Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (2024)

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn is so easy to make, and you will never buy store-bought caramel popcorn again, after trying this. It is so easy and tasty. It could easily be rolled into popcorn balls too.

Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (1)

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe is an old classic at our house that our mom has made for years!

You could easily make this recipe into popcorn balls, just roll into balls when it is cool enough to handle.

Growing up, our mom used to make it twice a year (during our church’s General Conference weekends) and share it with friends and neighbors.

They started to call it “General Conference Popcorn” and all of them looked forward to getting a plate of this gooey goodness on their porch two times a year.

As little kids, we loved watching the popcorn slowly heat up and pop its way out of the machine – and we’d always make sure to sit close by so we could sneak a freshly popped kernel or two.

Unlike a lot of caramel popcorn, you can purchase form the store, this homemade caramel popcorn is sticky, soft, and chewy (which we LOVE). It also makes a VERY big batch that is perfect for delivering to your loved ones and neighbors or making it for a big party. We hope you love it as much as we do!

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Ingredients needed for this Gooey Homemade Caramel Popcorn:

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn is a simple recipe that needs just handful of ingredients for a tasty impact.

  • 1 pound brown sugar
  • 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup Karo syrup (light corn syrup)
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup unpopped popcorn (go for Orville Redenbacher’s – it always has good results!)

Looking for another popular treat? Try our Churro Caramel Corn Pops or our Sweet and Salty White Chocolate Popcorn!

Need a popcorn popper? This machine is one of our favorites. It’s perfect for this Homemade Caramel Popcorn!

More delicious recipes made at home:

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Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (3)

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Looking for more homemade popcorn recipes? Try these:

  • Snickers Popcorn
  • Sweet and Salty White Chocolate Popcorn
  • Red Velvet Popcorn
  • Lemon Popcorn
  • Muddy Buddy Popcorn
  • 4th of July Patriotic Popcorn

Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (4)

Serves: 12

Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Sweet and gooey, this homemade caramel popcorn recipe is an old family favorite.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound brown sugar
  • 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup karo syrup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup unpopped popcorn

Instructions

  • Pop your popcorn in an air popper machine. My machine only allows 1/2 cup of kernels at a time so I had two separate batches that I had to pop.

  • Cook the brown sugar, Karo syrup, and 1/2 cup of butter over the stove on medium high heat and bring to a boil.

  • Add the sweetened condensed milk. Stir continually for about 3 to 4 minutes until it gets to the soft ball stage (it clings together when you drop some in cold water). It will burn if you cook it too long, so make sure you are stirring continuously and watch it closely.

  • When it is finished cooking, take your pan off the stove and pour the caramel sauce over your air popped popcorn. Mix until all the popcorn is completely coated. You will need a very large bowl to mix it all together.

Notes

You could easily roll this popcorn into popcorn balls when it is cool enough to handle. Then wrap them individually in plastic wrap.

Nutrition

Calories: 282 kcal · Carbohydrates: 70 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 1 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 1 mg · Sodium: 40 mg · Potassium: 101 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 59 g · Vitamin A: 17 IU · Calcium: 47 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • Popcorn Popper

  • Mixing Bowl

  • Saucepan

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (5)

Join The Discussion

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  1. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says:

    Yes please! I love popcorn and caramel happens to be my all-time favorite flavor :)

  2. Sheila Lynn says:

    I cannot wait to try this recipe tomorrow! Thanks for sharing : )

  3. Melanie says:

    Yeah yeah!! I think this is gonna have to be our new gen. conference tradition! Yummy :)

  4. Kristen Danielle says:

    I love all of your recipes! I will need to try this one! :)

  5. Jennifer Peterson says:

    Yum!!!

  6. Angela Hawkins says:

    Is there a difference between air popped popcorn and popcorn made on the stove top?

  7. Pam says:

    Is there really 1 pound of brown sugar or did you mean to say 1 cup? We love caramel popcorn.

  8. Dianamajig says:

    You can pop corn in a paper bag in the microwave.

  9. Six Sisters says:

    Yep. One pound of brown sugar. Bags are usually 2 lbs so just use half of it.

  10. MJCastleton says:

    I love adding almond flavoring, corn chex, and pretzel sticks. Yum!

  11. Cindy says:

    This looks like a recipe I would more than love! Beautiful.

  12. Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama says:

    Yum!! Reminds me of when my mom would make this for us. Thanks for sharing!

    I featured your popcorn on my blog today, come over and check it out: http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2012/09/pinteresting-features-n-shtuff-50.html

  13. Grammie Pammie says:

    In the recipe I have- you bake at 200 for an hour stirring every 20 minutes. Do you cook this recipe?

  14. 21bab9ca-1a88-11e2-bd0a-000bcdcb5194 says:

    This is just DELISHIOSO!!!!!!! I found yours and 'Grandma Paul's' Recipes online tonight and decided to try yours because of the simplicity of not baking it for an hour. WOW...sooooo good! Never have made caramel corn before and I can honestly say I will be making this as often as my waist line can handle it. :) Thanks Sisters!!

