Cracker Jack popcorn is not something I buy and eat regularly. The last time I had was probably 1000 years ago, in other words, once in a blue moon. The other day I saw on YouTube a group of adults open a large bag of Cracker Jack and started counting the number of peanuts because the package boasts NOW MORE PEANUTS!
I happen to have a candy cookbook called Southern Homemade Candy Collection by S. L. Watson [borrowed from Amazon Kindle lending program]. The first recipe that caught my eye is the Cracker Jack Peanuts.
It's very simple to make and only has 3 ingredients. The peanuts are really good although they don't have the buttery caramel flavor of the ones in the Cracker Jack box. I love them though.
Cracker Jack Peanuts
2 cups raw Spanish peanuts
½ cup water
1 cup sugar
- Preheat oven to 300
- Place ingredients in a cast iron skillet and cook over medium-low heat for 6 to 7 minutes while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
- The sugar and water should be crystallized and peanuts thoroughly coated.
- Spoon peanuts into a cookie sheet; break large clumps with the wooden spoon
- Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely
- Break up clumps and store in an airtight container.