This sweet and salty caramel popcorn recipe (AKA caramel corn) is simple to make and impossible to stop eating. The caramel cools to a brittle candied shell around freshly popped popcorn. Recipe includes a how-to video!
To me, caramel popcorn tastes like nostalgia. This old-fashioned recipe takes me back to family beach vacations as a kid. Walking up and down the Ocean City, MD boardwalk, picking up seashells, guarding my french fries from (seriously aggressive) seagulls, and begging my parents to buy a giant bucket of caramel corn. I’m not sure if caramel popcorn is popular at beaches everywhere, but it’s kind of a big deal in Maryland. Unfortunately it’s also pretty pricey.
If only I’d known how easy it was to make at home.
Seven ingredients (8 if you like nuts), no candy thermometer needed for the caramel, and the option to pop your own popcorn or use the microwave variety. This recipe makes caramel that hardens as the popcorn cools for a thin, brittle exterior, making a candied popcorn that’s crunchy rather than sticky. If you’ve never had this sweet and salty treat before, you’re in for a serious treat.
Here’s What You Need
- Popcorn. You’ll need 10 cups, which I’ve found fits perfectly on a single cookie sheet. More on the type of popcorn to use a bit later in the post.
- Unsalted butter. We’ll add salt to the caramel. See my post for more information on why I like to use unsalted butter and then add salt.
- Brown sugar. I use a blend of light and dark brown sugar. You can use all light brown sugar, but I like the added richness, flavor, and color of adding in some dark brown sugar.
- Light corn syrup. This is a necessity that plays a critical role in this caramel popcorn coating, don’t leave it out! As I’ve discussed in my sugar cookie icing and lace cookies, it is not the same as high fructose corn syrup. I do not know of any adequate substitutes in the US, but I believe glucose syrup would be a sufficient substitute outside of the US where corn syrup is not readily available.
- Salt.
- Vanilla extract.
- Baking soda. this enriches the flavor and helps the caramel spread more easily and encourages the caramel coating to be snappy and crunchy rather than chewy.
- Peanuts, or your favorite nut. These are optional!
What Kind of Popcorn is Best for Caramel Corn?
You have a lot of options here. You can pop your own popcorn in a cast iron Dutch oven or in an air popper, no need to add salt or butter before proceeding with the recipe. You can also use microwave popcorn! While I usually just pop my own, Zach loves the extra flavor from using microwave popcorn. If I opt for store-bought I usually use Popsecret Homestyle popcorn, though I’m sure other brands would work as well.
Tips for Caramel Popcorn
- You can use your favorite type of nut or leave the nuts out entirely.
- Unsalted/unbuttered popcorn (made in an air popper on the stovetop) will work for this recipe as will microwave popcorn
- Don’t worry if you’re having trouble coating 100% of the popcorn with the caramel right after you pour it. Do as much as you can — aim for 75% of the popcorn. You’ll be able to continue to coat the popcorn as you stir it during cooking.
- After cooking, break apart any popcorn clusters with a spatula before they cool.
- Popcorn will still be soft and slightly sticky while it’s warm, but once it cools the caramel should be a hard thin shell around the popcorn.
How to Store
Allow caramel popcorn to cool completely then store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze caramel corn! Freeze in an airtight container for several months. If popcorn has softened, you can reheat it in a 250F oven; cook for ten minutes at a time until no longer soft.
