Ingredients
4 cup sweetened puffed-corn cereal, such as Corn Pops
1 ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter
3 cup sugar
1 ½ cup light corn syrup
1 unsalted butter
½ cup water
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
Directions
1. In a very large, lightly oiled bowl, toss the popped corn with the corn cereal and peanuts.
2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar with the corn syrup, butter, water, vanilla bean and seeds. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup registers 295° (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, about 18 minutes. Stir in the salt and chipotle powder.
3. Immediately pour the hot syrup over the popcorn mix. Using a lightly oiled wooden spoon, stir to coat. Working quickly, scrape the popcorn onto a large sheet of lightly oiled parchment paper. Discard the vanilla bean. Wearing lightly oiled sturdy rubber gloves and using a very large, lightly oiled ice cream scoop (1/4 cup), form thirty-six 2-inch-wide balls, pressing lightly without compacting. Transfer the balls to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Let cool completely before serving.
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