Red Hots Popcorn

Nothing this good could be any easier!!!  This is now a new tradition in my house- At Christmas time- we'll call it: "Christmas Crack Corn."  Valentines Day: "Red Hot Love Corn."  For any other time of the year, it can just be what it is. 

Red Hots Popcorn

5-7 cups Popped Popcorn

1/2 cup Red Hots

1/4 cup water

• Put popcorn in a plastic bowl and set aside.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchament paper. 
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• In a saucepan over low heat, melt red hots with water <- Be Patient!
• Bring your melted candies mixture to a simmer for at least a minute.
• Carefully pour the mixture over the popcorn stirring continuously and carefully. It helps to have a baking buddy to stir while you pour.
• Pour the popcorn onto the cookie sheets into as close to a single layer as possible. I was triple batching it and got a little over zealous with my layers.

Bake for 20 minutes (stirring after 10). You can bake for longer if you want it crispier.  If you want it chewy, don't bake at all.  Just let cool.

I actually added peanuts and candied almonds to this batch.  If you want to add nuts, put them in the bowl with the popcorn before pouring the melted candy on it.

*Note- Red hots can be very pricey!  I found a large bag in the candy aisle (at Christmas time) but you can also get them in the bulk section at Winco for less than $2/lb.  I actually was able to find a whole cart of them on Clearance yesterday- $1.50 per bag- Each bag = 3 batches of this popcorn!