Gooey Caramel Popcorn
on Apr 05, 2013, Updated Oct 22, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Caramel Popcorn is one of our favorite family treats. It is fast, delicious and super easy to make. Plus, it is perfect for a crowd because it makes a giant batch.
My childhood has some great memories in it, and some of my favorites involved this caramel corn recipe from my Mom. Caramel corn makes for a great dessert, party snack, movie treat, holiday gift or just a sweet treat to enjoy when you need a little something.
This caramel corn is everything that gooey caramel corn should be. It is a sweet, sticky, vanilla enhanced goodness that you’ll want a glass of milk with. Be warned that this popcorn is HIGHLY addicting.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
- Easy to make
- Makes A LOT
- Delicious and feeds a crowd
- Can be made for various events and be great gifts too
Ingredients:
- Corn syrup: don’t be scared of this ingredient! It’s not the same as high fructose corn syrup. It’s used to help make the caramel and it helps it to have a smooth texture and per
- Brown sugar: this adds color and flavor to the caramel
- Butter: such great flavor to the caramel
- Sweetened condensed milk: this caramel is really easy to make and sweetened condensed milk helps with that, it’s makes it more of a short-cut caramel instead of a classic long-cooked caramel. Don’t mix this up with evaporated milk
- Vanilla extract: yes please, adds flavor
- Unpopped popcorn: you are going to pop up your popcorn at home using whatever you have on hand – an air popper, a big pot with a lid, your Instant Pot – you have lots of options
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Instructions:
- Pop the popcorn. Pop it however you like and get it measured out and into a giant bowl or a couple of big bowls.
- Make your caramel by melting the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk on the stove and when it starts to bubble take it off the stove.
- Stir in the vanilla and then pour it over the popcorn and stir.
- Spread it out on some waxed paper and let it cool. Enjoy! We normally eat it right off the counter when we are having a party or I’ll pile it in a giant bowl and take it with us to an event. It’s always such a hit.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Stir the caramel corn as it cools to prevent it from sticking together in big clumps. And then spread it out on your counter (cover the counter with waxed paper) while it is still warm so that it can cool in a thin layer.
If stored in an airtight container, it can last a week or so though the popcorn starts to get soft the longer it sit which I don’t prefer. Eat this within a few days for best quality
That is all in how long you cook the caramel sauce. The longer you cook the syrup the crunchier it will be. And air-popping your popcorn helps the actual popcorn to stay nice and crispy.
Nope! You can make popcorn in a large pot on the stove, in an air-popper, in your Instant Pot, or you can even pop popcorn in the microwave. You have lots of options.
More Popcorn Recipes to Consider:
From Scratch Recipes
Halloween Popcorn Balls
Healthy Living
2 Week Meal Plan for the Whole Family: Fall/Winter Menu
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 2 cups brown sugar, 1 pound bag
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk, (14 ounce)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1.5 to 2 cups unpopped popcorn, (about 12-16 quart of popped popcorn)
Instructions
- Pop your popcorn however you’d like, you can use an air-popper, your Instant Pot, pop it on the stove in a big pot, it’s up to you. Remove all of the unpopped kernels and put all of the popcorn in a very large bowl or in a few large ones.
- Combine the corn syrup and the brown sugar in a medium sauce pan and heat over medium heat;. Cook until the mixture starts to just lightly boil.
- Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk, stir to combine, and bring to a light boil, stirring very often. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir to combine well.
- Pour the caramel corn onto a piece or two of waxed paper on the counter to cool. It will be sticky but get less sticky as it cools.
Video
Notes
- You can add a scant teaspoon or so of salt to the caramel when you add the vanilla if you like it a little salty (I normally add it, I like salted caramel).
- I’ll often just serve this off the waxed paper on my bar when we have a get-together here. You can also load it up into a pretty bowl. Everyone always loves this at a party.
I don’t have a kitchen scale to measure out 1 pound of brown sugar. Can you tell how much I need to use? Thank you in advance for your response. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe so much.
They are normally sold in 1 or 2 pound bags, I updated the recipe though so thanks for asking. 1 pound is the same as 2 packed cups.
This is my first time making carmel popcorn, it was easier than i thought and like all your recipes really good!!
I’m SO glad you made this!! It’s my childhood in a bowl and I love sharing it, thank you for leaving a review!
Nothing personal:however ;why are so many bakers and cooks making mistakes in their recipies,?? Please double read before putting out on these computers .
Can you tell me how much unpopped corn kernels it takes? Hard to guess what 5-6 quarts of popped is…
Thanks!
About 3/4 of a cup!
is this a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk?
Yes! Thank you for asking, I’ll update that in the recipe.
Is this Gluten Free? I hope, I hope!!
From what I understand about GF foods it sure should be! Enjoy 🙂
Golden syrup is much better. Right?
No outside companies to touch our mailbox.
We used to tease your mom that this recipe is the best thing she learned at college.
Aw I remember that party! Super fun! And I do love your mom! They were all like a second family to me! I miss all of you tons! And I’ve been wanting to make Carmel corn! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks for your sweet words about my site! Happy to inspire;)
I also have fond memories of caramel pop corn. We used to get the microwaveable kind. And then they discontinued it and I’ve been thinking about recreating it the last few years! This looks awesome. 🙂