The Best Amish Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Amish Caramel Corn Recipe

The Best Amish Caramel Popcorn is a sweet and tasty treat that is perfect for a snack at your holiday parties or any other time you're craving a sweet treat.

And you might find this Amish caramel corn served at a traditional Amish Christmas family gathering.

Caramel corn recipe for the Christmas Holidays

I absolutely love everything about the holidays: the family time is amazing, great food, games, presents, peppermint, chocolates, gingerbread, lights, and the feeling of excitement in the air. And of course, always wishing for some snow (which doesn't often happen here in Missouri).

Christmas has always been a special time for me.

As an Amish kid growing up, we didn't put up a tree or lights and all the other décor like most people do. Sometimes we'd bring in a little greenery to put with some candles, and that was about all the decorating we did.

But we always baked lots of holiday cookies and treats, including this caramel popcorn with nuts. We'd go Christmas shopping, caroling, and all that fun stuff.

My mom hired a taxi a few weeks before Christmas, and we girls would get to go along. We spent the day shopping at lots of different stores, most of them being owned by Amish or Mennonites.

And we'd come home with a load of food and gifts. It was quite an exciting day!

Do the Amish give Gifts at Christmas?

We didn't splurge on a lot of gifts but we always got something meaningful from our parents.

When we were little our gifts would probably be toys or books. As we got older it might be a Bible, a hymn book, or something we could use such as tools, dishes, or even a sewing machine (that was probably the most expensive gift I ever got). And we kids often just made a little something for each other.

On Christmas morning, after chores and breakfast, of course, the family would gather around and sing Christmas carols and read the story of Jesus' birth (we always read from the KJV German and English Bible).

But us kids were always impatient to get to the gifts because that was the most exciting part. And at our house whoever was the first one up in the morning to do chores would be the first to get their gift.

After some of my brothers got married and the family was getting bigger, we started drawing names and exchanging gifts in that fashion. This way we only needed to get a gift for one person.

Then we always had a big feast for lunch and plenty of snacks (like this homemade caramel corn with nuts) for later in the day. Typically we'd get involved in a competitive game of monopoly that would last for hours.

It was always a fun day spent in quality time with family.

A Traditional Amish Christmas with extended family

Then we often got together with extended family on Second Christmas (the day after Christmas) or a Saturday. Everybody brought a dish for the meal, and we stretched the table out (I think ours seated 22 people).

Most times we had to eat in shifts. Everybody would gather around the table and enjoy the feast as the ladies served and washed the dishes. Sometimes we had to set the table and serve several times before everybody had a turn to eat.

Typically we'd serve turkey roasht (roast), mashed potatoes (click here for recipe), several sides including Christmas ribbon salad, and lots of desserts. I think we almost always had pies, cookies, homemade pudding, and fruit salad.

After lunch was finished we sat around in a large circle (kids would have to sit in the middle), and we sang Christmas carols (some in German and some in English).

Of course, there were never any secular songs or anything about Santa Claus. It was all about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

And our grandparents usually gave us a little gift. I often got a pretty glass dish or towel to put in my hope chest for someday when I'd have my own kitchen. My grandma sewed quilt tops, so she made sure we all got one for Christmas sometime.

I have fond memories of simple traditional Christmas holidays with my Amish family and sharing the best Amish caramel popcorn!

How to make the best caramel popcorn with peanuts:

The first step is to pop the popcorn. You'll need a large greased bowl or roast pan to mix it in. Add peanuts on top. Set aside.

Melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup together in a saucepan. Add salt and bring to a boil, cook for five minutes.

Remove from heat and add soda. It will be very foamy. And just a warning, you'll want to use a big enough saucepan to allow room for it to rise. When the baking soda gets stirred into the mixture it will momentarily puff up several inches.

Immediately pour this over the popcorn, stirring to cover all the pieces.

Grease two large cookie sheets or a big roast pan. Pour in the caramel corn popcorn and bake at 250 degrees for one hour, uncovered. Stir at least once or twice while baking.

Cool and break apart, then store in an airtight container.

Now the challenge might be to keep the kids or maybe even your husband from eating it all right away :). Because this seriously is the best Amish caramel popcorn recipe! (Baked caramel corn)

Have a blessed holiday, and enjoy all your treats!

More Amish Snack Recipes

Amish Granola Bars Recipe

Homemade Protein Balls

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe (Homemade Candy)

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