Caramel corn: Difference between revisions

Caramel corn, caramel popcorn
	Caramel corn
Type	Confectionery
Place of origin	United States
Region or state	Chicago, Illinois
Main ingredients	Popcorn, caramel (based on sugar or molasses)
	Media: Caramel corn, caramel popcorn;

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Caramel corn or caramel popcorn (toffee popcorn in the UK) is a confection made of popcorn coated with a sugar or molasses based caramel candy shell that is normally less than 1mm thick. Typically a sugar solution or syrup is made and heated until it browns and becomes thick, producing a caramelized candy syrup. This hot candy is then mixed with popped popcorn, and allowed to cool. Sometimes, a candy thermometer is used, as making caramel is time-consuming and requires skill to make well without burning the sugar. The process creates a sweet flavored, crunchy snack food or treat. After coating with the candy syrup, some varieties are baked in an oven to crisp the mixture. Mixes sometimes contain nuts, such as peanuts, pecans, almonds, or cashews.

History

The combination of caramel and corn dates back at least as far as the 1890s with the strong molasses flavor of Cracker Jack, an early version of which was introduced at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The lighter, sweet but un-caramelized kettle corn, may be a North American Colonial predecessor to caramel corn.

There are many commercial brands and forms of caramel corn available, such as Cracker Jack, Fiddle Faddle, Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs, and Crunch 'n Munch. In grocery stores, at cinemas, and convenience stores, pre-bagged caramel corn made locally may also be sold.

Regulation

Candy-coated popcorn is defined in US law as a food of minimal nutritional value.^[1]

References

^ "Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value". www.fns.usda.gov. Appendix B of 7 CFR Part 210. Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2017-08-04.

This confectionery-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value". www.fns.usda.gov. Appendix B of 7 CFR Part 210. Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2017-08-04.

[1]

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+{{Short description|Popcorn coated with caramel}}
 {{Infobox prepared food
-| name             = Caramel corn, caramel popcorn
+| name = Caramel corn, caramel popcorn
-| image            = [[File:CaramelCorn.jpg|250px]]
+| image = G-H-Cretors-Caramel-Corn.jpg
+| image_size = 250px
-| caption          = Caramel corn, with a [[Scoop (utensil)|scoop]]
+| caption = Caramel corn
-| alternate_name   =
+| alternate_name =
-| country          = [[United States]]
+| country = [[United States]]
-| region           =
+| region = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
-| creator          =
-| course           =
+| creator =
+| course =
-| type             = [[Confectionery]]
+| type = [[Confectionery]]
-| served           =
+| served =
-| main_ingredient  = [[Popcorn]], [[caramel]] (based on [[sugar]] or [[molasses]])
+| main_ingredient = [[Popcorn]], [[caramel]] (based on [[sugar]] or [[molasses]])
-| variations       =
-| calories         =
+| variations =
-| other            =
+| calories =
+| other =
 }}
-{{Unreferenced stub|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
-'''Caramel corn''' or '''caramel popcorn''' is an American [[confection]] made of [[popcorn]] coated with a [[sugar]] or [[molasses]] based [[caramel]] candy shell. Typically a sugar solution or [[syrup]] is made and heated until it [[Browning (food process)|browns]] and becomes thick, producing a [[caramelized]] candy syrup. This hot candy is then mixed with popped popcorn, and allowed to cool. Sometimes a [[candy thermometer]] is used, as making caramel is time-consuming and requires skill to make well without burning the sugar. The process creates a sweet flavored, crunchy [[snack food]] or treat. Some varieties, after coating with the candy syrup, are baked in an oven to crisp the mixture. Mixes of caramel corn sometimes contain [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]], such as [[peanut]]s, [[pecans]], [[almonds]], or [[cashews]].
+'''Caramel corn''' or '''caramel popcorn''' ('''toffee popcorn''' in the UK) is a [[confection]] made of [[popcorn]] coated with a [[sugar]] or [[molasses]] based [[caramel]] candy shell that is normally less than 1mm thick. Typically a sugar solution or [[syrup]] is made and heated until it [[Browning (food process)|browns]] and becomes thick, producing a [[caramelized]] candy syrup. This hot candy is then mixed with popped popcorn, and allowed to cool. Sometimes, a [[candy thermometer]] is used, as making caramel is time-consuming and requires skill to make well without burning the sugar. The process creates a sweet flavored, crunchy [[snack food]] or treat. After coating with the candy syrup, some varieties are baked in an oven to crisp the mixture. Mixes sometimes contain [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]], such as [[peanut]]s, [[pecans]], [[almonds]], or [[cashews]].
 ==History==
 The combination of caramel and corn dates back at least as far as the 1890s with the strong molasses flavor of [[Cracker Jack]], an early version of which was introduced at the [[Chicago]] [[World's Columbian Exposition|World's Fair in 1893]]. The lighter, sweet but un-caramelized [[kettle corn]], may be a [[European colonization of the Americas|North American Colonial]] predecessor to caramel corn.
-There are many commercial [[brands]] and forms of caramel corn available, such as [[Cracker Jack]], [[Fiddle Faddle]], [[Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs]], and [[Crunch 'n Munch]]. In [[grocery stores]], at [[cinemas]], and [[convenience stores]], pre-bagged caramel corn made locally may also be sold. The Maryland-based Fisher's Popcorn and Chicago-based [[Nuts on Clark]] are examples of specialty caramel corn and popcorn companies.
+There are many commercial [[brands]] and forms of caramel corn available, such as [[Cracker Jack]], [[Fiddle Faddle]], [[Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs]], and [[Crunch 'n Munch]]. In [[grocery stores]], at [[cinemas]], and [[convenience stores]], pre-bagged caramel corn made locally may also be sold.
+== Regulation ==
-==Other sweet flavored popcorn==
+Candy-coated popcorn is defined in US law as a food of [[minimal nutritional value]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/foods-minimal-nutritional-value|title=Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value|date=13 September 2013|website=www.fns.usda.gov|series=Appendix B of 7 CFR Part 210|publisher=[[Food and Nutrition Service]], United States Department of Agriculture|language=en|access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref>
-Some types of candy coated popcorn are made with a [[white sugar]]-based candy coating rather than the traditional caramelized versions, for a lighter flavor.
-Other natural or [[artificial flavorings]] are sometimes added to this hot, clear candy syrup before it's put on popcorn, such as: strawberry, watermelon, coconut, green apple, chocolate, or blueberry. Though many more often exist in specialized popcorn candy shops. These flavors of candy-coated corn can often be found in candy shops and specialized stores within [[Shopping mall|malls]] and milk bars.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 *[[Cretors]], the Chicago company who invented the first commercial popcorn machine
 *[[Kettle corn]], the sweetened popcorn with a lighter, thinner (in both flavor and color) sweet coating
+== References ==
+<references />
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Caramel Corn}}
@@ Line 37: / Line 40: @@
 [[Category:Popcorn]]
 [[Category:Halloween food]]
 {{Confection-stub}}