State Fair Candied Popcorn Recipe

Remove all unpopped kernels from popped corn. Salt popcorn, if you like. Place the popcorn in a greased 17x12x2-inch baking pan. Keep warm in a 300 F oven while making syrup.

For syrup mixture: Butter the sides of a heavy 1 1/2-quart saucepan. In saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook over medium-high heat till mixture boils, stirring to dissolve sugar (about 8 minutes).

Clip a candy thermometer to side of pan. Reduce heat to medium; continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, till thermometer registers 300 F (hardcrack stage), stirring occasionally (about 25 to 30 minutes).

Remove from heat. Remove thermometer. Carefully stir in vanilla and food coloring, if you like. Pour in a thin stream over hot popcorn; stir gently to coat. Cool; using gloved hands or a wooden spoon, break into pieces. Store tightly covered or in plastic bags.