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Copycat Beaver Nuggets (Caramel Puffcorn)
If you’ve ever been road-tripping through Texas, you may have stumbled upon Buc-ee’s, Texas’ most famous gas station/convenience store chain. Buc-ee’s® is famous for its Beaver Nuggets – an utterly addictive caramel puff corn. Now you can make it at home, no road trip needed.
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
BAKE TIME: 45 minutes
YIELD: ~12 cups
8-10 ounces plain or butter-flavored Puffcorn (recommended: Old Dutch)
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 teaspoon butter extract/flavoring
Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 250.
Pour the puff corn into two large bowls. Melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring frequently, until boiling. Boil for 2 minutes while stirring.
Remove from heat and immediately add the baking soda and extracts. Stir while the mixture bubbles and foams. Pour half of the mixture over each bowl of puffcorn. Use salad servers or “salad hands” to toss and coat the puffcorn evenly.
Pour all of the coated puffcorn onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, tossing every 15 minutes.
Remove from oven, and pour onto a large cutting board or clean countertop lined with waxed paper and spread into an even layer. Let cool. Break pieces apart if needed. Store in an airtight container for several days.
