One thing about Chicago Corn most everyone agrees on is that, as its name would imply, the mix originated in Chicago, Illinois, a city rich in popcorn history, as this is where the first popcorn machine was invented. The Windy City is also the birthplace of caramel popcorn, which German immigrants to Chicago Fritz and Louis William Rueckheim invented at the end of the 19th century. The brothers also invented Cracker Jack, a combination of caramel popcorn and peanuts.
But how, exactly, did the Chicago-style mix come about, and who is responsible for its invention? Well, those specifics are up for debate. According to one legend, it was fate – or more accurately, Chicago’s famously windy weather – that first cheese and caramel popcorn combo. The legend says that the two flavors were always served separately until one day the wind brought them together, and the rest is gourmet popcorn history.
Whether you want to give the credit to Chicago’s blustery weather, one thing you can’t deny is the mix’s legendary tastiness. And even better, today, anyone can make their own Chicago-style popcorn as long as they have the ingredients and supplies to make caramel corn and cheese corn.
To make your own Chicago-style mix, check out these Gold Medal Products instructions on how to make caramel popcorn and this GMP video on how to make cheese corn. Keep in mind that some Chicago-style recipes also include regular popcorn. You may want to do this also, or even create a mix that is uniquely your own by adding other flavors such as chocolate, cinnamon, or hot-and-spicy. Who knows, in the future, maybe your popcorn franchise will be the next big name in Chicago-style popcorn!