  15. Val says:

    What size sweetened condensed milk?

  16. Cyd says:

    14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk.

  17. LaceeJ says:

    Tasted this at your demo during the Pinners convention. and love it!! Made some today and I can't stop eating it!!- funny enough I'm not a popcorn fan. How long will it last and how best to store it?

  18. Cyd says:

    We eat it fast, so it doesn't hang around too long. It should be fine for a few days. Store on a plate covered with saran wrap or in an airtight container! We are so glad you came to our class at the Pinners conference and that you liked the caramel popcorn. We were on a tight schedule or we would have taken the time to get the unpopped kernels out! :) Have a great day!

  19. Lacee j says:

    I love the recipe, but have tried three different kind of kernels that aren't as good as yours.. Where do u buy your popcorn? And what brand .. Thanks girls--LOVE your site !!!

  20. Cyd says:

    We have used store brand yellow popcorn and namebrands. Right now I have Jolly Time yellow popcorn in my pantry. We don't use the microwave kind. We buy the 32 ounce bag of unpopped corn and use our air pop popcorn poppers.

  21. carrie says:

    Could you "gift" this in bags or wouldn't it keep?

  22. Heidi says:

    Just made our first batch. This is so easy and Yum so addictive. Recipe is a keeper.

  23. Cyd says:

    It will keep for a few days.

  24. Julie says:

    Not sure what happened, it's not crunchy like I expected

  25. Cyd says:

    This is not a crunchy popcorn recipe. It's a gooey one!

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  27. Allie says:

    I made this last night. I used 3bags of microwave popcorn - I do not have an air popper. I used the butter flavor. This covered the 3 bags and made a little leftover caramel. I suggest not cooking quite as long as this calls for, and spraying your bowls with cooking spray first to make it easier to get out of the bowl!

  28. alejandra says:

    Hi, can i do this recipe with standard sugar? I want to do it for my baby party

  29. Cyd says:

    Needs to be brown sugar! Hope this helps!

  30. Aileen @ Aileen Cooks says:

    This looks so good! I am a huge caramel popcorn fan and I will feel a lot less guilty if I make it myself. Right?

  31. Allie says:

    Commenting again, this recipe is delicious. Amazing. Even better with fresh popped plain popcorn. Just don't burn the caramel!

  32. Tabatha says:

    I cant wait to make this!

  33. Beth says:

    Hi sisters! I was wondering if I could make my own brown sugar out of white sugar and baking molasses as this is what I usually do for recipes calling for brown sugar? Is this a dumb question since it is essentially brown sugar? Maybe but I have to ask. ??

  34. Cyd says:

    We haven't tried this recipe using homemade brown sugar. But if it usually works for other recipes, it should work for this one too. You will be bringing the sugar to a boil along with some other ingredients. So keep that in mind. Let us know how it turns out.

  35. Alison Kiene says:

    You really should instruct the reader until what temperature one should cook on a candy thermometer? 'medium high heat' varies significantly. I have a commercial gas DCS so my cooking time of 3 to 4 minutes once I add the sweetened condensed milk would vary drastically should one be using an electric Kenmore.

  36. Cyd says:

    Hi Alison, we just made this popcorn this past weekend. Also just moved into a new home with a gas stove top. I have been making this for over 30 years on an electric stove top. I was surprised that it was the exact same cooking time. We have never used a candy thermometer with this recipe. Just have a bowl of cold water on the counter nearby. After stirring constantly while it cooks for about 3-4 minutes, drop a little of the caramel mixture into the cold water. If it clings together, it's ready! Hope this helps. If you have a candy thermometer you want to use, soft ball stage is 235. But it's really not necessary for this popcorn.

  37. Twyla says:

    Thank you for going above and beyond to explain and answer the questions! I thought you’re directions were spot on and I can’t wait to try it!

  38. Nina says:

    I love caramel popcorns by Thatchers gourmet popcorn the most and will definitely going to try your recipe too. https://tgsp.com/

  39. texaslexis says:

    I grew up in Utah, so was exposed to some very unfortunate "mormom food" and some delish food which reminds me of my childhood. This type of caramel popcorn falls into the delish category. Haven't yet tried your specific recipe but it sounds pretty much exactly like I remembered. I don't know why you can't find this condensed milk/Karo syrup based version outside of Utah. Trick or treating in the 70's and 80's, those popcorn balls were like my holy grail of Halloween treats! Guess I'm going to have to make some. Do you know how to make those jello based popcorn balls as well? Mormons love their jello!

Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (6)

About The Author:

Momma Cyd

Cyd is the mom of the six sisters and joined the team early on to help out. She shares the best of the best recipes from her kitchen, as well as responds to all the questions and comments on every post.

