If you're a caramel corn lover like I am, then this crispy homemade popcorn is a must-make! And you will soon be saying it is the Best Caramel Corn! It’s sweet, crunchy, and absolutely addictive—everything you want in a festive treat. Whether you're planning your holiday snack table or looking for the perfect edible gift idea, this easy caramel corn recipe checks every box. It’s foolproof, never soggy, and comes out perfectly crisp every single time.
One of my favorite ways to share this treat is by bagging it up in clear window sacks, tying them with colorful baker’s twine, and adding a cute tag for a quick and inexpensive homemade gift. Trust me—friends and neighbors will love it! Once you try this recipe, you'll never go back to store-bought again.
You may find my measurements strange. But just trust the process! Haha!
Oh and read below for for links to cute gift tags!
Honestly, this is loved by so many of my friends and family members. It was my mom's recipe that I just tweaked over the years. That is why you will see all the strange measurements in the recipe card! Look below for a fun gift idea!
Looking for more food gift ideas? Hot Fudge Topping is always a great idea!
Ingredients
- popped popcorn
- brown sugar
- butter
- light corn syrup
- salt
- baking soda
- vanilla extract
See exact quantities in recipe card below
Instructions
To begin, pop the popcorn according to the directions on the corn label. While it’s popping, go ahead and preheat your oven to 300°F. Once your popcorn is ready, pour it into a large aluminum disposable roasting pan. This makes removing unpopped kernels super easy—just push the popcorn to one side, then, working in small sections, move handfuls to the clean side while picking out any kernels left behind.
Next, in a 1 ½-quart saucepan, combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts and everything begins to boil. Then, stop stirring and let it boil undisturbed for 5 minutes.
After that, remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla and baking soda. Immediately pour the hot caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir gently to coat it as evenly as possible.
Transfer the pan to your preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove it, give the popcorn a good stir (don’t forget to scrape the bottom!), then bake for an additional 7–10 minutes.
Finally, pull it from the oven one last time, stir again, and let the caramel corn cool completely. Once cooled, break it into pieces and enjoy this crispy, sweet homemade treat! Watch the video below to see it in action!
Equipment
I always have a couple of large disposable aluminum roasting pans on hand. They clean up well and I use them over and over for caramel corn! They are light which makes it nice when getting them in and out of the oven! Here is a LINK to the ones I am talking about!
Gifts
Caramel Corn makes a great gift! Whether it's for a birthday, back to school, Christmas or anything in between! Here are two ideas:
Storage
If you keep this in an airtight container in a dry spot it can last up to two weeks! Mine usually lasts a few days because it is so addictive! If you are gifting though, give within 24-48 hours for best flavor!
Recipes to Try
Best Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
- 9 tablespoon butter 1 stick plus 1 Tablespoon
- 4 ½ tablespoon light corn syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt heaping
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pop popcorn according to directions on corn label. Preheat oven to 300℉ Place popcorn in large aluminum disposable roasting pan. This makes removing unpopped kernels super easy—just push the popcorn to one side, then, working in small sections, move handfuls to the clean side while picking out any kernels left behind.In a 1 ½ qt sauce pan add sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts and mixture begins to boil. Cook without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour over corn and stir gently to coat. Bake for 15 minutes. Pull out pan and stir well while scraping bottom. Bake an additional 7-10 minutes. Remove pan and stir again. Allow to cool. Break into pieces.
Leanne says
We had a Christmas party on the weekend and I made this popcorn for the kids. It was a hit, and I couldn't keep the adults out of it!
Misty Tannery says
So glad to hear that! I am currently making batches to give as gifts! Merry Christmas!
Abi says
Made them today, turned out great! Definately these popcorns are a crowd-pleaser.
Misty Tannery says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Madhu says
This caramel corn sounds amazing! Crisp, sweet, and totally addictive, the best kind! Love that it's guaranteed no soggy caramel.
Misty Tannery says
It really is so so good! And so easy!
Courtney says
I ended up making this for a movie night and it disappeared wayyy too quickly! Definitely looking forward to making and gifting it during the holidays.
Misty Tannery says
It definitely makes a fabulous gift! So glad you liked it.