Classic Caramel Corn

4.9
(578)

This caramel corn recipe is easy to make and tastes better than what you'd get at the country fair.

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Two bowls of caramel popcorn
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
8
Yield:
4 quarts
Classic Caramel Corn
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • Mazola Pure Cooking Spray

  • 4 quarts popped popcorn

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • ½ cup Karo Light or Dark Corn Syrup

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon Spice Islands Pure Vanilla Extract

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make classic caramel popcorn

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Spray a large shallow roasting pan with cooking spray, then fill with popcorn. Place in the preheated oven while preparing caramel.

    A large baking tray with popcorn

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt together in a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium heat; stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil.

    A small pot with brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt simmering

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Stop stirring, and boil mixture for 5 minutes.

    A pot of boiling brown sugar-syrup

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Remove from the heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla until well combined.

    A small pot of hot caramel

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Pour syrup over warmed popcorn and stir until evenly coated.

    A baking sheet with popcorn drizzled with warm caramel

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Return to the oven and bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    A baking pan with popcorn and caramel being stirred together with a spatula

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Remove from the oven and spread onto a large foil sheet greased with cooking spray.

    A foil-lined baking sheet with caramel popcorn

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Cool, then break apart and store in a tightly covered container.

    Two bowls of caramel popcorn

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

1,067 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

395 Calories
21g Fat
52g Carbs
17g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 395
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 567mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 17g 33%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 80mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.