Gingerbread Caramel Corn Food

GINGERBREAD-CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Beat cake mix, ginger, butter and egg with mixer until blended. (Dough will be stiff.) Press 2/3 of the dough onto bottom of prepared pan.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3 to 3-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring after each minute.
• Drizzle caramel sauce over baked layer in pan. Reserve 2 Tbsp. chopped chocolate; sprinkle remaining over caramel sauce. Crumble remaining gingerbread dough over dessert. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely.
• Microwave reserved chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec. to 1 min. or until completely melted, stirring every 30 sec.; drizzle over dessert. Let stand until chocolate is firm. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting into bars.

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL CRUNCH

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; set aside. Butter the sides of a small heavy saucepan; add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, ginger, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 5 minutes., Remove from the heat; stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Stir in vanilla. Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well., Transfer to 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.

GINGERBREAD CARAMELS

Steps:

• Lightly coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed bakingsheet with cooking spray. Line with parchmentpaper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on shortsides; spray paper.
• In a large pot over high heat, bring cream,corn syrup, sugar, butter, and molasses to a boil,stirring until sugar has dissolved. Continue tocook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently,until mixture reaches 248 degrees (firm-ball stage)on a candy thermometer, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla, salt, and spices. Immediately pour onto prepared sheet, without scraping pot. Let stand, uncovered, 24 hours at room temperature (do not move pan).
• Generously coat a large cutting board with cooking spray. Lifting it by the parchment overhang, invert caramel onto the cutting board; use a sharp knife to loosen parchment, and remove. Cut into 1-by-1 1/4-inch pieces. Wrap each in cellophane or waxed paper.

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter, spray with non-stick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper two 15x10 inch baking pans. (You can use 9x13 inch baking dishes if needed, stirring will just be a little more difficult)
• Place popcorn in a large bowl coated with butter or cooking spray and set aside.
• In a small bowl, stir together spices and salt.
• In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar and butter over medium heat. Stir until butter is melted. Stir in molasses, honey and spice mixture.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent scorching. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Careful, mixture will foam. Stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat.
• Divide popcorn between prepared baking pans. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Remove popcorn to wax paper or parchment paper to cool.
• Melt white chocolate according to package instructions and drizzle over popcorn. Top with sprinkles.
• Once cooled, store in an airtight container.

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Divide popped popcorn equally between 1 lightly buttered 13x9 baking pan.
• Combine salt, butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses, ginger and cinnamon in a large heavy saucepan.
• Heat over medium heat till mixture comes to a full boil.
• Boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, remove from heat.
• Add baking soda, it will foam up -- stir well.
• Pour over popcorn in prepared pans and toss to combine well.
• Bake at 250* for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.till popcorn is crisp --.
• Cool completely, and store in an airtight container.

CARAMEL FOR A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Steps:

• Spread the sugar in a medium skillet. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Set the skillet over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts, about 2 to 3 minutes. Once the sugar has melted, stop stirring and cook, swirling the contents occasionally, until the sugar syrup is a deep amber color, about 12 to 15 minutes.

GINGERBREAD-CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine molasses, 1/2 cup water, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high, gently stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil; cook until foaming reduces and bubbles begin to slow, 4 to 5 minutes (about 250 degrees on a thermometer). Remove from heat and carefully whisk in cream, butter, salt, and spices (mixture will splatter), stirring until butter is melted and combined. Let cool completely. Transfer to 6 seven-ounce jars. Sauce can be refrigerated in jars up to 2 weeks; gently reheat before serving.

GINGERBREAD CARAMEL CORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Spray two large rimmed baking sheets lightly with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Pop the popcorn kernels on the stovetop or in a popcorn maker. Add the popped popcorn to an extra-large bowl (or two bowls if needed - I use two).
• In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
• Add the butter, sugar, corn syrup, molasses and salt to a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Stir frequently as the butter melts to combine all the ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil (with the pan still over medium heat). Once it reaches a boil, let it boil for 5 minutes without stirring.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the baking soda, vanilla, and the spice mixture. The mixture will bubble and rise up. Pour the caramel over the popcorn in the bowls. Stir until the popcorn is well coated, working quickly.
• Transfer the popcorn to the two baking sheets and spread out evenly.
• Bake for 60 to 75 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so, which will help evenly coat the popcorn with the caramel. The popcorn coating will be completely crispy when it is done.
• Remove the pans from the oven. Transfer the popcorn to waxed paper and spread out to dry.
• Once cool, break into pieces if needed and store in an airtight container.