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Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipe

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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?

caramel corn in red and white containers

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
ingredients to make caramel corn

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.

ingredients in a pan to make caramel corn

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.

stirring caramel

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.

drizzling caramel on popcorn

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.

baking dish with popcorn and caramel

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

close up of caramel corn

Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipe

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?
Print Pin
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caramel corn, old fashioned
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 28
Calories: 125kcal

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.

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.5mg