How To Make Caramel Popcorn

Caramel popcorn is simply hot, crunchy popcorn that has been drizzled with sweet, hot caramel sauce. To make it, simple popcorn is enhanced by including a few ingredients available in the kitchen. Rich in butter, condensed milk and corn syrup, caramel popcorn emits such an enticing vanilla aroma that makes it difficult for a person to stop indulging into it. Making caramel popcorn is no rocket science. A few ingredients and some simple steps is all you need to prepare the crunchy snack for a picnic, holiday, family game or movie night. Read on further to know how you can prepare the best caramel popcorn through simple, fun and affordable instructions.

Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Ingredients

2 bags Microwave Popcorn
4 tbsp Butter, cut into pieces
1 cup Brown Sugar, lightly packed
½ cup Light Corn Syrup
2/3 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp Vanilla

Method

Pop both the bags of microwave popcorn. They will make 24 cups. Remove any unpopped kernels.
Place the popcorns in a large roasting pan or two 9x13 pans.
Set the oven to 250°F and place the popcorns in the oven, to keep them warm.
Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add butter, sugar and corn syrup.
Stir continuously, until the sugar and butter melts and the candy mixture begins to boil.
Pour in the condensed milk and insert a candy thermometer.
Cook the mixture with occasional stirring, until the caramel attains a temperature of 238°F.
Remove the saucepan from flame and stir in the vanilla.
Remove the popcorns from the oven and pour the caramel over the popcorn. Be sure to stir them while doing so, so that all the pieces are evenly coated.
Return the popcorns back to the oven and bake for about 45 minutes, stirring after every 10 minutes. In case you are using multiple pans and your popcorns are in a single layer, the cooking time will be around 25 minutes.
The popcorns are done when the caramel mixture darkens and bubbles all over the pan.
Now, remove the popcorns from the microwave and leave them at room temperature for complete cooling.
Break the caramel popcorns into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Tips

When boiling the caramel mixture, do not boil for more than 3 minutes, else the caramel will become too hard on cooling.
After pouring the caramel over the popcorn, you can add marshmallows, pecans, walnuts or dried cherries, for an extra treat.
Pour maple peanut butter on the caramel mixture and stir. Shape into balls, for making popcorn balls.
For added decadence, melt some milk chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled caramel popcorns.
For chocolate caramel popcorns, melt chocolate chips and pour them over the caramel mixture, to coat the pieces.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Art & Entertainment'