Easy Homemade Caramel Corn Recipe

Introduction

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn is a delicious treat that combines sweet, buttery caramel with crunchy popcorn. This simple recipe produces a perfect sweet and salty snack that’s great for movie nights or anytime you want a flavorful bite.

Ingredients

• 10 cups popped popcorn
• Salt (to taste)
• 1 cup butter (sweet cream salted)
• 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare 10 cups of popped popcorn. You can pop it on the stove, air-pop, or use microwave popcorn. Remove any un-popped kernels to avoid hard bites.
2. Step 2: Lightly salt the popcorn to enhance the sweet and salty flavors.
3. Step 3: Melt 1 cup of butter in a medium saucepan over low to medium heat. Heat gently to avoid burning the butter.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup of packed light brown sugar to the melted butter and stir until fully combined. Continue stirring until no separate butter layer remains on top.
5. Step 5: Increase heat to medium-low and bring the mixture to a low boil. When bubbles appear on the surface, set a timer for 4 minutes and stop stirring during this time.
6. Step 6: After 4 minutes, remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Set a timer for 1 minute and stir the vanilla into the caramel.
7. Step 7: Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and mix well. The caramel will foam up and lighten in color—this makes it smoother and easier to coat the popcorn.
8. Step 8: Drizzle the caramel mixture over the popcorn in batches. Use a spoon to gently fold the popcorn so that all kernels are evenly coated.
9. Step 9: Spread the coated popcorn on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, foil, or a Silpat liner. Allow it to cool completely before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use air-popped popcorn for a lighter, less oily base.
• Add chopped nuts like pecans or almonds to the caramel mixture for extra texture and flavor.
• For a spicy kick, sprinkle a pinch of cayenne pepper into the caramel sauce before coating the popcorn.
• Make sure to stir continuously while combining the butter and brown sugar to prevent burning.

Storage

Store the caramel corn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. It tastes best fresh but can be gently reheated in a low oven if it loses crispness. Avoid refrigeration as it may make the caramel sticky.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use microwave popcorn instead of stove-popped?

Yes, microwave popcorn works well. Just be sure to remove any un-popped kernels before adding the caramel.

Why does the caramel foam when I add baking soda?

The baking soda reacts chemically with the hot caramel, creating bubbles that aerate it. This makes the caramel lighter and easier to coat the popcorn evenly.

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 86 reviews

• Author: Thomas
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 10 cups of caramel corn 1x

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Description

This Easy Homemade Caramel Corn recipe is a delightful sweet and salty snack made from freshly popped popcorn coated in a rich, buttery caramel sauce. Perfect for movie nights or casual gatherings, this caramel corn combines a smooth caramel made with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and baking soda to create a light, crispy coating on every kernel. Quick to prepare on the stovetop, it offers a classic treat that’s best enjoyed fresh but keeps well in an airtight container for a few days.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Popcorn

• 10 cups popped popcorn
• Salt, to taste

Caramel Sauce

• 1 cup sweet cream salted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

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Instructions

1. Prepare Popcorn: Pop 10 cups of popcorn using your preferred method such as stovetop, air-popped, or microwave. Remove all un-popped kernels to prevent biting into hard pieces.
2. Season Popcorn: Sprinkle salt over the freshly popped popcorn to enhance the sweet and salty flavor combination.
3. Melt Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt 1 cup of butter over low to medium heat until fully melted but not browned, maintaining a gentle heat to avoid burning.
4. Mix Brown Sugar: Add 1 cup of packed light brown sugar to the melted butter and stir continuously until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
5. Simmer Caramel: Increase the heat to medium-low and bring the butter and sugar mixture to a low boil. Allow it to bubble for 4 minutes without stirring to develop the caramel.
6. Add Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly.
7. Incorporate Baking Soda: Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to the caramel mixture; it will foam and bubble, creating a lighter, aerated texture. Remove from heat immediately after mixing.
8. Coat Popcorn: Slowly drizzle the warm caramel over the salted popcorn, using a spoon to gently fold and coat all kernels evenly.
9. Cool and Set: Spread the coated popcorn onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a Silpat liner. Allow it to cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container.

Notes

• Ensure no un-popped kernels remain to avoid unpleasant bites.
• Use low to medium heat during caramel preparation to prevent burning.
• The baking soda reaction aerates the caramel, making it lighter and easier to coat the popcorn.
• Caramel corn is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored for several days in an airtight container.
• Use parchment paper or a non-stick liner to prevent sticking during cooling.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: caramel corn, homemade caramel popcorn, sweet and salty snack, movie night snack, caramel popcorn recipe