Best Caramel Corn

Best caramel corn recipe!  This is hands-down the Best Caramel Corn you’ll ever taste and it’s the easiest caramel corn recipe you’ll ever make!!  It”s completely addictive!!  It rivals any famous commercial caramel corn on the market (Garrett’s in Chicago). 

This is the homemade caramel corn is perfect for holiday parties or wrap in cellophane bags with ribbons and give as gifts!

I’ve made this caramel corn for parties and potlucks many times over the years.  It’s always raved about!  It’s been called “so good – it should be illegal” and I was told by someone that it is “as good as Garrett’s popcorn in Chicago”.   I’ve also been asked many many times over the years for this recipe.   

CARAMEL CORN RECIPE

I love making caramel corn during the holidays.  If you aren’t fond of nuts or have allergies, then just omit them from this recipe.  It’s still amazing –  nuts or no nuts.

• Unsalted butter
• Brown sugar
• Corn syrup
• Kosher salt
• Baking soda
• Pure vanilla extract
• Popped popcorn
• Mixed salted nuts (pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts, almonds)

HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL CORN

If you’ve ever wondered how to make caramel corn, you’ll be surprised by how easy it is!  This easy caramel corn recipe comes together in about 90 minutes.   

1. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets.
2. Pop popcorn and pour into large mixing bowl.
3. Add the nuts to the popcorn and mix.
4. Melt butter in saucepan.
5. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.
6. Bring to a boil and boil 
7. Remove from heat and add the soda and vanilla.
8. Pour the caramel mixture slowly all over the popcorn – mixing it well to cover all of the popcorn and nuts.
9. Lay the caramel coated popcorn/nuts mixture on the 2 large cookie sheets.
10. Bake for 1 hour.
11. Remove from oven and cool completely before breaking into pieces.

Another stovetop popcorn recipe that you’ll love is this easy Kettle Corn

Originally published 12.2011 – updated 8.2020

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Yield: Serves 12-14

Best Caramel Corn

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Additional Time 1 minute

Total Time 1 hour 16 minutes

Best caramel corn recipe!  This is hands-down the Best Caramel Corn you'll ever taste and it's the easiest caramel corn recipe you'll ever make!!  It''s completely addictive!!  It rivals any famous commercial caramel corn on the market (Garrett's in Chicago). 

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1-3/4 cups brown sugar
• 3/4 cup corn syrup
• 1-1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 5 quarts popped popcorn
• 1-1/2 cups mixed salted roasted nuts (pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts, almonds)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Lightly butter 2 large cookie sheets
3. Pop the popcorn in oil (I use light olive oil) and pour in a very large mixing bowl.
4. Add the nuts to the popcorn and mix.
5. In a tall 5 or 6 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
6. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.
7. Bring to a boil - stirring constantly.
8. Boil for 4 minutes without stirring. The remove from heat and add the soda and vanilla. When you add the soda and vanilla it bubbles up a bit so be very careful not to get burned. Pour the caramel mixture slowly all over the popcorn - mixing it well to cover all of the popcorn and nuts.
9. Lay the caramel coated popcorn/nuts mixture on the 2 large cookie sheets.
10. Bake for 1 hour – turning over every 15 minutes. The caramel sauce melts a bit in the oven so turning the popcorn helps to coat each piece and makes sure that it bakes evenly.
11. Remove from oven and cool completely before breaking into pieces.
12. The popcorn will still be a little wet when you remove it from the oven. It will harden and become crunchy as it cools.