Recently someone discovered that caramel and chocolate are enhanced with a bit of coarse salt. Since then, the flavors have taken off and become extremely trendy. The following gooey Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate Popcorn is absolutely delicious, and perfect to serve over the holiday season. It can be put in treat bags, added to dessert buffets, or added to cookie/candy trays. The popcorn is soft, and is very addictive.

Actually, this popcorn treat is quite easy to make, and after tasting it, most will want to make several batches for friends and family.

36 Servings

Caramel:
1/2 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 dash salt

6 quarts popped popcorn, (plain - no salt, no oil)

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Preferably 60% or more cacao)

2 tablespoons coarse salt

1. Place the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and salt in a large saucepan; cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. When boiling, uncover, stir, scraping the sides down with a heat-proof silicone scraper, and let cook to the softball stage (235-240 depending your altitude); to test, drop some of the boiling caramel into a cup of ice water - it will form a soft ball.
3. Spray a very large bowl with non-stick spray; measure the popcorn into the bowl, and pour the caramel mixture over. Mix well and spread the caramel corn out onto two parchment-lined or buttered jelly-roll pans.
4. Place the chocolate chips in a glass measuring cup or bowl; microwave 1 1/2 minutes. Stir, and continue microwaving the chocolate in 30 second intervals until melted.
5. Drizzle the chocolate evenly over the two pans of caramel corn.
6. Sprinkle each with a tablespoon of the coarse salt.
7. Let set before storing in an airtight container.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 194 Calories from Fat 65
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 34% Protein 3% Carb. 64%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 11 mg
Sodium 447 mg
Total Carbohydrate 31 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 3%