This Caramel Corn Recipe is the perfect snack for this time of year! Perfectly popped popcorn kernels topped with sugar and sweetness. What more could you want?
Once you make this homemade caramel corn recipe, it’s literally all you’re going to think about. It’s safe to say that this is going to be a huge hit during the holiday season and an instant favorite the first time you make it!
This sweet caramel corn is also excellent for movie night or to make a big batch that everyone can gather up and share.
If you’re craving more sweet treats, check out these Brown Butter Pecan Cookies or this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread!
Why You’ll Love This Perfect Caramel Corn
- A fast and simple treat
- It can easily be made into popcorn balls
- A truly delicious option for Christmas time
- It makes a lot of popcorn to share
- The thin coating of caramel is the perfect sweetness
- It’s sure to become everyone’s favorite snack
Ingredients Needed For The Best Caramel Corn Recipe
- Popped popcorn
- Unsalted butter or margarine
- Light corn syrup
- Packed brown sugar
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Vanilla extract
How to make Easy Homemade Caramel Corn
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Use rimmed baking sheets or a roasting pan and cover with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: Place the popcorn in a bowl
Add the popcorn to a bowl or roasting pan.
Step 3: Mix the caramel mixture
Melt the sugar, salt, butter, and corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove. Bring it to a boil and cook for another 5 minutes – stirring the entire time.
Step 4: Add the vanilla
The syrup will be foamy. Take the pan off the heat and then stir in the vanilla extract and the baking soda.
Step 5: Pour the syrup over the popcorn
Once combined, pour the syrup over the top of the popcorn and fold gently to combine.
Step 6: Transfer the popcorn
Put the popcorn onto the baking sheets or roasting pan.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 60 minutes, and be sure to stir every 15 minutes.
Step 8: Cool
Take the popcorn out of the oven and spread it out on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Let the cool and spread it apart to help it cool quickly.
Step 9: Store
Store in an airtight container. You can store it at room temperature.
Easy Caramel Popcorn Recipe Tips
- You can pop the popcorn on the stove or use an air popper as well. This great recipe gives you options on how to pop popcorn kernels.
- Make sure that you’re stirring often when making the caramel sauce, as you don’t want it to burn. Have it on medium-high heat to get to a boil and stir with a wooden spoon.
- If you want to add a little bit of extra flavor, you can add a little bit of peanut butter to make peanut butter popcorn. It’s up to you, but it’s fun to make a different kind of popcorn sometimes!
- You can easily give this as a gift for the holiday as well by adding it to a plastic bag with a tie. You can also use clear treat bags as well!
Frequently Asked Questions
Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 28 cups popcorn popped
- 1 cup butter unsalted
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 cups brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Use rimmed baking sheets or a roasting pan and cover with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the popcorn to a bowl or roasting pan.
- Melt the sugar, salt, butter, and corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove. Bring it to a boil and cook for another 5 minutes – stirring the entire time.
- The syrup will be foamy. Take the pan off the heat and then stir in the vanilla extract and the baking soda. Add a dash of cinnamon.
- Once combined, pour the syrup over the top of the popcorn and fold gently to combine.
- Put the popcorn onto the baking sheets or roasting pan.
- Bake for 60 minutes, and be sure to stir every 15 minutes.
- Take the popcorn out of the oven and spread it out on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Let the cool and spread it apart to help it cool quickly.