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    You are here: Home / Desserts / Candy / Caramel Popcorn

    Caramel Popcorn

    January 30, 2020 By Sam 15 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    caramel popcorn in shallow dish

    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!

    Caramel popcorn in a white dish on a blue towel

    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.

    Caramel popcorn ingredients

    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!

    Stirring baking soda and vanilla into caramel for caramel popcorn

    Stirring caramel coating into popcorn

    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.

    Caramel popcorn piled high in a white dish, showcasing the shiny coating.

    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.

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Candied Pecans
    • Puppy Chow
    • Candied Walnuts
    • Peanut Clusters

    Let’s bake together! Head on over to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 200 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

    Caramel popcorn

    Caramel Popcorn

    This sweet and salty caramel corn snack is simple to make and impossible to stop eating.
    Be sure to check out the how-to video below the post!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 11 cups
    Calories: 331kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 10 cups popcorn¹
    • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter (113g)
    • 1 cup light brown sugar firmly packed (200g)
    • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar² 66g
    • ¼ cup light corn syrup 60ml
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 cup dry roasted salted peanuts or preferred nut optional (110g)

    Recommended Equipment

    • Medium-sized saucepan
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.
    • Place butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted.
    • Add brown sugars, corn syrup, and salt and cook until the sugar is dissolved.
    • 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.
    • 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).
    • 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

    ¹This recipe can be made with unsalted/unbuttered popcorn which you can make in an air popper or in a cast iron Dutch oven or you can use a “Homestyle” microwave popcorn for a richer flavor. I like PopSecret Homestyle.
    ²You may substitute this for additional light brown sugar (so you would use 1 ⅓ cups light brown sugar total), I just personally prefer the blend of light and dark brown sugar.

    Storing:

    Caramel popcorn will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You may also freeze for several months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

    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.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dimple Morgan

      January 17, 2022 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 02, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        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. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Linda M.

      December 11, 2021 at 11:22 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    3. Lauren

      September 05, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 05, 2020 at 9:06 pm

        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. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Yasmin

      April 28, 2020 at 11:07 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        April 28, 2020 at 11:17 am

        I am so glad that it was such a hit, Yasmin! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Selah M. Howard

      February 03, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        February 03, 2020 at 9:10 pm

        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! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Rox

      January 30, 2020 at 9:38 pm

      Hi! This recipe looks wonderful! Do you know how long I should boil the syrup at high altitude, 7500 feet? Thanks.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        January 30, 2020 at 10:10 pm

        Thank you, Rox! I am sorry but I do not have experience with baking at high altitude so I can not advise. 🙁

        Reply
        • Rox

          January 30, 2020 at 10:13 pm

          Okay. Thanks anyway. I’ll try cooking it a little bit longer. 😉

        • Sugar Spun Run

          January 30, 2020 at 10:22 pm

          Keep me posted on how it turns out, Rox!

    7. Wanda J Shaw

      January 30, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        January 30, 2020 at 5:02 pm

        Thanks for sharing, Wanda! 🙂

        Reply

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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