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Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- 10 cups popcorn¹
- ½ cup (113 g) 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
- ⅓ cup (66 g) dark brown sugar²
- ¼ cup (60 ml) light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (110 g) dry roasted salted peanuts or preferred nut optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250F (120C). Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
- Place popcorn, on prepared baking sheet and place in the oven on the center rack to keep warm while you prepare the caramel coating.10 cups popcorn¹
- Place butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted.½ cup (113 g) 1 stick unsalted butter
- Add brown sugars, corn syrup, and salt and cook until the sugar is dissolved.1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, ⅓ cup (66 g) dark brown sugar², ¼ cup (60 ml) light corn syrup, ½ teaspoon salt
- Bring mixture to a boil (still over medium heat), Boil for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove caramel from heat and stir in vanilla extract and baking soda until completely combined.¾ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- Remove popcorn from oven and drizzle caramel over popcorn. Sprinkle nuts over top (if using) and then use a spatula to stir until popcorn and nuts are mostly coated with caramel (it’ll be a little tough to get popcorn completely coated, aim for coating about 75% of the popcorn, you’ll be able to coat more later on).1 cup (110 g) dry roasted salted peanuts or preferred nut
- Return cookie sheet to center rack in oven and bake on 250F (120C) for 40-45 minutes, removing the popcorn every 10-15 minutes to stir.
- Once finished cooking, stir again and allow popcorn to cool completely on the baking sheet before enjoying.
Notes
Storing:
Caramel popcorn will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You may also freeze for several months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Lourie Lundquist
This is easy and delicious. I very made it a few times now and it’s a big hit. I use 2 microwave bags of popcorn. The candied coating has been enough to coat the extra popcorn. I do mix mine in a huge bowl adding the peanuts as I stir. Then put it on the cookie sheet. You just have to work fast. You can use whatever nuts you like. When mine was cool, I added in m&m peanut candies. That last time I made it, I drizzled chocolate over it, and let it set over night. Then I bagged it up into individual servings to share. I double the recipe but use almost 4 bags of microwave popcorn. Believe me, it won’t last. Once you start eating it you can’t stop. Thank you Sam for such great recipes! I have made several, with using my own spin on them and they are always perfect and delicious. 🙂
Sam
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it so much, Lourie! I love the additions! 🙂
Dimple Morgan
Hi Sam, can you add food coloring to the caramel to make it another color? If so, when would I do that? I want to know so I can make this a festive treat all year long.
Sam
I haven’t tried it. You would have to use all granulated sugar, because the brown sugar would “muddy” the colors a bit. It may change your flavor a bit and since I haven’t done it I’m not quite sure how it would turn out, but if you do try it I would love to know how it goes. 🙂
Linda M.
Made this and we all loved it. I even made a second batch for the hubby and added dry roasted peanuts and pecans. Awesome recipe and will definitely be making again.
Lauren
In haven’t tried this yet, but I wonder if you’ve tried to make it into a popcorn ball? My grandparents have our popcorn balls every year at Halloween 🎃 and with Halloween in question, I’m looking for a way to make an extra special treat to celebrate in case we will not be able to go house to house.
Sam
Hi Lauren! I have not tried making this in a popcorn ball, but it is pretty sticky so it may hold together pretty well if you don’t separate it. 🙂
Yasmin
I’ve tried it today as a special treat for the kids and it came out absolutely perfect. It was gone before I even put it in a box. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was such a hit, Yasmin! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂
Selah M. Howard
Hi there!
I honestly wasn’t expecting this recipe to be this good (since I’ve failed before in the caramel making category)! I made this yesterday for the Super Bowl and turned out perfect! Delectably sugary and sweet, caramelized yet firm! Super amazing and will definitely be making again and I have already shared recipe! Another perfect one, Sam!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Selah! I am so happy to hear that the caramel popcorn turned out perfectly for you and it was a hit at your super bowl party! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting, I appreciate the feedback! 🙂
Rox
Hi! This recipe looks wonderful! Do you know how long I should boil the syrup at high altitude, 7500 feet? Thanks.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you, Rox! I am sorry but I do not have experience with baking at high altitude so I can not advise. 🙁
Rox
Okay. Thanks anyway. I’ll try cooking it a little bit longer. 😉
Sugar Spun Run
Keep me posted on how it turns out, Rox!
Wanda J Shaw
Have made this caramel corn for years and it is WONDERFUL! Passed the recipe on to my daughter who now makes it herself. One thing that might be considered—warn everyone to use a large pot for cooking the caramel ingredients because when the baking soda is added the mixture will really foam and can spill over if a smallish pot is used. Happy cooking!
Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for sharing, Wanda! 🙂