Chicago Style Popcorn Mix

A delicious blend of sweet caramel popcorn and savory cheddar cheese popcorn, inspired by the famous Garrett's popcorn in Chicago.

Ingredients - Serves 8

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels and cover the pot. Shake the pot occasionally to prevent the kernels from burning. Once the popping slows down, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for a minute to allow any remaining kernels to pop.
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Spread the popcorn out on a large baking sheet.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil while stirring consistently. Allow the mixture to boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract. Immediately pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn. Use a spatula to toss and coat the popcorn in the caramel sauce. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Allow the popcorn to cool on the baking sheet. Once the popcorn is cool, sprinkle the cheddar cheese powder over the popcorn and toss to coat.
Serve the popcorn mix immediately, or store it in an airtight container for up to a week.