There is a certain nostalgia that accompanies popcorn. I especially love it drizzled in caramel and tossed with salty peanuts! This family caramel popcorn recipe has been passed down through the generations. It’s easy, delicious and inexpensive to make.
You’ll need: 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 sticks butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 6-8 cups popped popcorn, and 3/4 cups salted peanuts.
Start by adding the butter, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk.
Add the sugars, vanilla, and salt and stir over medium heat until butter is melted.
Bring to a soft boil and stir constantly for 7 minutes.
Remove from heat and pour over popped popcorn.
Toss popcorn until lightly coated with caramel and throw in the peanuts.
Taste testing is absolutely encouraged! DELICIOUS!
You can roll left over popcorn into balls using lightly oiled hands and cover with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
My recommendation: Make double batches – you’ll not regret it!! ;o)
Easy Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6-8 cups popped popcorn
- 3/4 cups salted peanuts
Instructions
- Add corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and butter to a large sauce pan over medium heat.
- Add the white and brown sugar and stir constantly until butter is melted.
- Stir in the salt and vanilla.
- Bring to a soft boil and cook for 7 minutes, stirring constantly, ensuring you are scraping the sides and bottom of the pan.
- Remove from heat and pour over popped popcorn.
- Stir until lightly coated and toss in peanuts.
Do u actually EAT THIS? My taste buds are driving me crazy wanting to taste this, BUT do not know if I would ever make it. Would LOVE TO. i AM 82 yrs. old – do I dare? Maybe one last time of enjoyment before all my problems do me in. ha. Glenna. PS I want it SOooooo bad.
Glenna,
I try to only make this during the holidays because, well let’s be honest I may just eat the entire bowl. Not the most low calorie dish, but hey I say just let go now and then and enjoy!!
Hey i am wanting to make this, but how much grams is a stick of butter. thanks.
113 grams
4 oz
1/2 cup
or
8 TBSP
Does it get hard?!?
No it is soft. Just made some & it is delish
DElicious!!! WE made it and loved it!!!
Alex so glad you enjoyed it!
Molly, It doesn’t get hard unless it sits for a few days, which in our house it is usually gone in a few hours 😉
hi.
im wondering why my caramel didnt melt as its shown in the picture?
did i miss something ?
thx
Hi Reta,
I’m confused. Your butter didn’t melt after placing it on medium heat? Once the butter melts, the sugar and all the other ingredients will dissolve into a caramel sauce.
Made this for trivia tonight. I’m sure it’s going to be a big hit! Thanks so much for sharing your family recipe!
Hello, I’ve been researching caramel for caramel cakes and came across your recipe. Can this same sauce be poured over a cake?
Camille, I haven’t ever tried pouring it over a cake. The longer you cook the caramel the harder it gets. I would think that if you just cook it long enough for it to thicken it would probably work just fine. If you try it out, let us know how it turns out!
My Kids and I absolutely loved it ? Thank you
What ounce can of sweetened condensed milk did you use?
Unfortunately, I can’t have condensed milk, so I made this with almond milk. Believe me, it is not the same!!!! But it did give me a taste of what it could be like(and that would be Delicious ?), so I might just go to the store and buy the condensed milk and eat it anyway.
Thank you,
A Popcorn Fanatic
If I form these into popcorn balls will they keep their shape? I thought I could control portions better that way… thank you in advance!
I’m standing at my stove, scraping the cooled caramel out of the pan with a spoon and eating it. So yummy!
That’s how I like to make caramel corn too! Yummy!