This is my late grandmother’s recipe for homemade caramel corn. Brimming with buttery flavor, sweet crunch, and from-scratch caramel, each handful (you’ll want to eat it that way!!) is undeniably irresistible. You’ll make the 6-ingredient caramel sauce on the stove, and while a candy thermometer is helpful, you certainly can get by without one. The recipe below is for plain caramel popcorn, but if you want to dress it up, go ahead and add nuts, melted chocolate, and/or a dash of cinnamon.
Every holiday season when I was growing up, my late grandmother made a double batch of this beloved homemade caramel corn. Friends and family would flock to the sweet and salty snack, and it never lasted more than a couple of days. Grandma was happy to repeat the process; serving it brought her so much joy.
I started this website 2 weeks after she passed away back in 2011, and I originally published this recipe a few years later. I also included a variation of it in two of my published cookbooks (Sally’s Baking Addiction and Sally’s Candy Addiction).
Over the years, I’ve scaled down the amount of air-popped popcorn, so every piece is generously coated. Today I’m sharing some new step-by-step photos, and a video tutorial is coming soon!
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Caramel Corn
- Just 7 ingredients
- Salty, buttery, sweet
- Nothing beats the homemade flavor
- The caramel is chewy-crisp, not a break-your-teeth situation 😉
- Enjoy plain or add some flair with nuts, chocolate, or spices
- Make-ahead; the caramel corn keeps for days (if taste testers can resist!)
I cannot make this stuff fast enough. It’s INCREDIBLY irresistible, and a great holiday snack. In fact, it’s been tradition in our family to serve it along with a batch of spicy honey chex mix or seasoned pretzels as we decorate Christmas sugar cookies. Just a suggestion if you’re hosting a cookie decorating day and need some snack ideas!
Grab These 7 Ingredients:
- Popcorn: I find that 10–11 cups of air-popped popcorn is the perfect amount for the quantity of caramel you’ll have.
- Brown Sugar: For that essential brown sugar flavor and softness. Typical homemade caramel is made from regular granulated sugar, and brown sugar is usually saved for homemade butterscotch sauce. For caramel corn, however, you want a softer caramel texture, and brown sugar helps achieve that.
- Light Corn Syrup: This is an imperative ingredient that gives the caramel a softer, chewier consistency. Also, and more importantly, corn syrup helps prevent the cooking caramel from crystallizing into a gritty, grainy texture.
- Butter: A main ingredient in caramel candies and caramel sauces.
- Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar, an acid, will help prevent crystallization as the caramel cooks. If you don’t have any, you can leave it out. Corn syrup does the same job. I still like to include it, so the caramel says nice and smooth.
- Salt: To balance the sweet.
- Baking Soda: Arguably the most important ingredient! The purpose of baking soda in the caramel is to react with the acidic ingredients (brown sugar, cream of tartar, and corn syrup), which creates tiny carbon dioxide air bubbles. You’ll notice the caramel froths up when you add it. Once the caramel has cooled on your popcorn, the air bubbles inside the caramel create a softer texture. The softer texture means you won’t be biting into hard-as-cement caramel. Rather, the caramel is melt-in-your-mouth chewy and only slightly crunchy.
Do not accidentally use baking powder. I repeat: do not use baking powder.
Use Air-Popped Popcorn
For best results, I recommend air-popped popcorn. I use this popcorn maker to pop the corn kernels. Obviously not everyone has a popcorn maker, but it’s a fun kitchen tool to have if you enjoy popcorn on the regular. If using microwave popcorn, look for a variety that’s pretty plain, without butter, and not overloaded with salt. If you don’t want to use store-bought microwave popcorn, try this handy trick:
- Easy Air-Popping Method: Add 3 Tablespoons of popcorn kernels to a standard lunch brown paper bag. Seal the bag tightly by folding over the top 2 times. Microwave the kernels for approximately 1 minute 45 seconds on high, or up to 2 minutes depending on your microwave. This DIY air-popped popcorn method makes 5 cups of popcorn. You’ll have to do it twice to get 10 cups, which is what our caramel corn recipe calls for.
