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April 30, 2020

Instant Pot Cracker Jacks

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Instant Pot Cracker Jacks—a homemade version of the original snack! Caramel covered popcorn and peanuts is an addicting snack that you can make completely in your Instant Pot.

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caramel popcorn in a bowl

Instant Pot Cracker Jacks

I have a delightful snack for you today! Popcorn in the Instant Pot. And then, if you want, you can transform that popcorn into caramel covered popcorn and peanuts…like Cracker Jacks.

Do you remember Cracker Jacks? I loved the little prize in each box. As a kid that was definitely my favorite part! I haven’t had Cracker Jacks in years but now I can bring back the good memories with homemade Instant Pot Cracker Jacks.

popcorn in a bowl

You’ll start by popping popcorn in your Instant Pot. I made a video to show you exactly how to do it. Please subscribe to my channel!

Steps to making Instant Pot Popcorn:

  1. Turn your Instant Pot to saute setting on MORE.
  2. When the display says HOT add in 2 Tbsp of coconut oil and let it melt.
  3. Add in 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels. Use a spoon to push them down into an even layer on the sides of the pot where the oil is. Make sure each popcorn kernel is in the oil so that it doesn’t burn.
  4. Wait until the first few kernels start to pop. Then place a glass lid on top of the Instant Pot. Let the popcorn pop. When there’s a bit of time between popping sounds shake the Instant Pot back and forth a bit. When there is more than 15 seconds between pops turn off the Instant Pot.
popcorn in a red bowl

Some notes about making Instant Pot popcorn:

  • Half a cup of kernels is about 8 cups of popped popcorn.
  • You don’t have to own the Instant Pot brand of glass lid*. Any glass lid from your kitchen will work. Mine was over-sized and just sat on top of the pot.
  • Don’t pop more than ½ cup of kernels at a time or you’ll get a lot of unpopped kernels. Make sure each of the kernels is pushed to the edge of the pot where the oil is sitting so that the kernels don’t burn.
  • Coconut oil is the best choice. The kernels pop evenly. Vegetable, olive and corn oil all burn easier and you won’t have as much success with even popping of the kernels. I buy the coconut oil from Costco. I’m also seen it on Amazon*.
  • Twist the pot and sort of shake it every so often after the corn has started popping. This will help the unpopped kernels pot better.

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caramel popcorn in a bowl

Steps to making homemade Instant Pot Cracker Jacks

  1. Pop ½ cup of popcorn kernels (using the method stated above).
  2. Line a cookie sheet pan with parchment paper and pour the popcorn onto the pan. Remove any seeds and discard. Sprinkle peanuts over the popcorn.
  3. Place the liner of the Instant Pot back into the pot. Turn the Instant Pot to saute setting (MORE). Add butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses and salt. Bring to a boil until the temperature reaches 250º F. I use a digital thermometer*.
  4. Remove the liner from the Instant Pot and add in vanilla and baking soda.
  5. At this point you’ll want to work quickly to drizzle the sauce over the popcorn. It hardens up quickly and is easiest to work with when it is hot and pliable. Gently toss the popcorn with a spoon or gloved hands to get as many pieces of the popcorn covered with caramel as possible.
  6. Let the popcorn cool for 30 minutes then eat and enjoy! Some recipes bake the popcorn in the oven. I find that I like the popcorn best without baking it. It’s up to you though! If you do choose to bake it I would bake for 50 minutes at 250º F, stirring every 15 minutes. Then cool the popcorn and break it up into individual pieces.

I hope you enjoy this caramel popcorn and peanuts as much as we did!

More Snacky Instant Pot Recipes…

Instant Pot Raspberry Cheesecake Bites

Instant Pot French Bread

Instant Pot Chocolate Chip Muffin Bites

Instant Pot Churro Bites

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Caramel Popcorn and Peanuts

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Instant Pot Cracker Jacks


  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings 1x
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Description

A homemade version of the original snack! Caramel covered popcorn and peanuts is an addicting snack that you can make completely in your Instant Pot. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 Tbsp molasses
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  1. Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting (MORE). When the display says HOT add in the coconut oil and let it melt. Then add in the popcorn kernels.  Use a spoon to push them down into an even layer on the sides of the pot where the oil is.
  2. Wait until the first few kernels start to pop. Then place a glass lid on top of the Instant Pot. Let the popcorn pop. When there’s more time between popping sounds shake the Instant Pot back and forth a bit. When there is more than 15 seconds between pops turn off the Instant Pot and remove the liner from the pot. You should have about 8 cups of popped popcorn.
  3. Line a cookie sheet pan with parchment paper and pour the popcorn onto the pan. Remove any seeds and discard. Sprinkle the peanuts over the popcorn. 
  4. Place the liner of the Instant Pot back into the pot. Turn the Instant Pot to saute setting (MORE). Add in the butter and let it melt. Whisk in the brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses and salt. Bring to a boil until the temperature reaches 250º F. 
  5. Turn off the Instant Pot. Remove the liner from the Instant Pot and add in the vanilla and baking soda. Working quickly drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the popcorn and peanuts. Gently toss the popcorn with a spoon or gloved hands to get as many pieces of the popcorn covered with caramel as possible. 
  6. Let the popcorn cool for 30 minutes then eat and enjoy!
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Instant Pot

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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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10 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Desserts, Gluten Free, Instant Pot

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Comments

  1. Lindsey Mercer says

    December 18, 2020 at 12:44 pm

    Can you make this without the molasses? I don’t have that on hand, and not sure if I would use enough of it elsewhere. thank you.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 21, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      I bet you could leave it out. It won’t have the pretty brown color but it will be fine.

      Reply
  2. mary m says

    May 1, 2020 at 7:33 am

    What I do is immediately after the pop corn has finished popping I sprinkle with butter powdwe, monkfruit and apinch of coarse salt. stir around with a wooden spoon. caution it is very very hot. I call it WW kettle corn.
    On a cheat dY I WILL DEFINITELY TRY YOUR RECIPE. LOL Sorry the computer wont let me fix my mistakes.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      May 1, 2020 at 1:17 pm

      Sounds like your version is perfect!!

      Reply
  3. Robin Johnson says

    April 30, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Love the recipe, but I and several of my family have an allergy to Coconut. Would you have any suggestions for making this without the Coconut oil. Thanks

    Reply
    • Melaney says

      April 30, 2020 at 11:17 pm

      Use Ghee (clarified butter). It has a high smoke point and tastes great.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        May 1, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Thanks Melaney for the idea!

        Reply
    • Karen says

      May 1, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      You could try avocado oil 🙂

      Reply
      • Ann says

        July 7, 2020 at 4:04 pm

        I am not able to use Avocado and Coconut oils. I used Vegetable Oil. I went by the instructions but when I added the corn, the pot turned off. I had to turn it back on two more times. There were a few kernels popped but most were burned. I was so disappointed. Please help me so I can have good popcorn.

        Reply
        • Karen says

          July 7, 2020 at 9:40 pm

          Oh shoot! I am not sure why your pot turned off. Has this ever happened before?

          Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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