Easy Homemade Caramel Corn

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This Easy Homemade Caramel Corn recipe is simple to make at home in your own oven and ends up sweet, crunchy and perfect. So much better than store bought!

Caramel corn in red bowl and red and white popcorn box on its side.

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This post was originally posted on 11/04/2020 and updated on 9/27/2024.

Why We Love This Homemade Caramel Corn

An easy recipe that creates sweet and crunchy caramel corn.
Just a few steps and no thermometer needed.
Only simple minimal ingredients needed, six to be exact.
Recipe is free of corn syrup. Instead I use honey. Gives such a good flavor without loosing any texture.
The caramel is absolutely perfect. Not too thick or thin and ends up perfectly crisp.
Absolutely delicious. Buttery, homemade caramel and crunchy texture makes this caramel corn irresistible.

Homemade Caramel Corn Recipe Ingredients

Popcorn Kernels
Salted Butter
Honey
Brown Sugar
Salt
Baking Soda

Substitution Suggestions

Popcorn Kernels: any type of kernels will work, yellow or white are what I usually use.
Salted Butter: you can use unsalted butter, but I suggest adding an an extra little pinch of salt to the caramel.
Honey: I prefer to use honey over corn syrup. If you can't have honey, you can use corn syrup.

Easy homemade caramel corn recipe ingredients.

How to Make Easy Homemade Caramel Corn

Preheat oven to 250°F and grease to large rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
Pop the kernels in an air popper and remove any unpopped kernels. Alternately, you can pop kernels on the stove top or use microwave popcorn. Place the popcorn in a very large bowl, big enough so there is plenty of room to stir the popcorn without too much spillage being allowed.
In a medium skillet, add the butter, honey, brown sugar and salt. Over medium heat, bring the sauce to a boil and boil for 5 minutes while gently whisking the whole time.
After 5 minutes, remove from heat and quickly whisk in the baking soda and pour caramel over popcorn.
Working quickly stir the popcorn and caramel together until it is incorporated best you can. No need to worry if every piece isn't fully coated, it will get fully coated during the baking process.

Caramel coated on popcorn in large white mixing bowl.

Caramel covered popcorn spread out on two baking sheets.

Spread the popcorn on prepared baking sheets. Try to get it into a single layer the best you can.
Bake the caramel corn in preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring and rotating every 15 minutes. Fold the caramel corn with a rubber spatula every 15 minutes, and rotate the pans. By that I mean, if you are using both oven racks, switch the pans so they are getting heat evenly throughout the baking process.
Once the caramel corn has baked for 45 minutes, stir it one last time, and spread it out into a single layer.
Let the popcorn sit on the sheet pan until completely cooled.
Once the caramel corn is cooled, break it up with your fingers and shove handfuls in your face like you would with any great popcorn!

Homemade Caramel Corn Variations

Sea Salt: Add a sprinkle of course sea salt on the caramel corn right after it comes out of the oven before it has cooled.
Peanut Caramel Corn: Sprinkle a cup of roasted peanuts over the popcorn after it has been spread on the baking sheet before going in the oven.
Nutty Caramel Corn: Sprinkle one cup of almonds, cashews or a mix of nuts over the popcorn after it has been spread out on the baking sheets before putting in the oven.
Chocolate Caramel Corn: While the caramel corn is cooling, make a chocolate drizzle from your favorite chocolate chips and coconut oil. Melt ½ cup of chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon coconut oil and drizzle it over the caramel corn. Let the chocolate harden and set before breaking it apart with your fingers.

Popcorn is my absolute favorite snack. I love it salty or sweet. This Scotcharoo Popcorn is out of this world!

How to Store Homemade Caramel Corn

Store cooled caramel corn in an air tight container or zip top bag. Caramel Corn with last a week or more, if it hasn't all been ate by then!

Heather's Favorite Tools for this Recipe

I love my air popper. It's small enough to store easily and super simple to use.
These nestled mixing bowls are my favorite for prepping ingredients.
Long ago, I used to be a Pampered Chef consultant and I still prefer their baking tools and pans to any others. They're baking pans are the ones I primarily use. Find yourself a consultant, host a party and treat yourself to a set.

Red and white popcorn box overflowing with homemade caramel corn.

Tips for Easy Homemade Caramel Corn

Pick out any kernels that didn't pot. That way you won't hurt your teeth or waste any caramel on kernels you can't eat.
Don't overcook the caramel. Once it comes to a good boil, set a timer and cook only for 5 minutes. If it cooks longer it will become hard and unable to coat the popcorn.
Baking the popcorn is ideal. If you just leave the caramel corn as it, it will be soft and soggy. The baking creates the perfect crunch you want in caramel corn.

FAQs

Can I use microwave popcorn?

Yes, you totally can. Pop two bags of microwave popcorn and omit the salt in the recipe.

What is the purpose of baking soda?

Adding baking soda to caramel corn sounds odd doesn't it? I am no science expert, but basically what happens is the baking soda creates tiny air bubbles, which then adds air to the caramel making it crunchy but not hard as a rock.

Close up top view of homemade caramel corn in red bowl with scoop.

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