This gooey caramel popcorn is the best, with a super easy microwavable caramel coating, you won’t be able to resist going back for more!
I actually don’t love store bought caramel popcorn. Its too hard, and I don’t really love the flavor. But homemade caramel popcorn is amazing. And this treat is so easy, that I have made it 3 times in the last month or so. (So, if you are only a fan of store bought caramel popcorn, this might not be the recipe for you). But let me tell you, it is delicious, and soft, and caramely, and perfect. Yum.
It’s the perfect late night, or afternoon snack. Or it’s perfect for sharing a bagful with neighbors for the holidays.
This microwave caramel popcorn is super easy to make, and can be made from start to finish in less than 10 minutes. That’s my kind of recipe 😉
How to make microwave caramel popcorn?
First you’ll need to pop your popcorn. You can use an air popper, cook it on the stove top, or even use a couple bags of microwave popcorn to make it super easy! Set the popcorn aside in a giant bowl, or two large bowls.
Combine your butter, sugar, brown sugar, condensed milk, and corn syrup in a medium sized microwave safe bowl. Microwave the caramel in 2 minute increments, stirring after each one. Do this three times. Add in some baking soda and vanilla extract and it will fizz up some more when you do. Stir it all together nicely.
Pour the caramel all over the top of your popped popcorn and toss the popcorn until it’s fully coated.
It really is that easy! You’ll be ready to gobble up this amazing caramel popcorn in no time! The only dangerous thing is how easy it is, you’ll want to make it often 😉
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Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn (5 quarts popped corn)
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (1/2 can)
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Instructions
- Meanwhile, pop corn. (Using a popcorn popper, or if you know how to do it on the stove top). Place in a giant bowl, or 2 large bowls. Set aside
- In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, put butter, white sugar, brown sugar, condensed milk and corn syrup.
- Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. (6 minutes total).
- When caramel is done microwaving, add vanilla and baking soda. Stir.
- Pour about half of the caramel over one of the bowls of popcorn. Stir.
- Add a little more popcorn then a little more caramel, while stirring, until everything is added.
Recipe first posted on April 8, 2012. Photos updated on September 9, 2019
Kay Cee says
This looks great, but how do you serve it to a group of people!
Aimee Berrett says
It’s sticky, but you can roll it in to balls after it’s done and set on parchment paper or just spread it on a cookie sheet and let people just grab it 🙂
Destinee says
I’ve tried a few different caramel popcorn recipes but haven’t found the perfect one yet! I really want to try this one…you don’t bake it at all? I tried a recipe last week that didn’t require baking and it turned out super soggy! Help!!
aimeeberrett says
Destinee, I have never tried baking caramel popcorn before, but I am actually not a fan of crunchy/hard caramel popcorn. I wouldn’t call this soggy, but the caramel is gooey and sticky. Let me know what you think if you try it.
Destinee says
Thank you for responding so quickly!! I will definitely give it a try! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
aimeeberrett says
Happy to share it! You could try spreading it on a cookie sheet and baking it for a few minutes to get it crunchy. Maybe?
Debra Boland says
I have a recipe that after you pour on your caramel sauce, you put in a large paper grocery bag and put in the microwave for 1 minute. Take out and shake, put in microwave for another minute and then spread on wax or parchment paper to cool. It doesn’t turn out soggy nor is it overly crunchy!
Aimee Berrett says
I actually like the texture a little gooey, but I will have to try your method sometime soon. Sounds good!
Jennilee says
I SO want to try this. I don’t have any corn syrup though. Is there anything I can sub for it?
aimeeberrett says
Jennilee, I haven’t tried anything else with this recipe, but you could try making your own simple syrup at home, by boiling about 1 cup of white sugar and 1/4 cup water till sugar dissolves (makes 1 cup). Otherwise here is another recipe for homemade corn syrup I found for it http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-corn-syrup-substitute-simple-syrup-74080 Let me know if it works if you try it!
Deidre says
Oh my goodness I want this.
Ellen Garrett says
http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2011/10/crunchy-candy-bar-caramel-corn.html I made this recipe using the bag, it was a regular sized paper lunch bag. I guess I put in 1/2 cup unpopped corn in the bag – when I poured it out, it filled my LARGE tupperware bowl.
Ellen Garrett says
You can pop regular popcorn in the microwave and it tastes just as good and works great. Place your unpopped corn in a paper bag. Turn the ends down twice. Lay the bag face down in the microwave and pop for about 3 minutes. Just quit when the kernels popping is longer than about 5 seconds inbetween. You might have to adjust time more or less for your own microwave but it works.
aimeeberrett says
How much will fit in the bag? This recipe needs a lot.