Soft Gooey Caramel Popcorn
Indulge your sweet tooth with this irresistibly soft and gooey caramel popcorn—a perfect blend of buttery caramel and fluffy popped corn that melts in your mouth with every bite. This easy caramel popcorn recipe combines pantry staples like brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk to create a luscious, velvety caramel coating that stays delightfully soft. Featuring a quick 15-minute prep and cook time, it’s the ultimate treat for movie nights, parties, or gifting. With a touch of vanilla and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness, this homemade caramel popcorn is guaranteed to become your go-to snack for any occasion. Plus, it stores beautifully in an airtight container, making it as convenient as it is delicious!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 cup corn syrup
- 0.5 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Pop the popcorn kernels using an air popper or stovetop method. Transfer the popcorn to a large mixing bowl, discarding any unpopped kernels.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter.
Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk to the saucepan. Stir continuously to combine.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until the caramel thickens slightly. Be careful not to overcook, as this will make the caramel too hard.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
Quickly pour the caramel over the popcorn in the mixing bowl. Use a silicone spatula to gently toss and coat the popcorn evenly with the caramel.
Allow the caramel-coated popcorn to cool slightly before serving. The caramel will remain soft and gooey.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3208 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 119.9 g | 154% | |
| Saturated Fat | 65.8 g | 329% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 300 mg | 100% | |
| Sodium | 1546 mg | 67% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 525.3 g | 191% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 31.2 g | 111% | |
| Total Sugars | 348.4 g | ||
| Protein | 39.2 g | 78% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 614 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 7.8 mg | 43% | |
| Potassium | 1440 mg | 31% | |
*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.
