It is really difficult to stop eating this Salted Caramel Popcorn. It is sweet, salty and so crunchy! Love this decadent cheat snack! You will love it too!
Salted caramel popcorn is a yummy snack that's enjoyed all year round, but it's especially loved during the fall and winter holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. People often eat it while hanging out with loved ones, watching movies, or at events like fairs and movie theatres. However, you can still enjoy it anytime as a treat or as part of a dessert.
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Ingredients
- Canola Oil
- Popping Corn
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Salt
- Vanilla Extract
- Baking Soda
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Heat oil in a large pan.
Add popping corn and cover with a lid.
Shake the pan and wait until the corn starts to pop.
Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
Melt corn syrup, sugar, butter, and salt in a pan.
Cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
Add vanilla and baking soda.
Pour caramel over the popcorn and stir.
Spread popcorn onto the lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 230°F for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Let it cool down and enjoy 🙂
Hint
On the left: The caramel is very light in color and hasn't reduced as much as the other one. It makes it less flavorful, sweeter, and sticky.
On the right: The caramel has a darker color and we can see it coats the popcorn properly. It has a powerful flavor and is crunchier.
Substitutions
There are a few possible substitutions you can make in a salted caramel popcorn recipe:
- Corn syrup - you can substitute with honey or maple syrup.
- Sugar - you can use brown sugar as an alternative.
- Butter - you can use coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free option.
- Salt - you can use sea salt, kosher salt or pink Himalayan salt.
- Vanilla extract - you can use other flavors such as almond extract or coconut extract.
Keep in mind that substituting ingredients may affect the taste and texture of the final product. Experimenting with different substitutions can be fun and lead to unique flavor combinations.
Variations
There are several variations you can try to customize your salted caramel popcorn recipe. Here are some ideas:
- Chocolate Caramel Popcorn - drizzle melted chocolate over the caramel popcorn.
- Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn - add peanut butter to the caramel sauce before pouring it over the popcorn.
- Spiced Caramel Popcorn - add cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice to the caramel sauce before pouring it over the popcorn.
- Maple Caramel Popcorn - substitute the corn syrup with maple syrup for maple-flavored caramel popcorn. You'll need to cook it longer.
- Salted Caramel Nut Popcorn - add roasted peanuts or mixed nuts to the caramel popcorn for a crunchy twist.
- S'mores Caramel Popcorn - add mini marshmallows and graham cracker pieces to the caramel popcorn for a s'mores-inspired flavor.
These variations are just a few examples - feel free to get creative and experiment with different ingredients to find your favorite flavor combination!
🍴 Equipment
- Pan with Lid: To pop the corn kernels safely and evenly.
- Wooden Spoon: For stirring the caramel sauce without scratching your pan.
- Baking Sheet: Needed for baking the popcorn in the oven.
- Parchment Paper: Helps to keep the caramel popcorn from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Saucepan: To make the caramel sauce.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: To measure ingredients accurately.
Most Useful Equipment: The Pan with Lid is the most important. You need it for both popping the corn and making the caramel.
Storage
Here are some storage tips for salted caramel popcorn:
- Store the caramel popcorn in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag to prevent it from becoming stale or soft.
- Keep the container at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Do not refrigerate the caramel popcorn as it can become soggy.
- If the popcorn becomes soft or loses its crunch, you can refresh it by reheating it in the oven at a low temperature (around 250°F) for 10-15 minutes.
Top tip
- Use high-quality popcorn kernels: Select popcorn kernels that are fresh. This will ensure that your popcorn pops evenly and has a great texture.
- Cool and store: Let the popcorn cool completely, then store it in an airtight container.
FAQ
Pop some popping corn, make some caramel, mix the two, bake in the oven, let it cool down, and enjoy!
Yes, you can!
Store it in an airtight container at room temperature, away from light.
No, you should avoid freezing it to prevent humidity.
You can add maple syrup, honey, peanut butter, nuts, chocolate, or other mix-ins.
Use dairy-free cream and butter.
It can last up to two weeks if stored properly.
You can mix it, but it shouldn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Salted Caramel Popcorn
It is really difficult to stop eating this Salted Caramel Popcorn. It is sweet, salty and so crunchy! Love this decadent cheat snack! You will love it too!
- Total Time: 1 hour,10 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups
Ingredients
- 30g Canola Oil
- 50g Popping Corn
- 50g Butter
- 110g Brown Sugar
- 85g Corn Syrup
- 3g Salt
- 2.5ml Vanilla Extract
- 2g Baking Soda
Instructions
Popping the corn
-
Heat the oil in a large pan
-
When it is hot, add the popping corn and close it with a lid
-
Shake the pan
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When the corn really starts to pop, shake it again
-
When there is almost no more popping remove it from the heat source
-
Transfer to a bowl
-
Immediately line your baking sheet with parchment paper
Caramel
-
In a pan, melt the corn syrup, sugar, butter and salt
-
Gently stir
-
When it starts boiling, cook on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes
-
Add the vanilla and baking soda
-
Pour on the popcorn
-
Stir
-
Spread on your baking sheet
Baking
-
Bake in the oven at 230°F
-
Stir every 10 minutes for a total of 40 minutes
-
Take out of the oven
-
Let it cool down
-
Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Food safety
Here are some food safety tips to keep in mind when making salted caramel popcorn:
- Use fresh and high-quality ingredients for making salted caramel popcorn.
- Do not use aluminum pans or bowls when making the caramel as it can react with the ingredients and affect the taste.
- Be careful when handling hot caramel as it can cause burns. Use oven mitts or gloves to protect your hands.
- Avoid using wet or damp utensils or bowls when making the caramel as it can cause the sugar to crystallize and ruin the texture of the caramel.
- Store the finished salted caramel popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature to prevent contamination.
vladimir.jevaguine@gmail.com
You cannot stop eating them
Sandrine Pearson
This popcorn is dangerously good! Next time, we will definitely make a double recipe!
Vern
A very interesting and informative read! This site consistently shares high-quality and useful
articles.
Sandrine Pearson
That's awesome to hear! We put a lot of love into all our content, especially that Salted Caramel Popcorn recipe—it's a favorite! Glad you found it useful.