Homemade Caramel Popcorn

This Easy Caramel Popcorn is sweet, salty, buttery, crisp, blows away any store-bought caramel corn, and is so simple to make. It’s made with freshly air-popped popcorn with a simple caramel made with sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, sugar, butter, and Karo syrup.

From start to finish, this recipe only takes about 30 minutes to make. Let it cool at room temperature and get ready to enjoy the most crisp, buttery, and sweet caramel corn you have ever tried.

Easy Homemade Caramel Popcorn

If you have always avoided making caramel popcorn out of fear of the word “caramel,” this recipe is for you.  Our homemade caramel popcorn will absolutely knock your socks off.  Not only does it rival your favorite gourmet popcorn company but it is ridiculously easy to boot.  It’s the ultimate snack to bring to parties or make at home for your next movie night.

We especially love making this and giving it away as gifts around the holidays.  It’s a great alternative to cookies and candy, and is easy to make a large batch.  You can use microwave popcorn or pop your own kernels, just stay away from the pre-popped stuff.  It will never taste as good as freshly popped corn.

If you’re looking for more popcorn recipes, be sure to try our Firecracker Popcorn, Coconut Caramel Popcorn, Peanut Butter Popcorn, Fall Party Mix, and Marshmallow Popcorn Recipes.

How to Make Popcorn Without a Popcorn Popper 

Don’t have a popcorn popper but still want to pop your own kernels?  No problem!  You can make it either on the stovetop or even in the microwave.  Here’s how:

• Stovetop: heat a couple tablespoons of olive or avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat, then add about 1/3 – 1/2 cup of kernels.  Cover the pan, and reduce the heat.  As soon as you hear popping, start to shake the pot gently back and forth until the sounds of kernels popping slows to be a couple seconds between each.  Remove from the heat and carefully transfer popcorn to a bowl.
• Microwave: dump about ¼ cup of kernels into a small brown bag and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes until the sound of kernels popping slows to a couple seconds between pops.

Ingredients You Will Need

• Butter – you can use salted or unsalted butter – it’s up to you.
• Sugar – regular white granulated sugar.
• Brown Sugar – we use light brown sugar for this recipe.
• Karo Syrup – if you can’t find Karo syrup, you can substitute corn syrup.  This keeps the caramel from crystallizing and getting grainy.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – any brand will work.
• Salt 
• Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract tastes best.
• Popcorn – use either microwave popcorn or kernels for popping.

How to Make Caramel Popcorn

1. Pop kernels.  Pop popcorn, then split between 2 large bowls and set aside. 
2. Make caramel sauce.  In a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then add the sugar, brown sugar, Karo syrup, sweetened condensed milk and salt.  Bring to a boil while stirring.  Using a candy thermometer, cook until it reaches 235-240 degrees F, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Add caramel sauce to popcorn.  Pour half of your caramel sauce over the popped corn in one of the bowls and stir with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon until all of the popcorn is evenly covered in caramel.  Pour the rest of the caramel sauce over the popcorn in the second bowl and stir to coat the popcorn evenly.  (Note: if your popcorn is too sticky, pop a bit more and mix it in)
4. Cool on baking sheets.  Spread the caramel corn onto two lightly greased or parchment paper lined baking sheets and let it cool for at least 20 minutes to allow the caramel to set.
5. Serve.  Serve in individual cups or large bowls, then transfer the rest into an air tight container to store.  Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are more of our favorite caramel recipes!

• Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Dip
• Easy Homemade Caramel
• Caramel Apple Pie
• Caramel Apple Nachos
• Gourmet Caramel Apples
• Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
• Snowman Caramel Apples
• Best Caramel Apple Crisp
• Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods
• Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread
• Caramel Apple Crisp with Crunchy Oats
• More Dessert Recipes
• More Candy and Cookie Recipes

More Popcorn Recipes

• Peanut Butter Popcorn
• Cracker Jack Popcorn
• White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
• Valentines Popcorn
• Marshmallow Popcorn Recipe
• Coconut Caramel Popcorn
• Oreo Popcorn

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn will not only rival any gourmet popcorn company – it’s also ridiculously easy to make. Serve at your next party, movie night, or as gifts during the holidays.