Caramel Popcorn

Who can resist that mouthwateringly sweet, salty, buttery flavor of caramel popcorn? The perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth has the ideal balance of sweet and salty. And the gooey caramel syrup combined with the fantastic crunch of freshly made popcorn—what's not to love?

Makes about 14 cups of caramel popcorn

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 648kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

3 tablespoons (45ml) oil
½ cup (107g) popcorn kernels
1 cup (224g) unsalted butter
1½ cups (320g) brown sugar
⅓ cup (105g) corn syrup
½ teaspoon (2-3ml) vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon (pinch) salt
1 teaspoon (6g) baking soda

Instructions

Add oil to a heavy-bottomed pot and heat it over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the kernels and close the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
Once the kernels start popping, carefully shake the pot so the kernels pop evenly and don't burn at the bottom. If steam starts to build up, lift the lid slightly to release it.
As soon as the popping slows down, remove the pot from the stove and let it sit for a minute, allowing remaining unpopped kernels to pop.
Pour the popped corn into a large bowl and set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Once the butter has melted, add the sugar, corn syrup, and salt and stir until just combined.
Once it starts boiling, let it simmer for about four minutes without stirring.
Remove from the heat, then quickly whisk in vanilla and baking soda.
At this point, the caramel will begin to foam. Quickly pour it over the popcorn and toss until evenly coated and the caramel cools and starts hardening.
Spread the caramel-coated popcorn on a baking tray and bake at 250℉ (120℃) for 40 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes. The caramel will melt again for the first 2-3 tosses (tossing coats the popcorn more evenly with caramel).
Remove the baking tray from the oven and allow the caramel popcorn to cool. Gently break into pieces and serve.

Notes

Do you enjoy chewier caramel? Bake your caramel popcorn for a few minutes less, and it won't harden as much.
This dish can get pretty messy, so use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line your tray. You want to spend more time binge-watching Netflix and homemade caramel popcorn, not scrubbing dishes.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe

Nutrition