Homemade Caramel Popcorn

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Homemade Caramel Popcorn

Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 16

Ingredients

  • 8 cups of popped popcorn
  • 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons of corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon of salt plus more if you like
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (about 93 degrees Celsius).
  • Cover two large baking sheets with a silicone baking mat. If you only have one mat, use parchment paper for the second sheet (though a silicone mat works best).
  • Spread the popped popcorn evenly on the prepared sheets and set it aside.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Keep stirring until the butter melts and the brown sugar dissolves, which usually takes 3-5 minutes.
  • While still stirring, add the vanilla, salt, and baking soda to the caramel mixture. The baking soda will make it bubble a bit.
  • Remove the saucepan from heat once the caramel thickens and gets a lighter, fluffier texture, typically in 1-2 minutes.
  • Quickly pour the caramel over the popcorn and use a spatula to toss it, making sure every piece is coated.
  • Put the caramel-coated popcorn in the preheated oven. Bake it in 15-minute intervals, tossing it each time, for a total of 45 minutes. Check at the 45-minute mark to ensure it’s sticky and well-coated.
  • Transfer the baked caramel popcorn to the second baking sheet to cool. Use a spatula to break up any clumps.
  • For salted caramel popcorn, sprinkle some coarse salt immediately.
  • Once completely cooled, store the caramel popcorn in an airtight container to keep it fresh for 2-3 weeks. Enjoy!

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