Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Indulge in the Golden Crunch: Make Caramel Popcorn At Home

How about a movie marathon while enjoying freshly made homemade caramel popcorn? Yes, that’s right! You can easily make the popular corn snack at home and enjoy delightful evenings with your family and friends. Caramelised popcorn has been a dear favourite across generations. A perfect batch ensures every kernel is coated with the golden, glossy layer of caramel made at home. 
If you wonder whether the recipe needs all that exclusive machinery, hold on to your thoughts because that’s not true! You can simply make the yummiest caramel corn popcorn recipe in your kitchen. Also, if you are anxious about making the caramel sauce, we will help you make it right from scratch.

However, you must keep the ingredients ready as we advance towards simplifying the recipe for you. 

How to Make Caramel Popcorn at Home?

Whether you like your popcorn crunchy or chewy, you can make both versions in one go. Wondering how? Just follow the easy steps below with the right ingredient measurements.

Ingredients Required to Make Caramel Popcorn Recipe

The following is the list of all the ingredients required to make the recipe. The expected total cooking time is 50 minutes. The measurements below are good to go for servings for 8 people.

List of ingredients for making caramel popcorn:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ½ cup butter (salted or unsalted per your choice)
• ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
• ¼ cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Complete Recipe for Making Caramel Popcorn: Easy Steps

The recipe starts with making popcorn. Do you know the best part? You can make it using kadhai. Follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Making the Popcorn

Add oil to the kadhai and 2-3 kernel seeds of popcorn. Let the oil heat, but do not let it burn or splutter. Wait until one of the kernels pops. Once it does, remove the kadhai from the gas stove. Spread the remaining kernels at the bottom of the kadhai in an even layer. Now, place the kadhai back on the stove, cover it with a lid and keep the flame medium-low. 

In a few minutes, you can hear the kernels popping, indicating they are closer to getting ready. Slide the lid of the kadhai slightly enough for the steam to escape. Ensure you shake the kadhai back and forth to even cook kernels. Once the popping has slowed, switch off the flame and remove the kadhai from the stove.

Pro tip: Until you make the sauce, pack the popcorn batch in an airtight container so it remains warm and does not become soft.

Step 2: Making the Caramel for Caramel Popcorn

In a saucepan, add butter and melt it over low-medium heat. Further, add corn syrup, salt, and light brown sugar. Ensure you add the ingredients without burning the butter. Now, mix all the ingredients well and allow the mixture to come to a light boil. Continue boiling the mix for 2-4 minutes without stirring. Wait until the sugar melts completely and is caramelised. Let the mixture thicken. Once it does, switch off the heat and add vanilla extract and baking soda. Be careful, as the mixture will foam up a little due to the soda.

Step 3: Coating the Popcorn With the Delectable Sauce

Once your caramel sauce is ready, take a baking dish and spread out the popcorn made earlier in an even layer. Drizzle the hot caramel sauce generously all over the popcorn. Use an appropriate spatula to toss and coat the popcorn evenly. Remember, your caramel corn popcorn recipe will not deliver its culinary potential if the sauce does not coat evenly. So, use the spatula gently and coat the sauce over the popcorn without breaking the popped corn kernels. After coating the sauce, spread the popcorn over a baking sheet. The sheet must be lined with parchment paper.

For those who love the popcorn crunchy: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the popcorn for 30 to 40 minutes for a golden crunch. Toss the popcorn occasionally. Further, remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool, then separate the large lumps, if any.

For those who love chewy popcorn: Allow the caramelised popcorn to cool until the coating hardens. Don’t put it in the oven.

Special Add-Ins to Make Caramel Popcorn Even More Interesting

Looking for ways to enhance the taste of homemade caramelised popcorn? Here are some tips you can use:

Add Colourful Sprinkles: When your popcorn is hot, add colourful sprinkles in varied hues to make it look appetising. 

Add Nuts and Chocolates: There’s no better combination than sweet melted chocolate added to caramel popcorn. Adding nuts of your choice can make it even more enriching. 

Wrapping It Up

The next time you wonder, ‘How do I make caramel popcorn,’ have a quick look at the recipe mentioned above. It will help you make everything from the base level. Whether you host a night out for friends or just want to fix a snack for the late evening family fun, caramel popcorn will ensure you get all the applause. It is a treat for the eyes as much as for the taste buds. So, go ahead and be the star in the kitchen with our detailed recipe.

FAQs

What is the shelf life of homemade caramel popcorn?

If you want to store caramelised popcorn, consider its shelf life and consume it accordingly for the best taste experience. Generally, it remains good for upto five days. 

How can soft caramelised popcorn become crispy again?

If the popcorn becomes soft after a certain time, toss it in the oven again and reheat. Ensure you do it for a few minutes until it becomes crunchy again.

Can you freeze caramel popcorn?

Absolutely! Freeze it in airtight storage jars. Whenever you want to consume it, reheat it in the oven for 10 minutes at 250F.