A while back I wanted to make caramel popcorn but I did not have any corn syrup. I googled recipes to no avail. So I created this recipe for sorry people such as myself who do not keep things like corn syrup around for easy consumption. You can eat this popcorn as made, or add chocolate/nut clusters to turn it into moose munch.
Caramel Corn
2-3 quarts popcorn
salt
4 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c water
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp vanilla (if desired, it makes a lovely vanilla caramel flavor)
Pop popcorn and lightly salt. Melt butter in a pan. Add brown sugar and stir until mixed. Add water. Stir until boiling stage and cook for 5-10 minutes until mixture hits soft-ball stage (put a few drops in a glass of icy water until it can form a soft ball).
Remove from heat and add vanilla and soda. Stir while it goes puffy. Drizzle over popcorn and lightly stir. Allow to cool. Serve.
If you want to make your caramel popcorn more decadent, turn it into moose munch! To make moose munch, you take roasted almonds, scrunched up chocolate graham crackers and marshmallows and put them in a bowl. Melt down semi-sweet chocolate chips until completely melted and pour over the nuts/marshmallows, forming little clusters with a spoon and letting them harden on wax paper until completely set. Then you blend these clusters in with the caramel popcorn. Nuts, chocolate, popcorn. Heaven.
So glad to try a non-corn syrup recipe! Can you clarify if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of brown sugar or 1 1/2 cup brown sugar? I tried with 1/2 cup and the sauce didn’t get very gooey. Not sure if I didn’t add the right amount of brown sugar or if I accidentally added slightly too much water. Thanks!
Yay! I am one of those sorry people who was trying to find a recipe for caramel popcorn that didn’t call for corn syrup, since we’re out. Thanks so much!!! Can’t wait to try this!
Irene the recipe calls for 1 & 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
I didnt have any corn syrup so I was so lucky to find this!!! Just made it and this is a yummy and easy recipe!!
Thanks so much!!!
Look yum
This is so good, easy & fun!! I made this with my 3 yr old and it was a perfect cooking experience for him ! With quick results and yummy taste!!
Thanks for the awesome recipe 😉
Hi Carrie,
You are welcome! I make gallons of this stuff for the holidays. It is very popular.
Can’t wait to try this. I try to avoid corn syrup since its laden with gmo’s and I’ve yet to see organic corn syrup. I will make this will non-gmo organic popcorn and sugar. Thanks for posting!
I spread it on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 250 to crisp up. Even yummier!
Very good yum
Glad you liked it, Pat!