How about having a snack that can be served in family gatherings, various occasions, parties, and on road trips? This Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn recipe is the perfect choice because it is an easy, fast, and super delicious snack that you can enjoy with your family and kids anytime and anywhere.
You won’t be able to resist jumping into your kitchen and giving this sweet, crunchy, and savory snack a whirl when you see the caramel drizzle part!
The Crunchiest Sweetest Snack!
Caramel Popcorn is a sweet treat enjoyed by millions of people every year. It is increasingly found in many public places like cinemas, parks, amusements parks, and likewise. I thought why not have the easiest version of this recipe and do this at home?! So, I ended up very satisfied by the most delicious mouth-watering sweet-and-savory treat you could easily have.
History of Caramel Popcorn
Caramel Popcorn was first known in the 1870’s, but sweet popcorn was hugely popular years prior with Americans. It was first introduced because of the two brothers, Frederick and Louis Rueckheim, who immigrated to the US from Germany and settled in Chicago.
In 1870, they opened their own popcorn store and began experimenting creatively with unique flavors and toppings until they came up with this delicious recipe which is considered now one of the top easy-to-do snacks suitable for all ages at anytime and anywhere. Caramel popcorn has been and will continue to be a delicious sweet treat enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
This Also Smells Amazing!
Three Fun Facts About Popcorn
1. April 6th is the national day for Caramel Popcorn in the U.S.
2. Wyandot Popcorn Museum is the only popcorn museum in the world that holds the largest collection of restored popcorn antiques.
3. Americans consume 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn annually.
National Caramel Popcorn Day
The day of one of America’s favorite snacks -Caramel Popcorn- is celebrated on the 6th of April each year. In January, they celebrate National Popcorn Day. Now, with the special twist on a traditional snack recipe, they added the delicious caramel popcorn day to the calendar. For many people, this crunchy caramel popcorn is an all-time favorite sweet treat.
All-time Favorite Sweet Treat
How to Make the Perfect Popcorn
You should have a pot with a thick bottom because pots with thin bottoms are heated so fast. So, you will have burnt popcorn or unpopped burnt kernels.
You don’t have to set the heat up too high because oil is so easy to be burnt at a high temperature. You don’t want to miss this specific tip because if one kernel or popcorn is burnt, you will end up with a batch of popcorn with a burnt taste!
To test the right the temperature for the popcorn kernels you’re using, put on your heated oil just two popcorn kernels. When these two are popped, you add the remaining kernels and remove the pot from the heat for 1 minute. This prepares the popcorn to pop without burning the oil or the kernels.
Open the lid a little bit while popping the popcorn. This will keep your popcorn crispy and crunchy and the steam will seep out of the pot.
If you put more kernels than you should and the popcorn will start coming out of the pot, you can simply move the pot from the heat, remove the lid, and transfer the excess popcorn into a bowl. Then, return the lid and return the pot into heat until all kernels are popped.
Frequently Asked Questions
The air bubbles inside the caramel create a softer texture when the caramel has cooled on your popcorn. So, the softer texture means you won’t be biting into hard caramel. Then, the caramel becomes chewy and only slightly crunchy.
If the melting sugar splashes up onto the sides of the pan, it quickly loses its moisture content and forms back into crystals. That can cause caramel to seize up, ruining the entire batch.
After Caramel Popcorn has cooled, store it in an airtight container. No need to refrigerate! When stored in an air-tight container, homemade Caramel Popcorn will be good for up to five days.
Helpful Tips
Before you add the caramel it is a good idea to take out the kernels left in the pot. So, you filter them out and remove all the popcorn and put them in a bowl.
Any left out kernels or burnt (although I love burnt popcorn lol) out popcorn can be thrown out or hand picked. Next, place the popcorn back in the pot. Then, drizzle the caramel and mix them together.
You can make different variations of caramel popcorn. You can add M&M’s, peanuts, or cereal.
Use the leftover caramel sauce as a drizzle on cakes. You can make many different recipes like bars.
Store cooled caramel sauce in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stove top before serving it.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Heavy cream
- Popcorn kernels
- Coconut oil or avocado oil or butter
How To Make Caramel Popcorn
- In a saucepan over medium heat add the butter, brown sugar, and heavy whipping cream.
- Stir continuously until the sauce comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- Allow the caramel to cool. Once it cools it will thicken. Set it aside.
Making the Caramel Sauce
First Step:
Place a large pot on high heat for a good minute then add the oil and kernels. Then, cover the pot and shake it around.
Let’s Make Popcorn
Second Step:
Popcorn will begin popping, so lower heat to medium high until popcorn stops popping. Next, uncover the pot. Then, allow the popcorn to cool for 5 minutes.
Your Kitchen Will Smell Like A Movie Theater
Third Step:
Pour the cooled caramel all over the popcorn. Then, gently mix until all the popcorn is coated.
Pour the Golden Sauce
Fourth Step:
Place on a prepared baking sheet with parchment paper sprayed with cooking oil.
It is Coming to Life
Fifth Step:
Bake at 250 F for about 10-15 minutes.
Bake Time!
Sixth Step:
Remove the baking sheet. Allow the caramel popcorn to cool then break apart if needed.
Caramelized to Perfection, Crunchy, and Utterly Addicting
Seventh Step: SERVE IT WITH LOVE!
Other Desserts and Sweets you Should Try:
- 2 Ingredient Caramel Macchiato Whipped Cream
- Effortless Banana Bread Pudding
- Four-Ingredient Chia Seed Pudding
- Pecan and Cranberry Cheeseball Tray
- Middle-Eastern Pancakes (Atayif)
- Three-Ingredient Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- Satisfying Fruit Salad
- Sweet Potato Bake Filled With Walnuts
- Pan-Fried Honey Cinnamon Bananas
- Chocolate Coffee Avocado Pudding
Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Equipment
- saucepan
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups popcorn kernels
- ¼ cup coconut oil or avocado oil or butter
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat add the butter, brown sugar, and heavy whipping cream.
- Stir continuously until the sauce comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- Allow the caramel to cool. Once it cools it will thicken.Set aside
- In a large pot place it on high heat for a good minute then add the oil and kernels. Cover the pot and shake it around.
- Popcorn will begin popping. Lower heat to medium high until popcorn stops popping. Uncover the pot. Allow the popcorn to cool for 5 minutes.
- Pour the cooled caramel all over the popcorn then gently mix until all the popcorn is coated.
- Place them on a prepared baking sheet with parchment paper sprayed with cooking oil.
- Bake at 250 F for about 10-15 minutes. Remove them. Allow to cool then break them apart if needed.
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