This homemade Caramel Popcorn recipe is so flavorful and has the crunchy, chewy texture you want without sticking to your fingers or teeth!
If you want more sweet snacks, try our Peanut Butter Popcorn, Chex Mix, Sweet Chex Mix, or a perfect Rice Krispies Treat!
Not all Caramel Popcorn recipes are created equal.
Not all Caramel Popcorn recipes are created equal.I've had my fair share of caramel corn and for me, the best ones have a healthy coating of caramel covering the entire kearnal, and they're not too sticky, or too hard. This version accomplishes that and I love that the caramel is made in one pan on the stove and you don't even need a candy thermometer. Drizzle the caramel over fresh popped popcorn and bake it for a few minutes to get that perfect crunchy, chewy texture. This will be the highlight of your next movie night or game day!
How to make Caramel Popcorn:
Pop Popcorn: Pop your own plain kernels in the microwave in a brown paper bag, or with an air popper, or if you want a richer butter flavor, use a bag of movie theater microwave popcorn. After it's popped, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour the popcorn on top.
Make Caramel: Add butter to a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt, whisking until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let it gently boil for 2 minutes then remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
Coat Popcorn: Drizzle caramel over popcorn, gently tossing it with a spatula until it's coated evenly. Bake 200°F for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Enjoy the best caramel corn for a movie night, game day, or really anytime!
Pro Tip: Don't forget a silicone spatula! It's heat resistant and stays cleaner then a wooden spoon. I love to use a large non-stick skillet for this recipe because it's so easy to clean and it comes to a boil much quicker than a saucepan.
More Caramel Recipes:
- Homemade Caramels
- Caramel Apples
- Salted Chocolate and Caramel Pretzel Bars
- Caramel Sauce
- Pumpkin Bars with Caramel Frosting
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
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Recipe
Caramel Popcorn
Equipment
- Popcorn Popper optional, you can use the microwave!
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn* (about 1 large microwaveable bag, or ¼ cup kernels)
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 6 Tablespoons light karo syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Add popped popcorn and spread in an even layer.
- Caramel: Melt butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. As soon as the caramel starts to gently boil, boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla
- Drizzle caramel over popcorn. Toss gently with a spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated.
- Bake at 200 degrees F for 45 minutes, stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes.
- Store caramel corn in an airtight container at room temperature for to 2-3 weeks
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe March 2015. Updated March 2019, September 2022 and September 2024.
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I doubled the recipe. Baked it in a large roasting pan lined with parchment paper. EXCELLENT!! I should not have doubled the recipe simply because I ate half of it by myself.
hi do you know how many oz of store bought caramel i could use for popcorn so basically carmel to popcorn ratios
I made this for my husband and 2 boys around the second week of the quarantine and they absolutely loved it. They couldn’t believe I made it in a matter of minutes. Planning on making it again this evening. Thank you so much for a tasty and easy recipe.
When we made the caramel it burnt and it hardened to the point that we couldn’t even stir it into the popcorn. In the end the popcorn was really hard and it tasted horrible.
I am wondering if your bottom of the pan was thin and that is why it burnt this had happened to me before.. Must have a heavy bottom pan to avoid burning.. Try again 🙂
If it burnt you probably had your heat to high and did not stir enough or you just cooked it too long. But of coarse nothing taste good burnt .I think you sould try it again and follow the instruction better
I love making this popcorn! There are time you just want a good sweet but salty treat, and this totally does it for me. I am a baker by trade and I love the fact that I tried the baking soda in the caramel; what a wonderful surprise!! This is a repeat recipe in my home.
Delicious and easier to stir up by using a deep enamel roasting pan that has been buttered or oiled a bit in advance.
I also added some peanuts to mine. And I especially love salt with sweet so I think it could stand to have a little more salt.
Yum! The most difficult part is only having one serving!!!!
It was delicious , but what a mess! How do you “drizzle” boiling sugar mixture over popcorn and stir to coat it and toss while on a cookie sheet? (or jelly roll pan as you call it) Cleaning up took longer than eating it!
I leave mine my roast and stirs much better then put roast and all in the oven for the 45 mins stirring often YUMMY.
I had to use a large glass baking dish, my rectangle one I use for lasagna lol made it much easier to toss it especially when your doing it every fifteen minutes from the oven. 😁
Simple excellent recipe. Delicious result for such a quick easy recipe.
Made it before without the baking soda it was good but had some chinks of caramel that were big and super sticky making it hard to eat though it still tasted good. Making it again today with the baking soda and it really does look different and have a better texture. Highly recommend this recipe. I added a good sprinkle of cinnamon to mine. Delicious!
Excellent, my husband and I loved it ,great receipe!