This caramel crunch popcorn is so quick and easy, you can whip it up from start to finish in 15 minutes! It’s the easiest and best caramel crunch popcorn recipe, ever! Make it your own personalized caramel popcorn recipe by adding your own choice of nuts, coconut or ? Better make a triple batch for a crowd!
Originally published February 3, 2013
Although I won’t be one of them, millions of people will be watching the Super Bowl today.
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Hand in hand with the game goes one of the most terrible days of the year as far as menu items are concerned. Can you think of another one of our 364 days when most of the food consumed is either deep-fried, covered in cheese, or has the calorie average of one of Michael Phelps’ after practice “snacks”?
Crunchy Garlic Baked Pita Chips
I can’t, but instead of posting a recipe for some super-healthy alternative to “Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Deep Fried Chicken Wings with Pizza Flavored Donuts,” I’m sharing a super simple recipe for Caramel Crunch Popcorn. There’s no thermometer needed, and only bakes for 10 minutes! My point is that one need not be one extreme or another; what’s wrong with being right in the middle? 😊
NOTE: As you can see from the photos, this is a lightly covered popcorn, so it’s less sweet and has less calories than popcorn coated in a heavy caramel. If you prefer the latter, then double the amount of butter, sugar and Golden Syrup, or pop half as much (or less) popcorn. Add some toasted nuts or coconut, if you like, too!
Caramel Crunch Popcorn
This is such an old recipe I’ve been making, I don’t know where it originated.
Ingredients
- 3 oz (1/2 cup) popping corn, popped (makes a large bowlful)
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) sugar
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) good quality unsalted butter (my popcorn turned out very yellow because of the quality butter)
- pinch of salt (omit the salt if you use salted butter)
- 2 tablespoons Lyle’s Golden Syrup (a flavorful British corn syrup alternative, as I do not use corn syrup)
- (optional) other add ins, like nuts, coconut, peanuts, etc.
Tip: rub a little oil in the spoon before measuring the syrup. The syrup will pour out quickly without sticking.
Preheat oven to 300ºF (150ºC)
Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. Melt the butter with the remaining ingredients in a small pot over low heat. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 1 or 2 minutes.
Next, remove the syrup from the heat and immediately pour over the popcorn (and other add ins, if using) in the bowl.
Mix gently, then place onto a non-stick baking sheet. Using two forks, gently continue to stir the caramel popcorn.
Now, place tray in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove and mix gently, then place in oven for another 5 minutes or so.
Remove from oven and allow to cool; break into pieces and enjoy!
And have you tried my “no fry” Buffalo Hot Wings? You seriously need these ASAP!
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- 3 oz (1/2 cup) popping corn, popped (makes a large bowlful)
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) sugar
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) butter
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons Golden Syrup (a British corn syrup alternative, as I do not use corn syrup)
- Preheat oven to 300ºF (150ºC)
- Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. Melt the butter with the remaining ingredients in a small pot over low heat. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 1 or 2 minutes.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and immediately pour over the popcorn in the bowl.
- Mix gently with two forks, then place onto a non-stick baking sheet.
- Place tray in preheated oven for 5 minutes, remove and turn gently, then place in oven for another 5 minutes or so.
- Remove from oven and let cool; break into pieces and enjoy!
Luisa Bellissimo
wrote on
Hi Christina,
We are going to my son’s Super Bowl party in an hour, so I thought this would be a perfect treat for all the children attending!
Just waiting for the popcorn in the oven to be done! It smells yummy, as my grandson, James always says!
Have a wonderful trip in Australia and enjoy!
Safe travels!
Luisa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Christina
wrote on
That’s great, Luisa! I’m sure they will love it! Thanks so much for your well wishes and will be reporting back when I return! Happy game-watching today! Christina
Cathy
wrote on
I have golden syrup in my pantry, now I just need to buy popcorn. Perfect superbowl snack.
Christina
wrote on
Trader Joe’s!! :) Enjoy, Cathy!
David
wrote on
I definitely want to make this popcorn, but I also know I don’t ever want to see the Super Bowl! If people start talking about the game around me, I simply ask them if it’s the round ball or the pointy ball! That pretty much sums things up for me and football! xox :)
Christina
wrote on
Haha! I bet that stops the game talk, David! Just a warning, this stuff is pretty addictive! Yikes!
Cynthia | What a Girl Eats
wrote on
Love this! I would definitely add some almonds thought! I’m a little nuts that way! 😂
Christina
wrote on
Hate to tell you this, but almonds are not nuts! Bet you never knew that! They’re a member of the stone fruit family (think about the inside of a peach pit, looks just like an almond, right?) Found this information online when we realized Denisa had a nut allergy, but she’d been eating almonds without issue. However, some people who have a nut allergy are ALSO allergic to almonds. Go figure.
Marcellina
wrote on
Not game day for us down under but a great recipe for any time! I adore caramel popcorn and usually use corn syrup but golden syrup is much easier and cheaper here. I will be using your recipe next time. Thanks!
Christina
wrote on
Absolutely, Marcellina! AND it’s much healthier than corn syrup. I’ll be heading down your way next week! First time, ever! Eeeek! So excited! Thanks for your comment and enjoy!
Jana
wrote on
This recipe looks delicious and simple! I’ll add a few roasted pecans to my batch.😊
Christina
wrote on
Ah Jana! I totally forgot to mention to add in nuts and other ingredients, like shredded coconut, for example! I’ll go fix it now. I’m sure you’ll love this, it’s so quick and easy, too!
Marye
wrote on
This looks amazing, I love a good caramel popcorn!
Christina
wrote on
It’s addictive, Marye!
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[…] Caramel Crunch Popcorn […]
Cynthia |What A Girl Eats
wrote on
I love caramel corn! I might have to throw in some roasted peanuts or cashews too! ?
Christina
wrote on
Absolutely no reason why you couldn’t!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
wrote on
Boy do I love homemade caramel corn, haven’t made it in years. I’d love my own little snacking bucket. Glad to learn about Golden Syrup today, thanks Christina.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
wrote on
Hi Christina, my daughter and I adore popcorn and cannot wait to hunker down with a batch of this! Though we wouldn’t be watching the Big Game either – we’d be watching a Vampire diaries marathon :)
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
wrote on
This looks great. We are at home in an ice storm–we need to make a batch of this for our movies!
Christina
wrote on
Oh yes, the best for a night like that!
Jodie@Jodies Kitchen
wrote on
This is amazing.I made it so quick.Of course I did have to substitute and use corn syrup.Thank you so much.I just may add this to my baby shower plans it is so good.
Christina
wrote on
Wonderful! So happy you tried it and loved it! If you ever get a chance to buy Golden Syrup Jodie, I hope you try, it as the flavor is fabulous…so much better than corn syrup! Thank you so much for sharing with your readers, too! I appreciate it! CC
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Anonymous
wrote on
Apparently Allie spent theology class obsessing over this. She says it’s amazing. We’re going to have to try it.
-Rebecca
Christina
wrote on
That’s funny! Yes, try it-it’s unbelievably quick and easy! CC
Suzanne
wrote on
I love caramel popcorn and love this recipe. It’s one of my favorite indulgent snacks, I bought a flat of Lyle’s syrup and am so happy to put it to good use.
Christina
wrote on
Oh, you are so lucky! I would love to have that much syrup at the ready! I use it instead of corn syrup all the time, and I just LOVE the flavour!!
Medeja
wrote on
Popcorn is great thing not just for Superbowl. But it is so addictive..I am just trying to avoid it,otherwise I would never stop :D
Christina
wrote on
I know, it is addictive! My mother pulled the bowl away from me today! Ha ha! ;) CC