Sweet and crunchy caramel-coated puff corn cereal that is as easy to make as it is delicious! You'll love these copycat Buc-ee's beaver nuggets!
You might also like my black and white zebra corn, marshmallow caramel corn, or chocolate-covered s'mores snack mix.
We recently stopped by a Buc-ee's gas station on the way back from a road trip to Missouri. While there, I picked up a few items to create a Buc-ee 's-themed white elephant gift. It was a hit at our holiday party this year, with the bag of beaver nuggets being the star of the gift. There is a Buc-ee's being built here in Virginia, but it's still a ways off, so these crunchy treats are a novelty for us out here. My friend, Nora, and I decided that we needed a homemade version in the meantime. My copycat beaver nuggets are coated in the same caramel as I use for baked caramel corn. It's from Paula Deen, so you know it's good! The only change I made when making beaver nuggets was to reduce the brown sugar by ½ cup.
Why I Like This Recipe
- Easy to make. Simply place the ingredients into a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes. No candy thermometer required! Then pour over cereal and bake!
- Feeds a crowd. One batch makes 12 cups of beaver nuggets, perfect to share with friends.
- Rich flavor. The cereal is already sweet and crunchy, but the homemade caramel coating elevates it with a richer texture and flavor.
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Tips and Tricks
- Use corn pops cereal. The beaver nuggets from Buc-ees are made using puff corn, similar to Pirate's Booty. If you can find plain puff corn, feel free to use it, but Corn Pops are an easy, readily accessible alternative.
- Bake for 1 hour. The caramel will begin to set up as you mix it into the corn pops. You might be tempted to skip baking it, but trust me, it is much better after baking at 200 degrees for an hour. This gives it a crispy texture, easier to eat (doesn't stick to your teeth), and less sticky on your fingers.
- Storage tips. Store in airtight bags or a container to keep fresh for up to a week. I have not tried freezing beaver nuggets, but you can freeze caramel popcorn, so I'd imagine you could.
Ingredients
- Corn Pops: Generic or name brand, it doesn't matter. The beaver nuggets from Buc-ees are made using puff corn, similar to Pirate's Booty. If you can find plain puff corn, feel free to use it, but Corn Pops are an easy, readily accessible alternative.
- Butter: I use salted butter exclusively for baking, but you can use unsalted butter if you'd like.
- Salt: For flavor.
- Brown sugar: For a rich caramel flavor, use brown sugar.
- Corn syrup: I use corn syrup and have not made this using an alternative.
- Baking soda: A teaspoon is added at the end of the boiling process, causing the mixture to fluff up. It becomes foamy and light, making it easier to coat the cereal and to eat, rather than being a hard, brittle caramel candy.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Copycat Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets
Step 1: Place butter, brown sugar, salt, and corn syrup in a saucepan. Heat on medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to medium and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.
Step 3: Pour caramel mixture over cereal. Stir to coat evenly.
Step 4: Pour cereal mixture onto a large baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour, stirring and breaking up the chunks every 15 minutes. Pour into a large serving bowl and enjoy!
Beaver Nuggets FAQs
My caramel mixture is best made with butter, but there are many recipes where you can use butter or margarine interchangeably with excellent results. If you'd prefer to use margarine, you can search for a baked caramel popcorn recipe that uses it instead of butter, and then use corn pops instead of popcorn.
A teaspoon is added at the end of the boiling process, causing the mixture to fluff up. It becomes foamy and light, making it easier to coat the cereal and to eat, rather than being a hard, brittle caramel candy.
Store in airtight bags or a container to keep fresh for up to a week. I have not tried freezing beaver nuggets, but you can freeze caramel popcorn, so I'd imagine you could.
More Sweet Snacks To Make
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Copycat Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets
Ingredients
- 12 cups corn pops
- 1 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- ½ cup light karo syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Place cereal into a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine butter, sugar, salt and karo syrup in a medium sauce pan and heat over med-high heat. When bubbly, set timer for 5 minutes and boil, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and add baking soda. Stir.
- Pour over corn pops and stir to coat evenly.
- Bake at 200 degrees, stirring and breaking up chunks every 15 minutes, for 1 hour.
Brandy says
I made a giant bowl the week after Christmas to snack on while playing games. It was a hit and so addicting!