East Idaho Eats: Aunt Annie’s Kitchen is always popping up a treat
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AMMON — A local treat shop specializing in popcorn and fudge has perfected their recipes to give customers the ultimate flavors.
“Right now I’ve got 68 flavors of popcorn, and usually 16 to 18 kinds of fudge,” Aunt Annie’s Kitchen manager Justin Crook said.
Crook said his father, John Crook, was inspired to open the store after meeting someone with a similar shop.
“He actually met a guy on a plane that had a business like this, and thought, “Well that kinda sounds like fun’,” Crook said.
Aunt Annie’s Kitchen, named after no one in particular, is always cooking something fresh and buttery in the back of their shop.
“On an average day we probably make anywhere between four and 12 varieties of popcorn,” Crook said. “When we produce the cheese popcorns we make about five gallons per batch and the candied ones – about 15 to 17 gallons per batch.”
As the popcorn makers have gained more experience, they’ve been able to experiment more with popcorn flavors.
“We’re starting to get a little more creative… and trying to come up with our own newer recipes, and even revising some of the ones that we already have,” Crook said.
A current experiment is Aunt Annie’s kettle corn with caramel and milk chocolate streamed over top.
“We started producing but it doesn’t have a name yet,” Crook said.
Since Aunt Annie’s specializes in two main treats, Crook said they’re better able to deliver premium quality eats.
“Where we focus on mostly two types of items we can really put our energy into making what I think is the best popcorn in the area,” Crook said.
Crook said one particular type of flavor is a best seller in both the popcorn and the fudge.
“Caramel sea salt for both the fudge and the popcorn. They’re the best sellers and there’s probably a good reason for that,” Crook said.
Other popular flavors include the the chewy praline for fudge and the Annie Zebra popcorn. It’s a combination of the sea salted caramel corn with milk and white chocolate drizzled on top.
Linda Cochran, a Montana native, says she frequents the treat shop often.
“I usually get the caramel peanut or the caramel sea salt,” Cochran said.
Crook said he’s had a great response from the community and often gets flavor suggestions – like dill pickle and real cheddar popcorn combined.
“Mix them together and it tastes an awful lot like a McDonald’s cheeseburger,” Crook said.
Aunt Annie’s is located across from Five Guys in Ammon. The shop also sells gourmet bottled root beer, old fashioned candy, and gift baskets.
Address: 2631 S 25th E, Ammon, ID 83406
Phone: (208) 612-4831
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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