Caramel Popcorn Balls
Sweet, chewy, and irresistibly nostalgic, these Caramel Popcorn Balls are the perfect combination of buttery caramel and crunchy popcorn in every bite. Made with a homemade caramel sauce crafted from light brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and a touch of vanilla, this classic treat is richly flavored and beautifully glossy. With just 15 minutes of prep and cook time, these golden delights are easy to whip up and mold into fun, snackable shapes. Perfect for parties, holiday gift-giving, or satisfying your sweet tooth at home, these popcorn balls are a family-friendly favorite. Plus, they store beautifully, making them an excellent make-ahead dessert or festive addition to a snack table. Get ready to experience pure caramel bliss!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 10 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
Place the popped popcorn in a large mixing bowl and remove any unpopped kernels. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Stir in the brown sugar, light corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Cook while stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 240°F (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Mix until well combined.
Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn, tossing gently with a spatula to coat all the kernels evenly.
Let the caramel-coated popcorn cool for about 5–10 minutes, or until it's cool enough to handle but still moldable.
Lightly grease your hands with butter or cooking spray. Scoop a handful of the caramel popcorn and press it into a firm ball shape. Repeat until all the popcorn is used, working quickly as the caramel hardens as it cools.
Place the formed popcorn balls on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper to set and cool completely.
Once cooled, wrap each popcorn ball in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
555 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.1 g | 30% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.5 g | 72% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 67 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 158 mg | 7% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 87.5 g | 32% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.1 g | 4% | |
| Total Sugars | 81.3 g | ||
| Protein | 3.8 g | 8% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 133 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 0.5 mg | 3% | |
| Potassium | 213 mg | 5% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