Once you have your popcorn ready, start the caramel sauce.
Caramel Coating for Caramel Corn
The caramel is a little different from my salted caramel sauce recipe, which is more like drizzle or garnish. Today’s caramel, however, is a caramel sauce that has some elasticity (thanks to the corn syrup), and holding power. Meaning it can cling nicely to the popcorn, and not melt off.
Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and cream of tartar together in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Cook and stir over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the mixture is bubbling around the edges, let it boil for around 4 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer (I use and love this one), use it here. Cook the mixture until it reaches 234–235°F (112–113°C).
As soon as the caramel comes off the heat, stir in the baking soda. The mixture will bubble up, almost double in volume, and appear frothy on the surface as you stir; this is normal and expected:
Pour over the popcorn, gently stir to combine, and then spread out onto a lined baking sheet:
Bake at 200°F (93°C) for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Baking the caramel corn is imperative and helps the caramel set evenly over the popcorn.
This recipe will not work without corn syrup; it’s a crucial ingredient that helps to prevent crystallization in the cooking caramel, and keeps the caramel soft and chewy. As an alternative, try my peanut butter caramel corn recipe instead.
If using microwave popcorn, look for a variety that’s pretty plain, without butter, and not overloaded with salt. Buttered popcorn makes greasy caramel corn, and the caramel may not set.
Yes. Baking the caramel-coated popcorn helps to set the caramel sauce. By skipping this step, the caramel corn will become soggy.
Caramel corn will taste soft and chewy right out of the oven. Give it some time to cool. If it’s still tasting soggy after 1–2 hours of cooling at room temperature, you may have under-baked the caramel corn. 1 hour in the oven is usually plenty. Additionally, be sure to cook the caramel on the stove for long enough. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you’ll want to keep an eye on the clock—once it’s bubbling, let it boil for 4 full minutes.
A candy thermometer isn’t necessary for this recipe, but it’s certainly helpful, as it gives the most accurate results. A candy thermometer shouldn’t scare you away from a recipe; in fact, it’s your biggest helper when it comes to candy recipes because it ensures precise results. If you have one, I recommend using it.
Yes, absolutely. You can add 1–2 cups of your favorite salted or unsalted nuts such as peanuts or cashews to the popcorn before you stir in the caramel sauce. To add chocolate, I recommend drizzling melted chocolate or white chocolate on the cooled caramel corn. You do not want to bake the caramel corn with the chocolate on top.
Bring to bake sales, tote along on road trips, or serve as a simple finger food at holiday parties—everyone loves this stuff. It’s also a wonderful option if you’re ever in need of gluten free dessert recipes.
Homemade Caramel Corn
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Yield: 10-11 cups
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Brimming with buttery flavor, sweet crunch, and from-scratch caramel, each bite of this homemade caramel corn is undeniably irresistible. You’ll make the 6-ingredient caramel sauce on the stove, and while a candy thermometer is helpful, you certainly can get by without one. The recipe below is for plain caramel popcorn, but see Notes for other variations. This is a great make-ahead recipe for a party, bake sale, or gathering, and can easily be doubled.
Ingredients
- 10–11 cups (about 70–75g) air-popped popcorn*
- 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (80g) light corn syrup*
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar*
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F (93°C). Line 1 or 2 12×17-inch baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Pour the popcorn into the largest bowl you have, or spread it onto the prepared baking sheets. (Either way is fine.)
- Combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly as the butter melts and mixture comes to a simmer. Once simmering around the edges, allow to bubble, without stirring, for 4 minutes. (If you have a candy thermometer, the caramel should reach 234–235°F (112–113°C).)
- Remove caramel from heat and immediately stir in the baking soda. The mixture will bubble up, almost double in volume, and appear frothy on the surface as you stir; this is normal and expected. Be careful, it’s very hot.
- Pour the caramel over the popcorn and, with a large spoon or spatula, stir gently until all of the popcorn has been coated. Go slowly here and have patience; it requires quite a few turns of the spatula/spoon as the caramel begins to harden. If it’s not already, spread the popcorn evenly onto prepared baking sheet(s).
