Caramel Corn
Don’t make this if you have no will power – it’s unbelievably good and won’t last long. Pop the corn fresh using an air popper, a pot on the stove or my paper bag microwave method (see my video) but do not use store bought popped or the packaged microwave kind. You’ll need a baking sheet with a rim so the mixture doesn’t spill out when you stir it. It's easy to make & may be the best caramel corn on the planet! - Jenny Jones
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Makes: about 9 cups
Ingredients:
- 8 cups fresh popped popcorn (1/3 cup popping corn)
- 3/4 cup any nuts (almonds/walnuts/pecans/dry roasted peanuts)
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 250º F.
- Place popped corn into a large bowl. Place the nuts on top.
- Heat the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter is melted. Reduce heat and cook, undisturbed and uncovered, for 5 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from heat and stir in baking soda & vanilla.
- Pour the syrup over the nuts & popcorn, stirring quickly.
- Spread the mixture onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for one hour, removing briefly every 15 minutes to stir.
- Spread the mixture onto wax paper to cool. It will seem sticky at first but it will dry up nicely.
Note: Plain corn syrup is not the same as high fructose corn syrup.
This is by far the finest recipe for caramel corn I have ever seen. It was easy, and outstanding taste… thank you for sharing this.
Hi Jenny, i just tried you recipe and everything went well, up until i had to add the baking soda. As soon as i added the baking soda the caramel seperated from the butter. I did it twice and the same thing happened. Help!. How can i prevent this from happening again.
Please list each ingredient you used and I will try to help. Please describe each one specifically by brand and type.
Jenny, your recipe for caramel popcorn may be the solution to world peace.
We could make a huuuuuuge batch and when that delicious Caramel aroma wafts across the oceans, troops everywhere will throw down their weapons and surrender under the irresistible spell of Jenny’s Caramel Popcorn! And peace will be world wide. I guarantee it!
JENNY FOR PRESIDENT!
I made this too, and we looooved it. Be sure to use baking soda, I have never seen any brand but Arm & Hammer in the yellow box, but baking powder is not the same ingredient and will not substitute for baking soda. Try again, and I know you will be a happy snacker too!
yum yum yum! this is super easy and its so good!!
Caramel corn recipe is awesome….just made it and divided it between my husband and grandson and me…I need to make lots and have it ready for the weekends. Will definitely make again….I love Jenny’s recipes and videos….just plain wonderful to have….Thank you, Jenny….
Ok so i must admit that this is the easiest caramel corn ever. I tried it I liked it, my father liked it, my mom did the security gaurds did and so many another people. I am so happy that i found your recipe it brought joy to my heart
Hi jenny. I am very curious about that red table or what I believe is a red table in most of the videos I’ve seen. Is it a special kind of surface because I’ve seen you place hot pots on it. If so where can I find one?
The red table is just a piece of red fabric covering a plywood table top. It’s the same tabletop I use in all my videos and I just use different colors of fabric that I purchase at a fabric store.
Hi, I’m from Thailand. I want to thank you for this recipe. It’ s my first time I tried to make popcorn caramel last week. I picked your recipe. I gave my popcorn to my colleague that they all loved it and asked for more. They were also surprised of how I could make it. Recently, Garrett Popcorn Shop is just opened in Thailand with a very long line of customers who never tried this before. Even it is delicious , it’s very expensive and too sweet for Thai people. I find your recipe is alternatively the best choice. 😀
Hi Jenny
I made this on the weekend and while Saturday’s batch was just ok, I found the second time much easier and the results ten times better as I used a ceramic roasting pan to mix the carmel into the popcorn and nuts and got MUCH better coverage and distribution this way than in my large mixing bowl (there was popcorn flying all over the place my first try). Am attempting your granola bars this weekend!
I made this popcorn earlier today, delicious !! I’m a big microwaved natural popcorn fan, now I have a sweet option, its hidden from sight!!
This stuff is dangerous. Just made it and it is sooo good. I planned ahead and ate some heavy food before It was finished so it was easier to stop. But wow, this is a great recipe.
I made this caramel and shared it with my co-workers. I was told it was the best they ever had! I agreed. I am not a huge fan of sweets but I like certain sweets from time to time. Well, it’s not safe to make this too often because i will eat the whole batch!! Fabulous recipe!
AAMAAAAZINGGGG and my ALL of my family are inLOVE with it thankuu sooooooo muchhhhhhhh !!!! xxxxooooo
what can be used in place of corn syrup
You could try using honey or Lyle’s Golden Syrup.
i ate it in 2 hours
Can I use store bought caramel sauce?
I can’t say for sure because I have only made it with my own sauce but I suspect it would not work very well. If you try, please let us know…
can u make it without nuts????
Yes, you can omit the nuts. You’ll have a little more caramel on your popcorn but there’s nothing wrong with that! Sometimes I make it without the nuts, too.
thanks!! this stuff is delicious! making it for a second time today
Awesome job…Jenny!! I love making this caramel corn…it is indeed the BEST!!! I’m still laughing about the way you ended your video!!
MAN this was really really good
perfect recipe, i doubled it haha!
thanks for sharing it!
I just made this and it is AWESOME! I am going to have to fight my boyfriend for this. I am enjoying your videos, I was a fan of your show as well…thanks so much Jenny.
I love this recipe when I watched this I immediately started ! I am 13 and this recipe really helped thank you I’m surprised you aren’t on tv yet
One big problem is its hard not to eat it when it comes out of the oven!!!
I made this and I agree it’s the best ever 🙂
JENNY JENNY JENNY — THAT CARMEL CORN OF YOURS…..WHAT MORE CAN I SAY??! I WATCHED THE VIDEO, I FOLLOWED THE RECIPE, YOU SAID TO BE CAREFUL YOU MAY WANT TO EAT IT ALL AND YOU WERE NOT KIDDING. IT WAS SIMPLY FABULOUS!!! I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE OTHER CARMEL CORN RECIPES OVER THE YEARS AND ENDED UP WITH A HEAVY, STICKY MESS. YOUR RECIPE WAS SO EASY, SO DELICIOUS, NOT STICKY, NOT HEAVY. YOU SHOULD CALL IT ‘HEAVENLY CARMEL CORN’ SINCE IT TASTES SO LIGHT AND DELICIOUS LIKE ANGELS MUST HAVE MADE IT. THANK YOU! I HAVE MADE THINGS FROM YOUR BOOK THAT I LOVED ALSO. I HAD TO USE ALL CAPS SO YOU COULD ‘FEEL’ MY CARMEL CORN DELIGHT
Warning, do not make this unless you are prepared to eat the whole thing. I have had good caramel corn in the past, and tried unsuccessfully to make it. This technique is perfect. I did change the recipe a little because I didn’t have clear corn syrup. I used dark corn syrup and regular granulated sugar vs brown sugar. It is THE BEST caramel corn I’ve ever eaten. This would also be a great item to cook when you are showing your house to be sold because the smells are intoxicating. Soooooo good. Thanks Jenny!!!