Description
Gochujang Caramel Popcorn with Sesame Seeds is a deliciously sweet and spicy snack that combines the rich flavors of caramel with the heat of Korean gochujang paste. This popcorn is coated in a luscious caramel glaze infused with gochujang, soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds, baked to crispy perfection for a unique and addictive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn
- 10 cups popped popcorn, plain
Caramel Coating
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons gochujang
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 250°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the popcorn.
- Prepare popcorn: Place the popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl, carefully picking out any unpopped kernels to avoid unpleasant bites.
- Make caramel mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar, light corn syrup, gochujang, salt, and soy sauce. Bring this mixture to a gentle boil and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes without stirring to develop the caramel flavor.
- Add final ingredients: Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract. The mixture will foam slightly, creating a lighter caramel texture.
- Coat popcorn: Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and gently toss with a spatula to evenly coat every kernel.
- Bake popcorn: Spread the coated popcorn in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure the popcorn is evenly coated and baked to a crisp texture.
- Add sesame seeds: Once baked, remove the popcorn from the oven and sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the warm popcorn to add a nutty crunch.
- Cool and serve: Allow the popcorn to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it into clusters and serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of gochujang to control the spice level according to your preference.
- For extra crunchy popcorn, you can bake a little longer while stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
- Store the popcorn in an airtight container to maintain crispness and freshness.
