Salted Caramel Popcorn

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

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Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

You’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff after you make this salted caramel popcorn. It’s super crunchy, sweet and perfectly salty. And I promise it’s easier and less intimidating than you think.

I divided this and shared it among family and friends and it received rave reviews all around. If you’re a caramel corn kind of person, you definitely need to give this a try.

Yes, You Can Make Salted Caramel Popcorn at Home

I promise this caramel popcorn is relatively easy to make at home. It’s actually one of my new favorite things to make.

The ingredients are simple and probably already in your pantry. The method is easy and does NOT involve a candy thermometer.

So why would we even buy it when we can make the real deal in our own kitchen?!

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

Necessary Ingredients

  • Popcorn: Specifically, popcorn kernels. They are easy to find, usually in the snack aisle of any grocery store.
  • Brown sugar: I prefer to use dark brown sugar in this recipe. It provides a deeper, richer flavor to the caramel sauce. That said, if you only have light brown sugar that will definitely work and it will still be delicious.
  • Butter: this recipe calls for salted butter to up the salt factor of course. It can’t be salted caramel corn without an extra little boost of saltiness. If you only have unsalted butter, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the caramel sauce.
  • Light Corn Syrup: This brings extra sweetness to the caramel corn and helps provide that crunch that we associate with it.
  • Baking Soda: Adds air bubbles and texture to the caramel sauce which helps keep it from getting too hard.
  • Vanilla Extract: It’s important to add additional flavor to the caramel.
  • Salt: I like using either kosher salt or flaky sea salt for this salted caramel popcorn. Preferably you’ll want something a little coarse and flaky so that you get an extra pop of salt while you are snacking.
Ingredients needed for salted caramel corn on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

How to Make Salted Caramel Popcorn

First start by popping your popcorn. I always opt to use my air popper for this job. It’s super quick and easy. If you don’t own an air popper you can pop it on the stove top too.

You’ll need about 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels to make the needed 6 cups of popped popcorn. Make sure to pick through and remove the unpopped kernels before proceeding with the recipe.

Set the popcorn aside and make the caramel sauce.

Combine the butter, corn syrup and brown sugar in a large saucepan and whisk it well. Bring the mixture to a heavy simmer and do not touch it for 5 minutes.

This will be hard to do but it’s super important to ensure you get the correct texture. After the 5 minutes is up, remove the mixture from heat and quickly stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract.

Pour it over the popcorn and mix well until all the popcorn is well coated in caramel. Pour the popcorn onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment and spread it into a single layer.

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

Why Does It Need to Be Baked?

It’s important for the caramel popcorn to bake for a few reasons. Baking will take the popcorn from soggy to perfectly crunchy.

Bake the popcorn at 300 degrees F for 15 minutes then stir and bake another 5 minutes.

Fun Add-Ins

  • Roasted Nuts: Peanuts, cashews or almonds would be a delicious addition to this salted caramel popcorn. Stir them in with the caramel sauce before baking.
  • Mini M&M’s: If you need a little extra sweetness in your life, stir in mini M&M’s after the popcorn has cooled.
  • Candy: Rolo’s, mini peanut butter cups, chocolate covered raisins or chocolate covered pretzels would all be delicious additions. Make sure to stir them in after the popcorn has cooled.
  • Mini Marshmallows: They add additional sweetness and a soft texture along with the crunchy popcorn.

Whether you go with add ins or enjoy it as the recipe is written, it’s definitely going to be a new favorite sweet and salty snack.

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.

More Popcorn Recipes to Try:

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.
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5 from 2 votes

Salted Caramel Popcorn

Salted caramel popcorn is the perfect addition to a party or movie night. It features a simple homemade caramel sauce, freshly popped popcorn and a hearty sprinkle of coarse salt.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: salted caramel popcorn
Yield: 6 servings
Author: Meg’s Everyday Indulgence

Ingredients

  • 6 cups popped popcorn (1/4 cup kernels)
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 6 Tbsp. salted butter
  • 3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. flaky sea salt or kosher salt

Instructions

  • Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • For caramel, in a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, without stirring, for 5 minutes more.
  • Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour caramel over popcorn; stir gently to coat. Spread into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Stir mixture and bake 5 minutes. Allow to cool completely then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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One comment

  1. 5 stars
    An excellent recipe, my family loves it and asks me to remake it all of the time!

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