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Homemade Caramel Popcorn

A close-up shot of a bowl filled with crunchy homemade caramel popcorn.
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A recipe for sweet, crunchy caramel popcorn, perfect for movie nights or as a homemade gift. This recipe focuses on creating a perfectly textured caramel coating for your popcorn.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10 cups popped popcorn
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • Optional: 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the popped popcorn in a very large bowl. If using nuts, sprinkle them over the popcorn.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup.
  4. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a boil.
  5. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. The caramel should thicken slightly.
  6. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda. The mixture will foam up.
  7. Pour the hot caramel evenly over the popcorn and nuts.
  8. Using a spatula, gently stir to coat the popcorn thoroughly. Work quickly before the caramel cools too much.
  9. Spread the caramel popcorn in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  10. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes to ensure even crisping and coating.
  11. Remove from the oven and let the caramel popcorn cool completely on the baking sheet. Break apart any large clumps.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, you can bake the popcorn for an additional 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
  • Store cooled caramel popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
  • Ensure all your ingredients are measured before you start making the caramel, as the process moves quickly.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/caramel-popcorn-recipe/