Caramel Popcorn Recipe (Caramel Corn) Recipe
This classic Caramel Popcorn recipe transforms simple popped corn into a sweet, crunchy treat coated in rich caramel. With a buttery caramel sauce made from brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup, then baked to perfection, it's a perfect snack for movie nights or festive occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce Ingredients
- 2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
Popcorn
- 6-8 cups popped plain popcorn
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make the Caramel Sauce: In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and salt. Stir continuously and cook the mixture for about 5 minutes until it begins to thicken.
- Add Flavor and Soda: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract and baking soda. Stir the mixture until it becomes foamy, which helps give the caramel a light texture.
- Coat the Popcorn: Pour the caramel sauce over the popped popcorn. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir carefully until all the popcorn is evenly coated with the caramel.
- Bake the Popcorn: Spread the coated popcorn evenly across the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and crisping.
- Cool and Store: Remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheets. Once cooled, break apart any clumps and store the caramel popcorn in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use plain popped popcorn without any additional flavors or butter for best results.
- Stirring during baking ensures even coating and prevents burning.
- Store in an airtight container to keep the caramel popcorn crisp for up to a week.
- If you prefer a less sweet snack, reduce the brown sugar slightly, but it will affect the caramel texture.