When I first tell people about this recipe, I think they imagine plain popcorn smeared with peanut butter. While I am not doubting that that would be a nice combination, this recipe is so much better than that. This is not caramel corn… it is not popcorn with peanut butter on it. The coating is of a consistency that I cannot quite describe. It’s warm, smushy, a bit chewy and completely wonderful.
My first memories of peanut butter popcorn are as a young child. My Mom would make it every once in a great while. I remember her putting it out in the garage on the hood of the car to cool once. We had popcorn a ton when I was a kid… the sound of the hot air popper makes me all warm and fuzzy… but those special occasions of peanut butter popcorn stand out.
My High School BFF, Heather, and I (holla, Feesh!), would make this and eat it until we were sick to our stomachs. Then we would watch a little SNL (circa Wayne’s World and Dennis Miller) or Heathers, imagine ourselves married to Christian Slater and then eat some more, finally falling into a sugar coma. Good times.
I have never heard of someone eating this and not loving it, except for my sister-in-laws’ friends in Australia. Apparently, Australia has unusual peanut butter and no corn syrup, so as much as I love Aussies, their votes don’t count in this instance.
Peanut Butter Popcorn
1/2 c. unpopped popcorn
1 1/2 c. peanuts (I prefer dry-roasted peanuts… always, but esp. in this recipe. If you don’t have them, make it without and it will be fine)
1c. sugar
1/2c. honey
1/2c. corn syrup
1c. peanut butter
1t. vanilla
* Pop corn into a 9X13″ pan. Remove any unpopped kernels, stir in peanuts and keep warm in a 250 degree oven.
* In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. (Please do not go crazy with the boiling. You will end up with a rock-hard mess. And remember that boiling sugar is squirrelly and keep an eye on it)
*Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat.
Try not to burn the daylights out of your fingers as you dive in. ( :
October 19, 2010 at 9:10 pm
SHUT THE DOOR! I’m making this THIS weekend if not sooner. I swear we were seperated at birth.
You forgot to add: while also listening to INXS. Oh that life-size poster of Michael Hutchence was dreamy…or whatever 90’s word equivalent!
October 19, 2010 at 10:13 pm
You crack me up.
Michael Hutchence… dreamy, yes. Way dreamy. He and I actually made eye contact once. A story for another time. I will always *heart* INXS. RIP, Michael.
And… make. the. popcorn. Dave can lose weight later. ( :
October 20, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Thanks for the shout out Feesh! I wish I could have indulged with you. Next time you make it we will have to rent some classic SNL, maybe listen to some Cure and eat ourselves back to 1992.
I would like to reiterate the part about not boiling it to death. I have done this way too many times only to almost break my teeth because I HAD to eat it anyway.
October 20, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Sounds like a plan. Just heard “Love Song” tonight. ( :
At times, a few seconds in the microwave will cure the over-boiling, but not usually. I have almost broken teeth, too… too stubborn to toss it out.