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This BEST-EVER Caramel Popcorn is SO perfect! Easy to make, yields a HUGE batch, is great for gifts and perfect for snacking. Buttery, crispy, crunchy, sweet & salty perfection!
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5 from 1 vote

Best Ever Caramel Popcorn Recipe

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn is the BEST EVER! Crispy, sweet, salty, and utterly addictive!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dessert, Treats
Cuisine: American, Dessert
Servings: 10 -12
Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel

Ingredients

  • 30 cups popped plain popcorn I used 1 & 1/2 bags of the "Cooking Light" prepared popcorn in the chip aisle at the grocery store
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F. Lightly grease two deep turkey-roasting pans (such as disposable foil pans) with cooking spray. Add in the popcorn in an even layer.
  • In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan, melt together the butter, light brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil on medium heat and stir constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and baking soda carefully as the mixture will bubble up significantly and violently once the baking soda is added.
  • Pour the caramel evenly over the pans of popcorn. It's OKAY if the caramel doesn't coat each piece as the oven will help melt the caramel some more to coat everything during the baking process.
  • Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes so popcorn becomes thoroughly coated. Once the hour is up, cool the popcorn completely before serving and breaking into bite-size pieces.