- Bake for 1 hour, gently stirring every 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool on the pan for at least 30 minutes. The caramel hardens as it cools. Once cool enough to handle, you can break apart any large clusters.
- Cover the popcorn tightly once cooled. This caramel corn stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container, so it’s a great recipe to make ahead of time.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Popcorn Maker | Baking Sheet | Silicone Baking Mat or Parchment Paper | Medium Saucepan | Candy Thermometer
- Popcorn: You need about 1/3 cup of kernels to yield 10–11 cups of popcorn. If you do not have a popcorn maker at home, you can simply add 3 Tablespoons of popcorn kernels to a brown paper bag. Seal the bag tightly by folding over the top. Microwave the popcorn for approximately 1 minute, 45 seconds on high power, or up to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave. This method will make 5 cups, so you’ll have to do it twice. Alternatively, you can use store-bought natural-style microwave popcorn that has no butter added to it. If you use buttered popcorn, the caramel may not set and the caramel corn will be greasy.
- Corn Syrup: Use light corn syrup, not dark corn syrup. This recipe will not work without this ingredient; it’s crucial to help prevent crystallization in the cooking caramel, and keeps the caramel soft, stretchy, and chewy. As an alternative without corn syrup, try my peanut butter caramel corn recipe instead.
- Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar helps to prevent crystallization in the cooking caramel. If you’re all out, you can make the caramel corn without it. Just know that its acidity helps to prevent crystals from forming in your caramel. Corn syrup does the same job, too.
- Add Nuts, Chocolate, or Spices: You can add 1–2 cups of your favorite salted or unsalted nuts such as peanuts or cashews to the popcorn before you stir in the caramel sauce in step 5. To add chocolate, I recommend drizzling melted chocolate or white chocolate on the cooled caramel corn. You do not want to bake the caramel corn with the chocolate on top. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and/or 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the caramel after you take it off heat, when you stir in the baking soda.
- How to double: Double all of the ingredients. In step 3, let the caramel bubble for 7 minutes, or use a candy thermometer. The candy thermometer temperature remains the same. The bake time also remains the same. Do not over-crowd the baking sheets; you’ll likely need 3.
Originally published in 2014, and also published in Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Hi Sally, I love all of your recipes that I’ve tried! A question about this one: a relative makes chocolate caramel corn by adding cocoa powder to the ingredients she cooks on the stove. Can I do the same with your recipe, and if so, how much cocoa powder do you think I should add? Thanks!
Hi Linda, we haven’t tried this with cocoa powder, but please let us know how it turns out if you do!
Hi I chose this one for a birthday present, (recipe) so I will share with you tomorrow how good a
result I got!
I’ve been making this recipe for 40 years. My kids, grandkids and now great grands love it. As Sally mentioned, mixing in different nuts is good too, but I hadn’t thought of using pretzels and am looking forward trying that. My friends and neighbors look forward to getting little bags of this every Christmas.
I love your website and use it all the time! Just made this popcorn, substituting corn syrup with golden syrup and it worked beautifully. This recipe is amazing. One question: Can I add mini pretzels (the hard kind) to the popcorn? If yes, what changes need to be made?
Hi Alex, we’re so glad you enjoyed this one! You could try adding some pretzels to the mix, although you may want to cut back on the popcorn just a bit. It will take some tinkering to find your desired ratio, but let us know what you try!
Sally this is the best caramel corn recipe!! I have made it several times and it turns out perfectly every time. My roommate absolutely loves it as do I! Thank you for a great recipe
This is fantastic and so easy to make, even without a candy thermometer, as I tried mine and there wasn’t enough in the pan to register properly. So I just cooked it about 5 minutes after it boiled. Followed the recipe exactly (which I rarely do!) but used microwave popcorn from Aldi after burning my first try of air popped kernals in a brown paper bag. It still turned out just perfect, added about a cut of roasted unsalted almonds. YUMMY!