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Bowl of homemade Easy Caramel Popcorn with a crunchy texture and sweet coating.

Caramel Popcorn

A simple and easy recipe for homemade caramel popcorn that is crunchy and delicious, perfect for movie nights or cozy snacks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Popcorn Base
  • 10-12 cups Popped popcorn (plain, no butter topping) Shake out any unpopped kernels.
Caramel Sauce
  • 1 cup Butter Melted.
  • 1 cup Brown sugar Packed.
  • 1/4 cup Corn syrup or honey Either works; corn syrup is more classic.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt For flavor.
  • 1/4 teaspoon Baking soda A secret ingredient for a lighter coating.
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract Optional but enhances flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pop the popcorn and shake out any unpopped kernels.
  2. Prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Making Caramel
  1. In a saucepan, melt butter and then stir in brown sugar, corn syrup (or honey), and salt. Bring to a gentle boil.
  2. Let it bubble for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until smooth and glossy.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will foam up.
Coating Popcorn
  1. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir gently until evenly coated.
Baking
  1. Spread the caramel-coated popcorn evenly onto the prepared baking sheets.
  2. Bake at 250°F (120°C) for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Cooling
  1. Allow the popcorn to cool completely on the trays before breaking into pieces.

Notes

For best results, use plain popcorn and do not skip the baking soda. Store in an airtight container once cooled to maintain crunchiness. This snack pairs well with warm drinks, like easy homemade drinking chocolate. Adding roasted nuts, pretzel pieces, or mini marshmallows can elevate the snack further.