Although both sweet snacks, kettle corn, and caramel popcorn, are two different popcorn varieties. So, what is the difference between these two sweet, crunchy treats?
You will use regular popping corn if you want to make caramel corn. When the popcorn is popped, you mix it with melted caramel to create a crunchy, sweet, and thin coating over the popped kernels.
Kettle corn also comes from regular popping corn. However, the difference lies in the manner in which this variety is popped. Kettle corn is traditionally popped in a large, oiled iron kettle. At the beginning of the 18th century, European immigrants cooked corn in cast-iron kettles coated with oil.
Then, they would add molasses and honey to create the perfect sweet-savory flavor. Finally, the sugar is added while popping the kernels to coat the popcorn. Don’t forget to constantly stir the corn to prevent the sugar from burning, though.
It is believed that caramel corn first appeared in the late 19th century thanks to two German brothers who immigrated to Chicago and opened a popcorn store. The brothers experimented with flavors, combining popcorn, molasses, and peanuts. And, so the famous golden-brown caramel popcorn was born.
The color of the golden-brown caramel popcorn comes from caramelized sugar blends poured over the popcorn. There are nearly countless varieties of caramel popcorn available today. Some of the most popular flavors include peanut caramel popcorn, caramel corn with chocolate, peanut butter caramel corn, cinnamon caramel, and many others.
