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Baked Caramel Popcorn

Total Time: 50 minutes ★★★★★ 5 Reviews Jump to Recipe

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An easy recipe for homemade caramel popcorn – made from a simple brown sugar caramel, and then baked until perfectly crispy. This caramel corn is perfect for family movie night at home!

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Baked Caramel Popcorn Recipe

When I was younger, every so often, we would have what we called “pig-outs.” It was usually when my dad and my brother would be gone on camp-outs, but us girls and our mom would get lots of candy and junk food, and get to sit in front of the tv, pigging out and watching movies. This was a real treat for us, as we didn’t get to have a lot of junk food normally.

As I went to make this caramel popcorn the other day, the memory of these pig-outs came to mind. My memory is horrible, so I called my mom this morning to see if we ever ate this caramel corn at our pig-outs. I knew that we always had Brach’s candy, but beyond that, I couldn’t remember!! She told me that yes, we always had the candy, and that it was always just an array of junk food. She said she was sure we probably had this caramel popcorn from time to time, but she wasn’t sure either!

So even if we didn’t have this at our pig-outs, I love having these special nights with my kids from time to time, and this caramel popcorn is a favorite to put on the menu!! I have a soft caramel corn recipe that I’ve been using for years that makes a delicious caramel corn, as well, but I really, really do love this baked caramel corn recipe!

How to make Caramel Corn

Ingredients for Baked Caramel Popcorn

  • Unsalted Butter – I like to use unsalted and then add in my salt. If you use salted butter, you’ll want to cut down on the amount of salt you add.
  • Light Brown Sugar – I have never tried making this with dark brown sugar. I’m sure it would work, but I almost always prefer light brown sugar in recipes.
  • Light Corn Syrup – Not to be confused with high fructose corn syrup (if you use Karo syrup, it is HFCS free), the light corn syrup helps the caramel to not crystalize. I’m sure there are corn syrup substitutes out there, but I haven’t personally tried any of them.
  • Salt – The salt helps to bring out all of the flavors in the recipe, and I always suggest adding a bit of salt. This recipe uses more than some sweet recipes, but I love the tiny bit of saltiness you get.
  • Vanilla Extract – I always use pure vanilla extract.
  • Baking Soda – Do not skip the baking soda! I know it sounds like a weird ingredient, but the baking soda reacts with the sugar and the corn syrup, which causes it to form lots of tiny bubbles. (You’ll see this happen when you add the baking soda in and the caramel will bubble up.) These bubbles will help to keep the caramel a bit softer so that you won’t break your teeth when you are eating the caramel corn.
  • Popcorn – I have an air popper (it’s really one of my favorite kitchen appliances) but you can use microwave popcorn or popcorn cooked on the stove. Just be aware that the flavor and texture might change some if you use buttered or salted or oiled popcorn. I just use plain air popped popcorn.

How to make baked caramel popcorn

  1. Start by making the caramel. In a pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the brown sugar, the corn syrup, and the salt, then stir it all together.
  2. Bring this mixture to a boil, then set a timer for 5 minutes and let it boil without stirring the mixture.
  3. While the caramel is cooking, put your popcorn in 2 large bowls or one really large bowl.
  4. Remove the caramel from the heat.
  5. Stir in the vanilla and the baking soda. The caramel will bubble up – don’t worry, that’s supposed to happen!
  6. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir until the popcorn is coated with the caramel.
  7. Pour the coated popcorn out onto two half sheet baking sheets. Put it in a single layer as much as possible.
  8. Bake the caramel corn at 250ºF for about 30 minutes, stirring it twice during the cook time. It probably won’t be completely crispy by the end, but will crisp up as it sits.
  9. Pour the caramel corn out onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. When it’s cool enough to handle, break it into bite-sized pieces.

Caramel Corn Recipe

Tips for Making Caramel Corn

  • You’ll want to make sure you are using a bigger pot to make the caramel, as the mixture will bubble up when you add the vanilla and baking soda. You don’t want this to overflow as it is really, really hot.
  • I also like to use a really, really large bowl to mix everything together. If you don’t have one, use two large bowls and pour half of the caramel into each one.
  • Store the caramel corn in an air-tight container. It should be good for several days, although it never lasts that long in our house.

