There’s something timeless about homemade caramel corn. The combination of buttery popcorn coated in a rich caramel creates a sweet, crunchy snack that tastes just like the old-fashioned versions many of us remember from fairs, holidays, and family movie nights. This caramel corn recipe was handed down to me a long time ago, and it’s been shared with many.
This recipe uses simple pantry staples and popcorn to create a classic caramel coating that bakes into a crisp, irresistible finish.
Ingredients List
- 12 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup salted butter
- 2 cups packed brown sugar (Packed)
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ! tsp Baking Soda
Special Equipment
- Roasting Pan
- Medium Saucepan
How to Make this Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipe
1. Pop the Popcorn. You can do this any way you want. If using bagged microwave popcorn, use the plain, unbuttered version. Pour it into a roasting pan and set it aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.
3. Add the packed brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly.
6. Reduce the heat and allow it to cook for 5 minutes. Do Not Stir!
7. Preheat oven to 250F
8. Remove from the heat and stir in Vanilla Extract and Baking soda.
9 Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat evenly.
10. Place the lid on or cover it with aluminum foil and place it in the oven for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes.
11. Remove from the oven and allow the caramel corn to completely cool.
12. When cooled, shake the pan to break off the corn,
14. All that is left now is to enjoy this heavenly snack!
Old Fashioned Caramel Corn Recipe
Equipment
- Roasting Pan
Ingredients
- 12 cups Popped White Popcorn
- 1 cup Butter
- 2 cups Brown Sugar- packed
- 1/2 cup Corn Syrup
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
Instructions
- Pour popped popcorn into a large roasting pan and set aside.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter.
- Add the packed sugar, corn syrup, salt and mix well.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and allow to cook for 5 minutes without stirring.
- Preheat the oven to 250F
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and the baking soda.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir well to evenly coat the popcorn with the caramel sauce.
- Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 1 hour, making sure to stir every 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- When cooled, shake the pan to break up the caramel corn.
- Serve and enjoy or store in an airtight container.
Tips for the Best Old-Fashioned Caramel Corn
- Use fresh popcorn: Stale popcorn won’t stay as crisp after coating.
- Stir during baking: This prevents large clumps and helps the caramel dry evenly and ensures full coverage.
- Cool completely: The caramel hardens as it cools, creating that classic crunchy texture.
- Store properly: Keep caramel corn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Sharing Your Carmel Corn
- Movie night snack Trays with individual packs for sharing
- Holiday gift tins
- Party favour bags
- After-school treats for friends
- Homemade edible gifts in clear jars with a decorative ribbon.
If you’re looking for a nostalgic homemade treat, this old-fashioned caramel corn recipe delivers that classic buttery, sweet, crunchy flavour with just a handful of ingredients.
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