Snickers Popcorn

8 quarts air popped corn (about 2 cups of kernels)
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup salted peanuts
3 oz. melted semi-sweet chocolate (optional)
1 cup salted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. baking soda
30 "Fun Size" Snickers bars coarsely chopped.


Preheat oven to 200 degrees.  Over medium heat, boil butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup for 5 minutes.  Remover from heat and stir in baking soda. 

Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.  Transfer to waxed paper lined counter and sprinkle peanuts on top.  Stir until all is evenly coated. 

Transfer popcorn to a large roasting pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and stir in your coarsely chopped Snickers.

Return to oven for 3 more minutes so the Snickers begin to melt slightly into the popcorn. 

Remove from pan and transfer popcorn back to wax paper to cool.

Drizzle melted chocolate on top of popcorn if desired.

Let set and store in an airtight container.