This caramel popcorn is so delicious, it can only be eaten one way – by the handful! Enjoy a movie at home tonight with this incredibly easy and scrumptious popcorn recipe.
Easy Caramel Corn Recipe
Now that movie theaters are pretty obsolete, it’s time to bring the joys of the cinema to your living room! Trust me – once you enjoy a bowl of this caramel popcorn, you won’t be missing the greasy movie theater stuff ever again.
And don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to watch a movie to enjoy this crunchy, buttery caramel popcorn! I love making a big bowl just to snack on throughout the day. Homemade sweet snacks are a speciality of mine, and this is one I just can’t get enough of.
There is something you should be aware of before making this sweet snack, though. If you leave a bag or container of this caramel popcorn on your counter, it’ll probably disappear within an hour. No one can seem to keep their hands out of it!
Why You’ll Love this Caramel Popcorn Recipe:
- Easy: The steps to make this caramel popcorn are very easy to follow. So easy, in fact, that I highly doubt you’ll buy caramel popcorn again when you see how quickly it can be done at home!
- Gift: Next time you need to give a tasty gift to a teacher, neighbor, or friend, consider a little baggie of this homemade caramel popcorn. It’s a snack that everyone loves!
- Always in season: There’s not a time of the year that isn’t good for caramel popcorn. Enjoy this popcorn on a hot summer day, during a Halloween scary movie marathon, or on a cozy winter evening.
Oh, and just in case you were curious – caramel popcorn pairs perfectly with a Caramel Apple Cider Hot Toddy Cocktail or a glass of Caramel Apple Sangria!
How to Make Caramel Popcorn
- Pop the popcorn, then spread it over a large cake pan or cookie sheet.
- To make the sweet coating, melt the sugar, butter, and corn syrup together. Then, stir in the baking soda.
- Pour the delicious mixture evenly over the popcorn and toss it all together to fully coat.
- Bake the popcorn.
- When it’s finished baking, allow the popcorn to cool. Then, break up any large pieces, and serve.
Microwavable movie theater-style popcorn is the way to go! It’s already buttery flavored and salted. Avoid using any other flavored popcorns like kettle or cheese. The homemade caramel sauce pairs best with salty, buttery popcorn.
There really isn’t anything more annoying than taking a bite of popcorn, only to get a hard kernel in there! To avoid this, all you need to do it shake the popcorn over something like a colander or cooling rack. That way, the kernels will fall through and you’ll just be left with the popcorn.
In an airtight container at room temperature, caramel popcorn will stay fresh and crunchy for about 5 days. Make sure your bag or container is truly airtight – you don’t want your popcorn drying out! No one likes stale popcorn.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Is your inner child craving a bag of Cracker Jack? Satisfy that craving by tossing some roasted peanuts in with your popcorn!
- Be sure not to skimp on the corn syrup. The corn syrup helps caramel coating achieve the desired texture instead of being thin and grainy.
- If your popcorn happens to go stale, don’t be sad! Just put the popcorn back in the oven at 250°F for a few minutes.
This seriously addictive homemade caramel popcorn is loved by everyone. Kids, grandparents, and everyone in-between will be so happy you made this sweet treat!
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 cups popped popcorn 113 grams, with unpopped kernels removed (3 3.2-ounce bags)
- 1 cup brown sugar 213 grams
- ½ cup salted butter 113 grams (1 stick)
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup 104 grams
- 1 teaspoon baking soda 6 grams
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Dutch Oven (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 225°F. Spread the popcorn over a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use 2 baking sheets if necessary. Set aside.15 cups popped popcorn
- To make the coating, in a saucepan or dutch oven set over medium-high heat, melt the sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Be sure to stir it constantly to avoid burning. It will begin to bubble and pull away from the sides of the pan. Continue stirring for about 1-2 more minutes before removing from the stove top. Stir in the baking soda, which will begin to foam in the mixture. Keep stirring until it is well combined.1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup salted butter, ⅓ cup light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pour the mixture evenly over the popcorn and toss the popcorn with a rubber spatula so that each piece is coated in the caramel sauce. Do NOT use your hands! The caramel is VERY hot!
- Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 45-50 minutes, stirring the popcorn every 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven when done, and allow the popcorn to cool. Once it is cool enough, break any large pieces and serve.
Notes
- Is your inner child craving a bag of Cracker Jack? Satisfy that craving by tossing some roasted peanuts in with your popcorn!
- Be sure not to skimp on the corn syrup. The corn syrup helps caramel coating achieve the desired texture instead of being thin and grainy.
- If your popcorn happens to go stale, don’t be sad! Just put the popcorn back in the oven at 250°F for a few minutes.
i tried to print the recipe but wouldn’t come up.
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