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Total Time: 50 minutes minutes 8
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An easy recipe for homemade Baked 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!
If you love making popcorn at home, you also need to try this Peanut Butter Popcorn.
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!
Ingredients
- 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 Much Popcorn?
You will need 6 quarts of popped popcorn, which is about 24 cups, for this recipe. But how do you know how much that is?
The good thing is that you don’t have to be exact. A little more or a little less – you’ll still have delicious caramel popcorn! But here are some basic guidelines. Be aware that different brands or sizes of kernels can affect it all, so measuring the popcorn before you start is a good idea.
Using an air popper: You will need about just over 3/4 cup of popcorn kernels. You will need to do this in batches.
Using microwave popcorn: If using a standard size microwave popcorn, you will get just over 12 cups of popcorn per bag. So two bags should give you enough.
Using a whirley pop: You will need about the same as air popped – 3/4 cup of kernels. Make sure you read the instructions to see how much you can make at a time. You will have to add in some oil, so that may change the flavor of the final caramel popcorn.
How to Make Baked Caramel Popcorn
- 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.
- Bring this mixture to a boil, then set a timer for 5 minutes and let it boil without stirring the mixture.
- While the caramel is cooking, put your popcorn in 2 large bowls or one really large bowl.
- Remove the caramel from the heat.
- Stir in the vanilla and the baking soda. The caramel will bubble up – don’t worry, that’s supposed to happen!
- Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir until the popcorn is coated with the caramel.
- Pour the coated popcorn out onto two half sheet baking sheets. Put it in a single layer as much as possible.
- 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.
- 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.
Tips and Tricks
- 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 1-2 weeks, although it never lasts more than a day or two in our house.
More Popcorn Recipes
- Muddy Buddy Popcorn
- Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Popcorn
- Red Hot Popcorn
- Red Velvet Popcorn Cake
Tools Used
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
5 from 8 votes
Author: Deborah Harroun
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 quarts
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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An easy recipe for homemade Baked 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!
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
Preheat the oven to 250ºF.
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.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the baking soda. Be careful – as the mixture will bubble up.
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.)
Turn the coated popcorn out onto 2 large, shallow baking sheets. I usually use half sheet baking sheets.
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.
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 Information
Serving: 2cups, Calories: 281kcal (14%), Carbohydrates: 37g (12%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 16g (25%), Saturated Fat: 10g (63%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 41mg (14%), Sodium: 257mg (11%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 27g (30%)
Keywords: baked caramel popcorn, caramel corn, caramel popcorn
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Peanut Butter Popcorn
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Welcome to Taste and Tell. Here you will find easy, fast and family friendly recipes. I am a believer that anyone can cook and that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Come join me in my kitchen! Read More
Reader Interactions
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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
Nancy Koch says
Perfect caramel corn and so easy. I used 4 pkgs of PLAIN not butter microwave popcorn. Easy and deliciousReply
Deborah says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Nancy! Thanks so much for the review and rating!
Reply
Diane Watts says
I love this recipe and it was very easy to read and makeReply
Sheila DeBaere says
I cook longer than recommended because I want my caramel corn crisp. But it’s lovely! And so easy! I made 5 gallons a few years ago. I love this recipe!Reply
Deborah says
I’m so glad it has been such a hit! Thanks for the review and rating!
Reply
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
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
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
Brenda Hansen says
Just wondering if this carmel would be OK to use to make camel apples
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
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
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
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
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
Shelli says
EASY! And done in half the time of other recipes and so yummy! Thanks!Reply
Michelle says
Hi, may I know under what oven mode? I’ve baked for almost 3hours plus then I achieved the crispness of the popcorn . Is it due to my oven mode?
Reply
Deborah says
I just bake it on the normal bake mode at 250ºF.
Reply
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
june says
We love this popcorn.
Reply
Deborah says
Yay – I’m so glad you love it!
Reply
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!!!Vickey says
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!
Reply
Deborah says
Yay – so glad you love it!!
Reply
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
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
Barbara says
I use the foil turkey roasting pans to make this – makes it easier to stir w/o spilling.
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
Oh my goodness!! I just love these pictures! Can’t wait to give this a try. YUM!
Reply
This looks perfect!! I love caramel popcorn!
Reply
PheMom says
I love caramel corn and have been looking for a good recipe – I will definitely have to try this one soon!
Reply
kimberleyblue says
mmm! we made caramel popcorn a few weeks ago, and it was sooo good.
Reply
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! 🙂
~ingridReply
Rosie says
Oh YUM that caramel corn looks wonderful Debs!
Rosie x
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April says
Looks delish! I am so going to make this!
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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
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.
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Heather says
ohhh i love caramel popcorn! this looks so tasty!!!
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Sylvie says
What a great treat!
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Bellini Valli says
Caramel corn is a favourite snack:D
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Susan says
Amazing. And no nasty preservatives like in the bagged stuff.
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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.
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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
Emiline says
Ha ha, I made caramel corn too. Mine wasn’t baked though! What a good idea.
Reply
Birdie says
Carmamel corn is sooo good. Perfect for movie nights or sleep overs!
Reply
Cakebrain says
We just love popcorn in our household. This looks like a fantastic way to gussy it up!
Reply
Gigi says
I never made caramel corn but have certainly eaten my share! This sounds like keeper for Halloween night!
Reply
noble pig says
oh the baked version sounds so much easier…I love it!
Reply
Peabody says
Yum, Yum! Caramel corn is so very addictive.
Reply
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 sharingReply
Kevin says
That would smell so nice baking.
Reply
StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says
I love caramel corn! What a great recipe. I thought it would be much more complicated than this. Woohoo!
Reply
Prudy says
I’ve made this recipe and it is so yummy and crunchy. We always have caramel popcorn for Halloween night.
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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
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.
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Half Baked says
Mmmm caramel corn sounds awesome! Great recipe thanks for sharing!
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Jamie @ Baldwin Bungalow says
My mom ALWAYS makes caramel corn around this time of year. It is such a comforting smell to me! 🙂
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kat says
yummy, I’d have a big bowl of that
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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.
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RecipeGirl says
I love this idea! Caramel corn is ‘on the list’ for Halloween recipes!
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Jenny says
Looks so good Deborah! I love making caramel corn, this looks like a great recipe!
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Maria says
I just made caramel corn last weekend! It didn’t last long!! It is so good!
Reply
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.
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