Spicy-Sweet Buffalo Popcorn

If Buffalo wings and kettle corn married, this would be their baby! This popcorn is sweet, salty, and spicy all at the same time! It's a winner for football parties. If you like blue cheese, try sprinkling a few blue cheese crumbles over your serving of popcorn. I put a small bowl of blue cheese crumbles next to the popcorn bowl so people can add some if they wish.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 36 mins
• Total Time: 46 mins
• Calories: 210 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup water
• 8 cups popped popcorn
• cooking spray
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (Optional)
• ⅓ cup Buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank's®)
• 3 tablespoons butter, cut into small cubes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Fill with popcorn.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad.

Step 3

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring and swirling pan gently as needed, until sugar has melted and the caramel is a deep amber color, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4

Stir Buffalo sauce and butter carefully into the caramel; it will spit and bubble and may form a ball. Return to heat; bring to a boil, stirring until caramel is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and cayenne pepper.

Step 5

Pour spicy caramel mixture carefully over the popcorn. Toss to completely coat, guarding your hands from the hot caramel. Spread the coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes; stir.