Name: Homemade Salted Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 cup salted butter; 2 cups light brown sugar; ½ cup light corn syrup; 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more for sprinkling); ½ teaspoon baking soda; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 5 quarts of popped popcorn; 1 ½ cups of semi sweet or milk chocolate chips

Homemade Salted Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Each holiday season, my personal chef clients were gifted this Salted Caramel Popcorn. Family members would hide the sweet and salty popcorn from each other so they could keep it all to themselves. It's addictive! On occasion, I make…

Prep15 minutes

Cook45 minutes

Total1 hour

Serves6

Calories381 kcal

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"This was great! Easy to follow directions and tastes delicious! Co-workers went wild over it!" ~ Michele

Reader review

bowl of salted caramel popcorn with chocolate drizzle

On occasion, I make baked goods for my personal chef clients. Banana Bread Muffins, Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies and Sugared Shortbread are are just some of the treats I bake and share with my client families.

But when the end of the year rolls around, there is only one special gift I make for my clients. Over my 20 years as a personal chef, I have made quarts and quarts and quarts of this Salted Caramel Popcorn recipe to gift my client families. It has just the right amount of sweet, crunch, salt and chocolate to be the perfect nibble.

the ingredients

salted butter
light brown sugar
light corn syrup
kosher salt
baking soda
vanilla extract
popped popcorn
semi sweet chocolate chips

pouring sugary golden sauce over popped corn

It's a 3 step process to make this salted caramel popcorn recipe.

Make the salted caramel sauce for popcorn
Bake the caramel covered popcorn
Finish the baked caramel popcorn with chocolate drizzle

The first step of making the caramel popcorn is the sauce. As the sauce can be a little temperamental, it requires the most attention. Overcooking the sauce can cause it to crystallize and become grainy. A smooth, light brown and syrupy sauce is the result you are after.

The best caramel popcorn recipe starts with freshly popped popcorn. Follow this simple recipe for perfect popcorn.

How to make the best homemade popcorn

Heat a large pot (at least an 8 quart stock pot) over medium high heat.
Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and ¾ cup corn kernels to the pot.
Cover the pot with a lid.
When the popping begins, give the pot a shake.
When the popping slows down, turn off the heat.
Remove the lid and pour the popcorn into a large bowl.
Or use my favorite popcorn popper ~ it's super fun!!

expert tips

Have all the ingredients prepped before starting the caramel popcorn recipe. This includes popping the popcorn. The first step of making the sweet and buttery caramel sauce comes together quickly so having the ingredients measured and ready makes the recipe go smoothly.
The most crucial step for this recipe is making the caramel sauce. Be careful not to overcook the sauce or it will crystallize. This will result in a grainy, sugary coating for the popcorn. Even though it will still be delicious, a smooth caramel coating makes for the best caramel popcorn.
Freshly popping corn gives the caramel corn the best crunch.
Be sure to quickly pour the hot caramel sauce over the popped popcorn. Stir to coat the popcorn with the caramel sauce.
A large roasting pan (without the rack insert) is best for baking a batch of this caramel popcorn recipe. The straight sides hold the popcorn in as it is baked and stirred.
Make sure not to package the caramel popcorn before it has completely cooled and the chocolate drizzle has hardened. Placing warm caramel popcorn in an airtight container, will result in soggy popcorn.

Have all the ingredients prepped before starting the caramel popcorn recipe. This includes popping the popcorn. The first step of making the sweet and buttery caramel sauce comes together quickly so having the ingredients measured and ready makes the recipe go smoothly.
The most crucial step for this recipe is making the caramel sauce. Be careful not to overcook the sauce or it will crystallize. This will result in a grainy, sugary coating for the popcorn. Even though it will still be delicious, a smooth caramel coating makes for the best caramel corn.
Freshly popping corn gives the caramel corn the best crunch.
Be sure to quickly pour the hot caramel sauce over the popped popcorn. Stir to coat the popcorn with the caramel sauce.
A large roasting pan (without the rack insert) is best for baking a batch of this caramel popcorn recipe. The straight sides hold the popcorn in as it is baked and stirred.
Make sure not to package the caramel popcorn before it has completely cooled and the chocolate drizzle has hardened. Placing warm caramel popcorn in an airtight container, will result in soggy popcorn.