Best 4 Incredible Caramel Popcorn Recipes

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When it comes to satisfying your sweet cravings, nothing beats the combination of crunchy popcorn and decadent caramel. Whether you're a fan of classic caramel corn or prefer a gourmet twist with exotic flavors or mix-ins, creating incredible caramel popcorn at home is easier than you think. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking techniques, you can transform ordinary popcorn into an irresistible treat that will delight your taste buds and impress your friends and family. Let's delve into the delectable world of caramel popcorn and discover the secrets to crafting the perfect batch.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

EASY HOMEMADE CARAMEL POPCORN



Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn image

This Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn or caramel corn recipe shows you how to make the best sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, gourmet caramel popcorn! Combined with our White Chocolate Cake Popcorn, you have a sure fire hit!

Provided by Karin and Ken

Categories     Appetizer     Dessert

Number Of Ingredients 7

8 cups popped popcorn
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter or 2 sticks
1/2 cup corn syrup, clear (clear)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Steps:

  • From my experience, with this recipe, it is best to have everything ready, including your timer, any extra treats like peanuts or pretzels, everything, before you start cooking anything. When working with caramel you need to work quickly and efficiently to avoid the caramel burning or hardening before it is supposed to.
  • I also recommend watching the video above just to see exactly the way everything goes. That being said, I am sure the instructions are good enough! I wrote them myself.
  • First, measure out all of your ingredients and get out your equipment, including a timer. This includes making your popcorn, pouring the popcorn on top of your cooling racks to remove unpopped kernels, and into your large bowl.
  • Also, getting your large rimmed baking sheet ready with a silpat liner or tinfoil coated in cooking spray.
  • Once this is done, grab your biggest, ideally non stick, skillet. If you prefer you can also use a large saucepan.
  • Once you add baking soda the caramel mixture will expand so I strongly recommend a skillet or pot that seems too big for creating this wonderful caramel mixture.
  • Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.
  • In a large pot or skillet, over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Once melting, add corn syrup, brown sugar, and salt, stirring frequently.
  • Keep stirring until mixture starts to boil, around 10 minutes or so.
  • As soon as mixture begins to boil set your timer for two minutes exactly and stir until your timer goes off.
  • Remove mixture from heat immediately, and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
  • Mixture will turn a light caramel color and expand as I mentioned. Keep stirring until the color is uniform and the texture is smooth.
  • If you are adding anything to your popcorn like peanuts or pretzels, you will need to decide if you want the treats coated in caramel too. If so add 1 cup or as many as you would like to your popcorn before pouring on the caramel.
  • Pour caramel all over your popcorn in your large bowl, and turn gently until all of your popcorn is fully coated.
  • Pour out onto your prepared baking sheet and spread out popcorn as much as possible.
  • Bake for 45 minutes, stirring your popcorn every 12 minutes, breaking up any clumps as best you can, until done. I like to adjust the popcorn three times while baking for the best results!
  • Once out of the oven, add nuts, pretzels, coarse sea salt or any additional ingredients if you are using them. They will stick to the popcorn kernels if the popcorn is hot. Allow dry popcorn to cool and continue to break up the pieces or clumps that remain stuck together.
  • After trying this recipe once you will need to decide if you prefer your popcorn crispier, increase the baking time slightly, in minutes, and if you like your popcorn chewier, reduce the bake time somewhat, in minutes, until you find the timing that is perfect for you.
  • Serve as desired. Enjoy!

EASY CARAMEL POPCORN



Easy Caramel Popcorn image

This is habit-forming, it is soooo good and so simple to make, you can also use unskinned almonds or use whatever nut you desire --- you may also add 1/3 cup molasses for a stronger caramel flavor :)

Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 quarts

Number Of Ingredients 8

24 cups popped corn (1 cup unpopped)
1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole peanuts (or use both) or 1 1/2 cups unsalted walnut halves (or use both)

Steps:

  • Set oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Put the popped corn in a large bowl.
  • Melt the margarine (or butter) stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Then boil for 5 minutes WITHOUT stirring (this is important DO NOT stir for 5 minutes!).
  • Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
  • Add in the nuts and stir to combine.
  • Pour the mixture over popped corn in bowl; mix well with a wooden spoon to combine.
  • Transfer to a large greased roasting pan, and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven then cool.
  • Break into pieces.
  • Store in a tightly covered tin box.
  • Delicious!

CARAMEL POPCORN



Caramel Popcorn image

Great caramel popcorn for any holiday or occasion. If you like chewy popcorn, bake less.

Provided by BS4U2C

Categories     Desserts     Candy Recipes     Popcorn Candy Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
½ cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 quarts popped popcorn

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
  • Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 252.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32.8 g, Cholesterol 24.4 mg, Fat 14 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.6 g, Sodium 340 mg, Sugar 23.6 g

HOMEMADE CARAMEL POPCORN RECIPE



Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe image

Sweet and gooey, this homemade caramel popcorn recipe is an old family favorite.

Provided by Momma Cyd

Categories     Dessert

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 pound brown sugar
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup karo syrup (light corn syrup)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup unpopped popcorn

Steps:

  • Pop your popcorn in an air popper machine. My machine only allows 1/2 cup of kernels at a time so I had two separate batches that I had to pop.
  • Cook the brown sugar, Karo syrup, and 1/2 cup of butter over the stove on medium high heat and bring to a boil.
  • Add the sweetened condensed milk. Stir continually for about 3 to 4 minutes until it gets to the soft ball stage (it clings together when you drop some in cold water). It will burn if you cook it too long, so make sure you are stirring continuously and watch it closely.
  • When it is finished cooking, take your pan off the stove and pour the caramel sauce over your air popped popcorn. Mix until all the popcorn is completely coated. You will need a very large bowl to mix it all together.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 282 kcal, Carbohydrate 70 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 40 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 59 g, ServingSize 1 serving

Tips:

  • To make perfect caramel, use a heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir constantly to prevent the sugar from burning.
  • Use fresh, unpopped popcorn for the best results.
  • Add the caramel to the popcorn in a thin stream, stirring constantly to coat evenly.
  • Spread the caramel popcorn out on a baking sheet to cool and harden.
  • Store the caramel popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature.

Conclusion:

Caramel popcorn is a delicious and easy-to-make snack that is perfect for parties, movie nights, or a sweet treat. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious batch of caramel popcorn that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a sweet snack, be sure to give caramel popcorn a try!

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