoon to coat it evenly.
  • Spread the popcorn out onto the two prepared baking sheets. Bake until the mixture is dry, about 20 to 25 minutes, tossing occasionally. The mixture will dry out as it cools but may still be slightly sticky. Sprinkle with a bit more salt, to taste.
  • Let the popcorn cool completely. It's best enjoyed the day it's cooked, but you can also store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CRACKER JACK - COPYCAT



Cracker Jack - Copycat image

This recipe has never failed me. The popcorn turns out sweet, buttery and very crispy. If you want caramel corn, just use light corn syrup instead of dark.

Provided by Chilicat

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 55m

Yield 2 quarts

Number Of Ingredients 8

10 cups popped popcorn
1 1/2 cups cocktail peanuts
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • Mix popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl or roasting pan. Keep warm in a 250°F oven.
  • Melt butter in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
  • Quickly pour over warm popcorn while tossing until well coated. Spread in a shallow baking pan or roasting pan.
  • Bake at 250°F for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Make sure every piece of popcorn has been moved around on the bottom.
  • Remove from oven and turn out onto foil to let cool.
  • Store in a tightly covered container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1717.5, Fat 101.8, SaturatedFat 36.9, Cholesterol 122, Sodium 1195, Carbohydrate 187.8, Fiber 15.1, Sugar 121.6, Protein 33.9

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients. The fresher the ingredients, the better your Cracker Jack clone will taste.
  • Don't overcook the popcorn. Overcooked popcorn will be tough and chewy.
  • Be patient. Making Cracker Jack takes time, but it's worth it.
  • Have fun! Making Cracker Jack is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Conclusion:

Making your own Cracker Jack clone is a fun and rewarding experience. With a little time and effort, you can create a delicious snack that is sure to be a hit with family and friends. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

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