This sweet and salty classic caramel corn recipe will bring you back to childhood! Made without corn syrup and customizable to your liking will make this a time-honored treat for all generations!

It’s finally the time of year for my family’s favorite snack – easy homemade caramel corn!

Whether we’re having a movie night with the little kids or making popcorn balls as a treat for parties during the holiday season, this homemade caramel corn recipe will blow store-bought caramel corn out of the water.

Caramel Corn Recipe 

With freshly popped popcorn in a delicious caramel sauce, this easy caramel popcorn recipe will be a huge hit.

Although there are a lot of recipes out there for the perfect caramel corn, this kettle corn has a softer texture than most, with the perfect ratio of caramel to warm popcorn.

If you’re looking for a homemade caramel popcorn, I highly recommend trying this one, with a short ingredient list that creates a delicious snack.

Love popcorn as a snack? Try my Buffalo Ranch Popcorn, Peppermint Chocolate Popcorn, and Spicy Nacho Popcorn!

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Ingredients Needed

White popcorn kernels – When choosing my un-popped kernels, I like a white corn but you can use any kind of popcorn that you prefer.

Sea salt – Look for kosher salt because it has the perfect texture. If you can’t find it at the grocery store, any sea salt will do.

Butter – I recommend unsalted butter, but you can use the cup butter of your choice. Butter can also be swapped for vegetable oil.

Brown sugar – Choose a light brown sugar if possible. You can also combine maple syrup with white sugar if you cannot find brown.

Pantry staples – Vanilla extract, baking soda.

Salt – For the teaspoon salt in the caramel coating, you can use any finely ground salt that you have.

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How To Make Caramel Corn

FIRST: Place popped corn in a large bowl. I recommend a dutch oven or large roasting pan. Preheat oven to 250F. Prepare a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

SECOND: In a medium saucepan or large saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook over medium heat to medium-high heat. Melt butter, and cook until sugar dissolves.

THIRD: Bring caramel mixture to a boil. Boil for around 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla extra and salt. Stir to combine. 

Add a little baking soda and stir carefully. The mixture will foam, so make sure you have a big enough pot to handle it. 

FOURTH: Drizzle caramel over popcorn. Stir until popcorn is coated in an even layer. Sprinkle with salt.

FIFTH: Place popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread out evenly. Place in preheated oven for a baking time of around 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes with a rubber spatula.

SIXTH: Remove from oven and let cool until it reaches room temperature. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

What extras can I add?

For the best caramel corn recipe, I personally recommend adding in pecan or nuts of some sort, because the flavor profile goes well with the caramel sauce.

If you prefer, you can also add on some melted peanut butter, to create a salty peanut butter popcorn.

For my chocolate fans, try adding in some M&Ms or chocolate chips. Here are some of my favorites!

1. SnoCaps
2. M&Ms
3. Chocolate Chips
4. Toffee Bits
5. Pecans
6. Peanuts
7. Cashews
8. Macadamia Nuts
9. Toasted Coconut Chips – like in my Tropical Hawaiian Popcorn
10. Sunflower Seeds

Can I make my caramel corn lighter?

If you prefer a lighter balance of caramel to popcorn, you can cut down on the amount of caramel sauce that you toss your popcorn in so that each piece of popcorn is lightly coated.

Pro tip – for the first time tossing it, start by adding in half of the syrup that you created before deciding whether to add in more or not. 

Can you make this without corn syrup?

Yes! The chemical reaction between the baking soda and sugar, and then baking the corn, makes a crunchy caramel corn without corn syrup.

Is there a fast way to pop my popcorn?

The quickest and easiest way to make your air popped corn for this recipe (if you don’t want to take the time to make stovetop popcorn) is using the microwave.

Place your kernels in a brown paper bag, and cover with a little oil. Microwave for 2 – 3 minutes, depending on your microwave’s strength. 

For larger batches, rather than using a lot of paper bags, you can also put your kernels and oil in a large microwave-safe bowl covered by a plate. Microwave for 5 or 6 minutes, or until the corn is all popped.

Tapas Tips & Tricks

• Prepare all your necessary items ahead of time and place them within reach.
• Give yourself plenty of room on the counter to work.
• Use a pot or bowl big enough to stir the caramel corn while coating.
• For easier clean up, coat your cookie sheet in aluminum foil or parchment paper. 
• If you need to, make sure to prepare a few large baking sheets so that your popcorn can be spread out evenly. 
• Use a candy thermometer to monitor the heat of the caramel sauce mixture, so that it doesn’t burn and stays the correct temperature. Continuously stir with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking to the bottom of the medium pot. 
•  If you’re somewhere with a high altitude, reduce the temperature to low heat, adjusting by 2 degrees for every 1000 feet above sea level. 
• For the stickier, thicker kind of popcorn you can add in a light corn syrup to your caramel sauce mixture.
• Use a timer!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

This is the best caramel popcorn recipe that I’ve found so far, and the holiday season is the perfect excuse to make a big batch to snack on throughout your week. If you’re on a lower calorie diet and want to find a great recipe for a salty sweet snack, you have to try this one, rather than eating store caramel corn, which can be high in fat and sugar. Overall, this recipe is a huge hit every time I make it, and I know your whole family will love it.

More Easy Appetizers

• Halloween Popcorn Balls
• White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Recipe Video
• Jalapeno Simple Syrup
• Mint Simple Syrup

(Originally Published 06/05/18 – photos and recipe notes updated to improve user experience)

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