Caramel Corn Recipe

This homemade caramel corn recipe doesn’t require baking and uses just a few, easy ingredients! Plus, make your popcorn using my easy homemade popcorn recipe and you’re ready for the ultimate fall, snack!

Each year when the temps lower to…oh… say 40 degrees or so, I start craving all the winter goodies. Like this Peppermint latte, peppermint cake, sugar cookies, and well… just about anything not good for me. Caramel corn is one of those winter staples that I begin craving instantly

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• Perfect Marshmallow Treats
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I remember making caramel corn as a kid with my parents, and I thought it was one of the coolest things ever.  Now, I can make caramel corn with my kids and make our own memories!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Recipe

No baking required! Yes really. I love how it doesn’t take hours to make this recipe and you can start eating it as soon as it cools off. (For real, make sure it cools off. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve burnt my tongue because I’m too impatient.)

Ingredients

With only using a few ingredients, you can make this super easy caramel corn at home too. Here are the everyday ingredients you’ll be using but make sure to see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and instructions all in one place.

• Popped Popcorn – I prefer making my own with kernels so I don’t have to worry about the flavorings and extras that microwave popcorn tends to have.
• Butter – Real butter is recommended here.
• Light Brown Sugar – You can use dark brown sugar too!
• Vanilla Extract – I prefer to use real vanilla, instead of imitation.
• Baking Soda
• Salt

How to Make the Caramel Corn

First you’ll brown your butter, then add the brown sugar and salt. Allow those items to boil and then add vanilla and baking soda! Mix to combine and then pour over the prepared popcorn.

Pour the caramel covered popcorn on to a greased, or parchment paper lined baking sheet and allow it the caramel to harden and dry.

Pro Tips

• I like to stir the popcorn after about 10 minutes while it’s cooling to help dry it out faster.
• This caramel corn recipe is great to give out as gifts during the holiday season. Package it up in cute packaging with a gift tag (like these Christmas popcorn balls) and it’s ready to go! Just make sure it has cooled off before packaging or it will get soggy.

More Snack Recipes

If you love easy snacks like this one, you’ll also love these new favorite snack recipes:

Recipe

Caramel Corn Recipe

Jessica Burgess

It only takes a handful of ingredients to make this easy caramel corn recipe. No baking required for this quick snack recipe!

4.50 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16 servings

Calories 463 kcal

Video

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 cups Popped Popcorn
• ▢ 1 cup butter
• ▢ 1 cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt or to taste (We like to use kosher salt.)

Instructions

 

• Make plain popcorn by following this homemade popcorn recipe or using store bought, and place in large mixing bowl.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Add brown sugar and salt and stir until mixed.
• Bring the butter and sugar mixture up to a boil, stirring consistently.
• When it begins to boil, stop stirring and allow it to cook for 5 minutes, but after 4 minutes add vanilla and stir to mix.
• Continue to boil for one more minute and then add the baking soda, stir until mixed in.
• Grab the bowl of popcorn and drizzle the caramel sauce over the top. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently stir until all the popcorn is covered with the sauce.
• Pour the popcorn out and spread out onto a flat surface to allow cooling. (i.e cookie sheet, wax paper, etc.)

Notes

Although not required, I like to stir the popcorn after about 10 minutes of cooling to help speed up the process and keep the popcorn crunchy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (about ½ cup) | Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2.6mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Keywords easy snack for parties, homemade caramel corn

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