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Homemade Caramel Popcorn Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why put an egg in pan when making caramel popcorn? ›

Even if you want to add candy or sauces, it doesn't require an egg. Still, some say the egg keeps the kernels from sticking together, while others say it's to keep wannabe chefs from adding too many kernels to the pan.

Why is my caramel popcorn not crunchy? ›

The longer you cook the syrup (the mixture of sugar and water the forms the base of the caramel sauce), the crunchier your popcorn will be. For very crunchy popcorn (my favorite!), stop cooking when you see the first wisps of smoke coming from the sugar mixture.

How to make caramel popcorn using a popcorn machine? ›

Instructions
  1. Evenly distribute the 1 tablespoon of oil on the popping plate of the Popcorn Maker. ...
  2. When the kernels have finished popping, turn power switch to OFF. ...
  3. While the corn is popping, put the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, water and salt into a small, heavy-bottom saucepan.

Why is caramel popcorn unhealthy? ›

Caramel popcorn is typically high in calories, sugar, and fat, which can contribute to weight gain and increase your risk for developing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

How do you make Martha Stewart caramel popcorn? ›

In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.

Why isn't my caramel corn shiny? ›

A granule of sugar, over-mixing, or uncooperative clumps of sea salt can turn caramel from a glossy, shiny confection into a dull grainy heap of chewy, brown sugar crystals.

Why is lemon juice added to sugar when making caramel? ›

You see, if you add lemon juice to the water and sugar in the beginning of the caramel making process, it can help prevent crystallization. Not everyone uses this, but we do — it's a little failsafe we're happy to include.

Why does my caramel corn get grainy? ›

Why is my Caramel Corn Grainy? Grainy caramel (or crystalized caramel) happens when the sugar crystals in the caramel seize up or cling together.

Why is my homemade caramel corn soggy? ›

Make sure to allow your caramel corn PLENTY of time to cool before packaging it up into ziplock bags or an airtight container. Otherwise, condensation will form and the moisture will cause the popcorn to become soggy.

Why is my homemade caramel popcorn chewy? ›

The ingredients for a chewy caramel corn and a hard caramel corn are exactly the same, it just comes down to how long you cook the caramel. For a softer, chewier caramel (Camp #2!), cook the mixture only until it hits 235 degrees F. For a harder bite, cook the caramel to 250 degrees F.

Which caramel popcorn is best? ›

Nutrition info refers to 1 ounce, roughly ½ a cup.
  • Werther's Original Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • Harry & David Moose Munch Premium Classic Caramel. ...
  • G.H. Cretors Handcrafted Small-Batch Caramel Corn. ...
  • Popcornopolis Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • The Original Cracker Jack. ...
  • Poppyco*ck Original Gourmet Popcorn. ...
  • Crunch 'n Munch Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts.
Feb 3, 2023

What is the difference between kettle corn and caramel popcorn? ›

Kettle corn is a combination of sweet and salty flavors. It is lighter in flavor and texture than caramel corn as the sugar and salt are mixed in during popping rather than coated.

How to make popcorn hack? ›

It turns out there is a simple hack for making perfect popcorn at home every time
  1. Check out our homemade popcorn recipe below:
  2. Add cooking oil and butter along with 3 kernels to your pot and cook over a medium heat until all 3 kernels pop. ...
  3. Remove the 3 popped kernels and add the remaining kernels to the pot.

What's the difference between caramel popcorn and toffee popcorn? ›

Ingredient Differences

Toffee is a product of heating sugar or light corn syrup and butter at 300F. Therefore, it tastes like light buttery, and sugary candy. The sweet buttery taste balances well with the saltiness of the popcorn. On the other hand, caramel has dark corn syrup, milk or cream, and water.

Why put egg in when making popcorn? ›

After the popcorn is plated, the burnt egg is removed. Some Twitter users said that the egg was added as a way to regulate temperatures, while others said that it was just put in to get people wondering what the hell it was doing there. At least the undesirable part of this dish gets removed by the end.

What happens when you put an egg in corn syrup Why does that happen? ›

It has a lower concentration of water (25% water) than the egg (90% water). To reach equilibrium, osmosis causes the water molecules to move out of the egg and into the corn syrup until both solutions have the same concentration of water. The outward movement of water causes the egg to shrivel.

Does caramel popcorn have eggs? ›

Caramel Popcorn: Corn Syrup Solids, Brown Sugar, Sugar, Popcorn, Corn Oil, Butter (Cream, Salt), Molasses, Salt, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Beta Carotene (Color). CONTAINS SOY AND MILK. May Contain Peanut, Tree Nut, Wheat and Egg Ingredients.

Why did my caramel popcorn turn out chewy? ›

Generally, the caramel will have a higher 'water activity' than the popcorn. As a result, if you leave the popcorn for a while, moisture from the caramel will migrate into the corn. This causes the popcorn to lose its 'crunch' and become soft and chewy.

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