More Popcorn Recipes You Need to Try

Tools Used to Make this Baked Caramel Popcorn

If you want one big bowl to mix the caramel popcorn in, this 9-quart mixing bowl would work perfectly.
I use half sheet baking pans to bake the popcorn.

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Baked Caramel Popcorn in a blue bowl

Baked Caramel Popcorn

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Deborah
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 quarts 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

An easy recipe for homemade caramel popcorn – made from a simple brown sugar caramel, and then baked until perfectly crispy. This caramel corn is perfect for family movie night at home!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 quarts popped popcorn

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 250ºF.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar, corn syrup, and salt; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture comes to a boil, let it boil for 5 minutes without stirring.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the baking soda. Be careful – as the mixture will bubble up.
  4. Gradually pour the caramel over the popped corn, mixing well. (I usually have the popcorn in 2 big bowls to give me enough room to stir to coat it with caramel.)
  5. Turn the coated popcorn out onto 2 large, shallow baking sheets. I usually use half sheet baking sheets.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minute, or until fairly dry, stirring twice during baking time. Remove from the pan and break into pieces.
  7. Store the caramel popcorn in an air-tight container.

Recipe Notes:

**I used to cut the recipe down to 4 quarts of popcorn, but I have found that there is just too much caramel for 4 quarts, so I have gone back up to the original amount of 6 quarts.

**This recipe is easily halved.

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 cups
  • Calories: 281
  • Sugar: 27 g
  • Sodium: 257 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 37 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 41 mg

Keywords: caramel popcorn

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Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

5 Star Reviews

Easy!

EASY! And done in half the time of other recipes and so yummy! Thanks!
Shelli

It's The Best

I can’t stop making this! It’s the best, and everyone who tries it wants to know where did I find this recipe. Thanks!
Vickey

This Caramel Corn is the Best

This caramel corn is the best! Practically dissolves in your mouth. I save time by buying the giant bags of pre-popped butter popcorn at our local Gordon food service. I also put the popcorn in clean paper grocery bags and then pour the caramel over it. Much easier to shake!
Stacy

Comments

  1. TERI MCGUIRE says

    This is the same recipe I use but I add 1-2 T of water to the beginning of the caramel to keep it from getting grainy. I always had grainy caramel til I read about this trick. I add vanilla but I also add a capful of rum extract.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  2. T.J says

    I have the same recipe handed down from my mom. Usually turns out great but when making several patches it seems to not harden like the first run… Any suggestions how to have it harden correctly each time?

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Deborah says

      I can’t say for sure but are you doing single batches? Is the popcorn sitting out for awhile before baking? Are they baking all the same amounts of time? It could be several different factors.

      Reply

  3. Sunshine Belle says

    I have used this recipe for over 30 years and nothing beats it!!!! My family won’t let me use any other recipe. I bake it in a turkey roaster and stir it 3-5 times during cooking. You’ll be surprised how the Carmel sauce spreads by the end.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Deborah says

      I don’t think this one would work for caramel apples. It’s meant to be baked and ends up fairly dry, not sticky and thick.

      Reply

  5. Cherie Blair says

    Came out great! I did cook it for an hour instead of 30 minutes. Easy and delicious. Definitely will be making this again to give as gifts.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  6. Marcela Rodarte says

    Greetings fm Mexico! Just made your recipe! Popcorn is in the oven! I only made 2 popcorns bags in the microwave and 3 times the caramel. Your photo shows a complete caramel covered popcorn and in reality one caramel portion will not do that not even for one bag of microwave natural popcorn. The kitchen smells great and everybody here is asking about it! I hace a question, for 2 popcorn bags, how much time does I have to bake in the oven? Thanks and Rgds!

    Reply

  7. Dina Green says

    This tasted heavenly!!! I’m just having an issue with my popcorn getting grainy a little instead of staying shiny and smooth. Has it happened to anyone? Does it need more oven time maybe? Or less?

