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Lady Behind the Curtain

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Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn

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Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn: Whether it’s for a party, game day or Halloween.  This caramel popcorn is the best!  If you’re afraid of making candy because you think it’s too hard, then worry no more you just found the easiest candy recipe out there!  With simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry, you can have this melt in your mouth buttery popcorn ready in no time. Perfect for movie night! Watch the video below↓

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn
No candy thermometer needed!  Just make your coating, toss and let the oven do all the work.  With a buttery caramel flavor you would swear you bought this at a candy store.  WARNING!!! This is addictive! 

How to Make Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn

  • INGREDIENTS
    • 15 cups your favorite popped popcorn
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup light corn syrup
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • DIRECTIONS
    • Heat oven to 200°.
    • Divide popped corn between 2 ungreased 9×13 inch baking pans.
    • In a saucepan, heat sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around the edges.
    • Continue cooking over medium heat 5 minutes.
    • Remove from hear; stir in baking soda until foamy.
    • Pour on popped corn, stirring until corn is well coated.
    • Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
    • Pour on the counter lined with parchment paper to cool.

Pop Your Own Popcorn Without a Popcorn Machine

Add ¼ cup popcorn kernels to a brown paper lunch bag and fold the top closed. Microwave for a minute or two, until you hear the popping begin to slow. Add melted butter and salt. Shake the bag to coat the popcorn.

Why Does My Caramel Corn Get Grainy?

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Grainy caramel (or crystalized caramel) occurs when the sugar crystals in the caramel seize up or cling together. You can prevent this from happening by adding baking soda which will cause the sugar molecules to break up, or by adding a different type of sugar along with the table sugar (sucrose). This Caramel Popcorn recipe will not result in grainy caramel because we had added baking soda and corn syrup, both of which will help break up the brown sugar molecules and prevent them from crystalizing.

HOW TO KEEP CARAMEL POPCORN FRESH

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn
To keep your caramel corn fresh, be sure to store it in an air tight container or ziplock bag (making sure to press as much air out as you can). The better you seal your container, the longer it will last.  You can store it at room temperature on your counter for up to 2-3 weeks.

BAKING SODA

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn
You will notice that when you add the baking soda to the caramel mixture, the caramel will start to foam.  This foam is basically carbon dioxide air bubbles that are the result of the chemical reaction between the brown sugar and the corn syrup.  Essentially, the baking soda allows the caramel to have a softer, silky texture that sticks to the popcorn and keeps it from getting hard.
CRACKER JACK ICE CREAM SUNDAE 2. WAFFLE CONE FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS 3. OLD FASHIONED CARAMEL APPLES 4. OLD FASHIONED MARSHMALLOW FILLED ICE CREAM CONES 5. MASON JAR LID APPLE PIES 6. STATE FAIR CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY WAFFLE POPS

MORE PARTY TREATS

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn

Yield: Makes 15 cups
Prep Time: 6 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 11 minutes

Ingredients

  • 15 cups popped corn
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 200°.
  2. Divide popped corn between 2 ungreased 9x13-inch baking pans.
  3. In a saucepan, heat sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around the edges.
  4. Continue cooking over medium heat 5 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda until foamy.
  6. Pour on popped corn, stirring until corn is well coated.
  7. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  8. Pour on the counter lined with parchment paper to cool.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment and rate the recipe card so others can enjoy the recipe too!♥

© Sheryl
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Lady Behind The Curtain - Easy Caramel Corn

Comments

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn — 4 Comments

  2. I make this recipe once a year. I frequently make 4-6 batches at a time. I cut back on the cups of popcorn and substitute CHEX cereal for a different texture. When the mixture is baked/cooled, I drizzle melted dark chocolate wafers over all. THIS IS TRULY wonderful! I package this into holiday cellophane bags and give as gifts ….. teachers/neighbors …. something little that brings HUGE smiles!

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