This Homemade Cracker Jack Recipe is the perfect treat to take to parades, fireworks, barbecues, or the beach!
Gather these ingredients to make your Cracker Jacks.
Then scroll down for full Copycat Cracker Jacks Recipe Measurements and instructions on creating this recipe – including a full recipe card that you can print for free that helps you shop and create easily in your kitchen!
Cracker Jacks Ingredients
- Popped Popcorn
- Brown Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Butter
- Water
- Vanilla
- Baking Soda
- Salted Peanuts
How to Make Cracker Jacks
Preheat oven to 250.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pop the popcorn.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray add popcorn.
Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and water in a pan.
Simmer over medium-high heat stirring frequently until temperature reaches 250 (firm to hard ball stage).
Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and baking soda.
Pour over the popcorn and use spatula to gently fold the caramel into the popcorn until well coated.
Stir in the peanuts.
Pour the mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread out.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven, and allow to cool.
Carefully break up and store in an airtight container.
Homemade Cracker Jack Recipe
Ingredients
- 10-12 cups of Popped Popcorn or 3.5 oz bag of Microwave Popcorn
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Corn Syrup
- 1/2 cup melted Butter
- 1 tbsp Water
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 cup Salted Peanuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pop the popcorn.
- Spray a large bowl with cooking spray add popcorn.
- Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and water in a pan.
- Simmer over medium-high heat stirring frequently until temperature reaches 250 (firm to hard ball stage).
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and baking soda.
- Pour over the popcorn and use spatula to gently fold the caramel into the popcorn until well coated.
- Stir in the peanuts.
- Pour the mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread out.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and allow to cool.
- Carefully break up and store in an airtight container.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated with ingredients and serving size and may not be accurate. Please always double check with your own nutritional apps as well.
This is such a great recipe! I included it in a blog post about baseball team snack ideas. You can read it here: http://www.hunnyimhomediy.com/for-the-kids/kid-friendly-food/baseball-snack-mix-9-team-treat-ideas/
Thanks for including it 🙂
Do you know if you could sub Smart Balance or some other dairy free “butter” for the real butter? I have grandchildren who need dairy free. Thanks.
I think that could work, but I have never tried it myself. If you do try it I would love to hear your results 🙂