Description
This homemade caramel popcorn recipe creates a sweet, crunchy, and buttery snack perfect for movie nights or parties. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups popped popcorn (about 1/4–1/3 cup unpopped kernels)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with a silpat mat or parchment paper.
- Place the 5 cups of popped popcorn into a large, heat-proof mixing bowl. Ensure there are no un-popped kernels.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup unsalted butter over medium-high heat. Add the 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and stir continuously. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom to prevent burning.
- Remove the pan from heat. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. The mixture will bubble up; stir until thick, smooth, and glossy.
- Slowly pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn while stirring continuously to evenly coat all kernels.
- Spread the coated popcorn evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent clumping and ensure even coating.
- Remove the caramel popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely on the baking sheet to set the caramel fully before serving.
Notes
- Ensure no un-popped kernels remain in the popcorn before coating.
- Stirring every 15 minutes during baking helps prevent clumping.
- Use a silpat mat or parchment paper on your baking sheet to avoid sticking.
- Store leftover caramel popcorn in an airtight container to keep it crispy.
- Adjust salt quantity according to preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg