Indulge in the irresistible crunch of **Crispy Vanilla Caramel Popcorn**, the ultimate snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. This homemade treat combines fluffy, freshly popped popcorn with a luxurious caramel coating infused with the warm, aromatic notes of vanilla. A touch of baking soda creates that light, crisp texture, while slow baking ensures every kernel is perfectly coated and crackling with flavor. With just a handful of pantry staples like brown sugar, butter, and light corn syrup, this easy recipe transforms into a golden, addictive delight that's perfect for movie nights, parties, or gifting. Serve it fresh or store it for later—either way, you’ll keep coming back for more!
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover the pot, and shake gently. Cook until the popping slows down to one pop every 2-3 seconds, then remove from heat.
Transfer the popped popcorn to a large mixing bowl and remove any unpopped kernels.
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then let it boil for 4-5 minutes without stirring.
Remove the caramel mixture from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up slightly—this is normal.
Quickly pour the caramel over the popcorn, tossing until the popcorn is evenly coated.
Spread the coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer.
Bake the popcorn in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure it crisps evenly.
Remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely. Once cooled, break it into clusters and serve or store in an airtight container.
Calories |
1554 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 76.4 g | 98% | |
| Saturated Fat | 32.0 g | 160% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 16.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 124 mg | 41% | |
| Sodium | 966 mg | 42% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 224.0 g | 81% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.5 g | 27% | |
| Total Sugars | 186.0 g | ||
| Protein | 6.4 g | 13% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 138 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 378 mg | 8% | |
*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.