Best Caramel Corn Recipe
Ingredients for Caramel Corn
I love making caramel corn because it’s so easy to make, but people are always impressed that it’s homemade. You also only need a few pantry staples to make oven caramel corn.
- Popcorn Kernels: Either white or yellow will work great.
- Butter: A hefty 4 sticks is needed for this recipe, but it makes a big batch!
- Brown Sugar: Give the caramel corn a nice hint of molasses flavor.
- Corn Syrup: I don’t use corn syrup often but it’s very helpful for special treats like caramel corn and homemade soft caramelels. I usually buy organic corn syrup.
- Baking Soda: This is the secret ingredient to getting the caramel to foam and stick to the popcorn.
- Salt: I highly recommend Kosher salt! A good pinch of salt is key to delicious caramel corn.
Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Caramel Corn
Caramel corn is easy to make at home, but you’ll need a few kitchen tools. I highly recommend a good air-pop popcorn machine.
Air-popped popcorn isn’t coated in any oil or additives so it’s perfect for mixing with the caramel sauce. I also think air-popped popcorn yields bigger pieces than microwave or stove-top popped popcorn.
It’s also helpful to have either 2 large oven-safe glass bowls or 2 baking sheets lined with silicone baking liners for baking the caramel corn.
Tip: Homemade caramel corn will turn out best if you make the popcorn in an air-pop popcorn machine!
How to Make Caramel Corn
The steps to making caramel corn are simple. I’ve included a how-to video in this post as well so be sure to watch that!
- Pop the popcorn.
- Bring the caramel ingredients to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the baking soda then toss the popcorn with the caramel.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Tip: Stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes while it’s baking is key for getting every piece coated with caramel.
This caramel corn is great for packaging up and giving to neighbors and friends. I like to keep the packaging simple with some clear treat bags and seasonal ribbon. It will keep crispy and delicious for up to a week!
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Best Caramel Corn Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 sticks butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 F. Pop the popcorn kernels in air popper. Place popcorn in a large oven safe bowl. (Note: I had to use my biggest and next biggest pyrex bowls and a 9x13 pan to fit it all. Just divide up the popcorn and caramel amongst the dishes as best you can.)
- In a medium saucepan combine the butter, sugar, light corn syrup, and salt. Melt slowly over medium heat, stirring constantly. When mixture comes to a full boil, stir constantly to prevent burning for 5 minutes.
- After caramel mixture boils for 5 minutes, remove from heat and add the baking soda. Mix in baking soda carefully as the mixture will expand when you add it. Pour caramel over popcorn and mix well to coat the popped kernels.
- Place in glass oven-safe bowls or on parchment-lined baking sheets and cook the caramel corn for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and pour onto parchment-lined sheet trays immediately. Cool and enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Originally published October 27, 2012. Recipe still tried, true and loved. Post updated on October 4, 2019.
I can say from experience that these are the most AMAZING treats ever! I let Aaron have a couple of bits and then I ate the whole rest of the bag in one sitting. so so good. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Ah this looks sooooo good!
Love the recipe up-date. Fun video, and I love the music!
Thanks Renee!
What awesome popcorn! This would be perfect for movie night!
Thanks Jenni! It is definitely delicious for movie night!
Kids of all ages love these.
Yes they do! 🙂
What a fun video. Brought back memories of childhood and making this at Halloween.
Thanks Heather! Caramel corn really is so fun to make this time of year!
Sounds so good!
You say “sticks of butter”. Is that 2 cups in total, each stick being half a cup?
Yes 2 cups total.
I see other recipes using way less butter with way more popcorn. I think I’ll shy away from this one.
It’s not healthy – but very delicious!
Sounds delicious! Thinking of making a batch to put in favor bags for my daughter’s birthday. There are two kiddos that can’t eat dairy. What’s a good substitute for the 4 sticks of butter that works well and still tastes great for caramel corn?
So I just made this fabulous Carmel corn it’s not even cooled yet and I’m eating it , so good. I love easy recipes and this is easy, I also tossed in pecan halfs just for a little e Tra something . Sooooo good thanks for this keeper.
I’m so glad you like it!
Just made this popcorn!! Wow! Delicious! I used dark brown sugar-A MUST! And I actually doubled the amount of popcorn because as one other comment said, it’s a lot of butter. Still had tons of caramel. Can’t wait to pack in small gift bags tomorrow morning! Thanks for a great recipe! (Found you on Pinterest!)
OMG!!!!! Made this for my daughter for gifts for her job. The butter in this is wonderful comes thru the caramel flavor beautiful . Thanks for the best recipe for Caramel corn and it does make a lot …..
I’m so glad it turned out for you!
Made this recipe for the family get-together. Best recipe I’ve tried so far for Carmel corn
Turned out so yummy. It’s all gone, everyone devoured it.
So glad you liked it! 🙂
I cannot see the recipe… All your narration is visible, but no recipe. I have made this one before, but now, I can’t.
Thanks so much for letting me know! I fixed it! 🙂
Seriously have to be careful because this popcorn is addicting. It is so soft caramely, I could eat the whole batch.
This was super easy to make and very good. I cut the recipe in half as there are only 2 of us. It filled a gallon size plastic bag when done. I used popcorn made from a real movie theater like popcorn maker made with a popcorn kit that has the butter and popcorn. I used my metal large turkey roaster. I poured the Carmel over the popcorn in there and baked it in there. It is a light buttery Carmel, not too much, not sticky, not soaking the popcorn not brown molasses like. I will make this often.
So good!! We’ve made this a few times now. Thanks for sharing.
This recipe is very similar to the recipe I’ve used for many years. I actually add a tsp of vanilla extract when I add the baking soda. Adds a nice flavor! It’s always a special treat and it is definitely very easy to do!
By far the best caramel corn recipe! It’s so easy and online that it uses simple ingredients.