Caramel Popcornis one of our favorite family treats. It is fast, delicious and super easy to make. Plus, it is perfect for a crowd because it makes a giant batch.

My childhood has some great memories in it, and some of my favorites involved this caramel corn recipe from my Mom. Caramel corn makes for a great dessert, party snack, movie treat, holiday gift or just a sweet treat to enjoy when you need a little something.

top view of soft caramel popcorn on a big white and blue bowl

Thiscaramel cornis everything that gooey caramel corn should be. It is a sweet, sticky, vanilla enhanced goodness that you’ll want a glass of milk with. Be warned that this popcorn is HIGHLY addicting.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe:

Easy to make
Makes A LOT
Delicious and feeds a crowd
Can be made for various events and be great gifts too

Ingredients:

top view of soft caramel popcorn laid out on parchment paper

Corn syrup:don’t be scared of this ingredient! It’s not the same as high fructose corn syrup. It’s used to help make the caramel and it helps it to have a smooth texture and per
Brown sugar:this adds color and flavor to the caramel
Butter:such great flavor to the caramel
Sweetened condensed milk:this caramel is really easy to make and sweetened condensed milk helps with that, it’s makes it more of a short-cut caramel instead of a classic long-cooked caramel. Don’t mix this up with evaporated milk
Vanilla extract:yes please, adds flavor
Unpopped popcorn:you are going to pop up your popcorn at home using whatever you have on hand – an air popper, a big pot with a lid, your Instant Pot – you have lots of options

See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Instructions:

Popthe popcorn. Pop it however you like and get it measured out and into a giant bowl or a couple of big bowls.
Make your caramelby melting the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk on the stove and when it starts to bubble take it off the stove.
Stir in the vanillaand then pour it over the popcorn and stir.
Spread it outon some waxed paper and let it cool. Enjoy! We normally eat it right off the counter when we are having a party or I’ll pile it in a giant bowl and take it with us to an event. It’s always such a hit.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you keep caramel popcorn from sticking together?

Stir the caramel corn as it cools to prevent it from sticking together in big clumps. And then spread it out on your counter (cover the counter with waxed paper) while it is still warm so that it can cool in a thin layer.

How long does caramel popcorn last?

If stored in an airtight container, it can last a week or so though the popcorn starts to get soft the longer it sit which I don’t prefer. Eat this within a few days for best quality

How do I get my popcorn crunchy and not soggy?

That is all in how long you cook the caramel sauce. The longer you cook the syrup the crunchier it will be. And air-popping your popcorn helps the actual popcorn to stay nice and crispy.

Do I need a popcorn popper to make caramel corn?

Nope! You can make popcorn in a large pot on the stove, in an air-popper, in your Instant Pot, or you can even pop popcorn in the microwave. You have lots of options.