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    Home » Snacks

    Dec 18, 2009 · Modified: Nov 1, 2017 by Chels · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 7 Comments

    Homemade Caramel Popcorn

    You know those aluminum bins of popcorn that are sold around the holidays... with the three varieties? For some reason, whenever one is around, I can not help reaching in to grab another handful. I LOVE popcorn. So, the other night, when roommate, Siri, told me she was going to make caramel popcorn I told her I would definitely be photographing the process because it is something that, of course, needed to be on the blog! Everything about this recipe, from her cookbook Gifts from the Christmas Kitchen, is perfect. So perfect, that I am making another batch this afternoon to bring to a holiday party tonight because I want more of it 😉

    Here's what you need:

    ingredients

    • Cooking spray

    • 3 quarts popped popcorn (12 cups, for those who fell asleep during math class in 3rd grade... that would be me). We used microwavable popcorn... 94% fat free. 

    • 3 cups unsalted nuts (which we didn't use)

    • 1 cup packed brown sugar

    • ½ cup light or dark corn syrup

    • ½ cup (1 stick) of butter

    • ½ teaspoon salt

    • ½ teaspoon vanilla

    • ½ teaspoon baking soda

    Here's what you do:

    • Spray a large shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. Combine popcorn (and nuts, if using) in pan and place in 250 degree oven while you prepare your glaze.

    popcorn

    • In a heavy 2 quart sauce pan mix brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Stir constantly and bring to a boil over medium heat. Without stirring, boil for 5 minutes. Remove sauce pan from eat, stir in vanilla and baking soda.

    butter, brown sugar, salt

    caramel syrup

    • Pour the syrup over popcorn (and nuts), making sure to coat each piece. The caramel hardness pretty fast, so make sure to move quickly as you pour and mix!

    pouring over popcorn

    pour over popcorn

    • Bake in 250 degree oven for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool, and break popcorn apart.

    homemade caramel popcorn

    Now, for my favorite part. The packaging!  Find a festive tin and fill it with popcorn for an tasty (and economical) gift! Siri gave one of her secret santa the one below. I think he was "disappointed" because he wanted more... I really can't blame him. The stuff is delicious and melt-in-your-mouth, sweet, and crunchy!

    homemade caramel popcorn

    Off to go make some more for tonight's festivities!

    [Chels]

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katie says

      December 18, 2009 at 6:32 pm

      yum! sounds fabulous...and popcorn definitely reminds me of you, chels 🙂

    2. Lauren says

      December 18, 2009 at 9:06 pm

      I AM SO MAKING THIS. Seriously Chels, my husband needs to send you a thank you card for all of the yummies he's been getting to eat lately!

    3. Culinary Cory says

      December 20, 2009 at 12:04 am

      I pretty much only make caramel popcorn during the holiday's. The caramel looks amazing and sweet. Very nice coating.

    4. Kerstin says

      December 20, 2009 at 4:29 pm

      Mmmm, this looks addicting and I'm sure it was a huge hit at the party! Hope you had a great time!

    5. Shannon says

      December 23, 2009 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks for sharing! I made the popcorn and peppermint cookie bark last night-- easy to make, looks festive, and tastes delicious! For once, I'm actually excited by what I'm bringing to my Christmas parties this year 🙂

    6. Lauren says

      December 24, 2009 at 6:02 pm

      I made it two nights ago and it was AWESOME!! I finally did something right!! I'm about to make a ton more!

    Trackbacks

    1. Non Handmade Gift Guide - my thread of thought says:
      March 30, 2017 at 1:13 am

      […] think it’d be cute to put homemade or store bought popcorn in a jar or tin and put movie related items in it. You could put DVDs, gift […]

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