Caramel Corn Apple-O’s

I spent the last 2 nights creating holiday treats with a friend for her upcoming beach trip. I’ve been collecting those grocery store checkout stand Halloween Food, Fun & Crafts books for the past 4-5 years. I have found some fun recipes over the years and wanted to try some new things this year. We headed to the Nugget Market with our shopping list and then set out to create the first on our “to do” list – Caramel Corn Apple-O’s.

Ingredients:

  • 7 Cups Popped Butter-Flavor Microwave Popcorn – We used Pop Secret Butter – it took 1 bag and a cup from a second bag
  • 2 1/4 Cups Apple Jacks Cereal  – any apple-cinnamon cereal rings will work
  • 1/2 Cup Dried Apricots – the recipe would also work with dried apples – we cut our apricots into quarters
  • 1 Package Soft Caramels – 14 ounces
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter or Margarine – we used butter
  • 1 to 2 Tablespoons Water – we used 2
  • 16 Cinnamon Sticks or Wooden Craft Sticks – optional – we used cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Place 16 paper baking cups on a baking sheet.
  2. Combine popcorn, cereal and dried apricots in a large bowl.
  3. Place caramels, butter and water in large microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring after each minute.
  4. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn mixture and toss with buttered wooden spoon to evenly coat. Let set until cool enough to handle.
  5. Using damp hands, shape mixture into 16 balls. Gently insert cinnamon sticks.
  6. Place in paper baking cups  and serve.

We found that these were really easy to make. I would suggest if you want to go the cinnamon stick route like we did, purchase them from the Mexican spice section of your local grocery store. McCormick Cinnamon Sticks were really expensive and too short in length. We got a bag of 6 long ones from the Mexican spice section for $1.09. They do vary in width, but we made it work. We found that the damp hands are “key” to getting them to mold into a ball around the cinnamon sticks.

Caramel, salted popcorn, apricots and cereal – sign me up! I will definitely be making these again.

I can’t wait to share the other Halloween treat recipes and photos with you.

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3 comments

    • Aim on October 26, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    These look great! Not sure if the boys would like the apricots but everything else they would! Yum!

      • foodiddy on October 27, 2011 at 4:42 am
        Author

      You could use dried apples, cranberries or just about any dried fruit. I’m positive your boys would like them without the fruit too. I just thought the tartness balanced out the sweetness, but kids like uber sweet… Plus, you guys would have a fun time making them :).

    • Dubu on October 27, 2011 at 11:39 am

    PERFECT!!!! I’m going to make them for my upcoming get together Saturday night. I hope they pair well with my “special brew” HA!!!!!!

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