    Reply

    • Deborah says

      Is it grainy before you bake it or just after? And are you adding in the baking soda? It shouldn’t get grainy if you use the baking soda.

      Reply

  8. Stacy Ferris says

    This caramel corn is the best! Practically dissolves in your mouth. I save time by buying the giant bags of pre-popped butter popcorn at our local Gordon food service. I also put the popcorn in clean paper grocery bags and then pour the caramel over it. Much easier to shake!

    Reply

  11. Nancy says

    Co-worker brought this toa potluck..gone! Just had to make for us! Perfect.. not too sweet. my in house taste tester wants to add nuts next.. okay we can do that

    Reply

  13. Pam says

    I have had this recipe since the mid ’70’s (yes, the exact recipe!!) and I love it
    even more today than back then!! EVERY time I make it, people always want to
    know where I got the recipe and to be honest, I don’t even remember now!! All
    I can say is THANK HEAVENS I found it and have passed the caramel corn
    around as well as the recipe!! This caramel corn has gone on many camping trips
    and girls bowling weekends—always a hit!! Anyone on the fence about making
    it—give it a try, I guarantee you will LOVE it!!!

    Reply

  15. Chels R. says

    I have a recipe like this from my cooking class, but I still haven’t bought an air popper. It’s on my amazon wish list, but haven’t gotten around to purchasing it yet. Soon though.

    Reply

    • Deborah says

      Ok, so I bought my air popper years ago at a thrift store for $2.50. It was still in the box and looked like it had never been used! I keep it in the box and laugh every time I get it out and see that price tag. That was definitely $2.50 well spent! 🙂

      Reply

  16. Erin @ Simple Sweet & Savory says

    I have never made caramel popcorn before and this recipe looks like a darn good place to start. I love your family’s tradition of “pig-outs” too. I might have to start something like that with my kids. Thanks for the recipe and idea!

    Reply

    • Deborah says

      What a great idea! I always have a hard time keeping it on the pan and not spilling – I will have to try that next time!

      Reply

  22. Ingrid says

    Thanks for sharing the lovely story. I hope my children will have fond memories of the treats I make for them.

    For Christmas I intended to make “specialty” popcorn and am excited to see your recipe! Before making and packaging this up I should taste test it first, right?! Just to be sure! 🙂
    ~ingrid

    Reply

  25. Chocolate Shavings says

    That sounds delicious! What a treat to have ‘pig outs’ once in a while – and junk food tastes that much better when you don’t have it all the time.

    Reply

  26. Marisa says

    I love that you had pig out nights. I should probably not make that every night for myself when I’m watching t.v. :-). I LOVE caramel corn but hate the mess it makes the the little kiddies at this stage. So I’m definitely going to try this recipe! It looks so good.

    Reply

  31. Grace says

    i have more pig-outs now than i did as a kid. i blame the added stress and responsibilities and such. 🙂 i would totally gorge on this–it’s beautiful.

    Reply

  32. Kim says

    My girls and I use to do pigouts as well. I sure wish we had your caramel corn as it most certainly would have been the highlight!

    Reply

  39. Isa says

    Hahah… I have pig-outs with my girlfriends too and, seriously, is the coolest thing on earth!
    The caramel popcorn looks great! Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  41. StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says

    I love caramel corn! What a great recipe. I thought it would be much more complicated than this. Woohoo!

    Reply

  43. Michele says

    I make caramel corn every Fall…but I’ve never thought of baking it. Your version looks so much less sticky and clumpy than the kind that I make. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply

  44. kamailesfood says

    Wonderful fall treat! Caramel corn is one of my husband’s favorite snacks, but I’ve never made it myself. I’ll have to give it a try.

    Reply

  46. Jamie @ Baldwin Bungalow says

    My mom ALWAYS makes caramel corn around this time of year. It is such a comforting smell to me! 🙂

    Reply

  48. Erin says

    I love caramel corn! It’s so addictive. I tried making it last year but wasn’t totally happy with the recipe, so I’ll have to give this a try.

    Reply

  52. glamah16 says

    Oh wow. I would never think of making this, just buying it.Im sure it was a hit and way better than any store bought.

    Reply