A SPLASH OF LIQUEUR

Amaretto, almonds and sea salt dress up a sweet and salty caramel crunch popcorn.

Sweet, salty, complex and crunchy, salted caramel popcorn is absolutely addictive. Typically found at summer carnivals and baseball games, this treat can glam up with embellishment around the holidays. Molasses adds depth of flavour to traditional recipes, but here we swapped it out for the aromatic Italian liqueur, amaretto. Disaronno Originale Amaretto (LCBO 2253, $30.30), is sweet, rich and lightly bitter, adding indulgent aromas of marzipan and Madagascar vanilla bean to the popcorn. Roasted almonds add decadence and enhance amaretto’s smooth and nutty flavour.

Amaretto, almonds and sea salt really dress up this snack for company, making it perfect for a party. For something so impressive, it is surprisingly easy to make. You might want to make double (see TIP on page 217), just in case a few handfuls disappear before the guests arrive. If you’re feeling especially generous, bundle it up in bags with a ribbon and give it as a gift to a great host or as a stocking stuffer. Better yet, save it all for yourself for cozying up on the couch with your favourite holiday movie.

You can also easily switch it up! For a Southern twist, swap out the amaretto and almonds for a rich and smoky bourbon with buttery roasted pecans. For a tropical take, swap in sweetly spiced dark rum with a mix of coconut and macadamia nuts.