Ballpark Foods: How Cracker Jacks Are Made

Welcome to Ballpark Foods

Welcome to our series on famous ballpark foods! In this series, we explore the tasty treats that fans enjoy while watching their favorite sports teams play. From hot dogs to nachos, these foods are a big part of the fun at sporting events. Today, we're looking at a classic ballpark snack: Cracker Jacks!

What Are Cracker Jacks?

Cracker Jacks are a sweet and crunchy snack made of popcorn and peanuts covered in a sticky caramel coating. When you bite into Cracker Jacks, you first notice the sweet, caramel flavor. Then comes the satisfying crunch of the popcorn and the occasional peanut that adds a nutty taste. The mix of sweet and salty flavors makes it hard to stop munching!

And don't forget about the prize inside each box! Finding that small toy has been a fun part of eating Cracker Jacks for over 100 years.

The Basic Ingredients

Cracker Jacks are made with just a few simple ingredients:

• Popcorn
• Peanuts
• Sugar
• Corn syrup
• Molasses
• Salt
• Butter or oil

How Cracker Jacks Are Made

Step 1: Popping the Corn

The first step in making Cracker Jacks is popping the corn. Large machines heat kernels until they burst into fluffy white popcorn. Commercial makers use special popcorn varieties that pop into large, sturdy pieces that can hold up to the caramel coating.

Step 2: Roasting the Peanuts

While the popcorn is being made, peanuts are roasted to bring out their flavor. The peanuts are heated in large ovens until they reach a golden-brown color. This roasting process makes them extra crunchy and tasty.

Step 3: Making the Caramel Coating

The caramel coating is what makes Cracker Jacks special. To make it, sugar, corn syrup, and molasses are mixed together in large cooking pots. The mixture is heated to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). A small amount of salt and butter or oil is added to create that perfect sweet-and-salty flavor.

Step 4: Mixing It All Together

Once the caramel is ready, it's poured over a mixture of the popped corn and roasted peanuts. Large mixing machines gently fold the ingredients together, making sure every piece of popcorn and every peanut gets evenly coated with the sticky caramel mixture.

Step 5: Cooling and Crisping

After mixing, the coated mixture needs to cool and become crispy. The Cracker Jacks are spread out and air is blown over them to help them cool faster. As they cool, the caramel hardens around the popcorn and peanuts, creating that signature crunch.

Step 6: Packaging with a Prize

The final step is packaging the Cracker Jacks. The cooled snack is measured into boxes or bags, and each package gets the famous prize inside! Then they're sealed up and shipped to ballparks, stores, and other places where people can buy them.

Enjoying a Ballpark Tradition

The next time you're at a baseball game and open a box of Cracker Jacks, you'll know exactly how this famous snack was made. From simple ingredients comes one of the most beloved ballpark foods of all time - a sweet, crunchy treat that has been part of the stadium experience for generations.