Sweet & Sticky: The Ultimate Soft Caramel Popcorn Recipe You Need to Try

Photo byAngie Bright

There’s something irresistible about the combination of sweet, sticky caramel coating crunchy popcorn. It's a perfect treat for movie nights, family gatherings, or just to satisfy a sudden craving for something indulgent. Soft Caramel Popcorn takes the classic buttery popcorn to the next level, coating each piece in a rich, gooey caramel that melts in your mouth.

The allure of caramel popcorn lies in the contrast between the crunchy texture of the popcorn and the soft, melt-in-your-mouth caramel. It’s a snack that brings back memories of trips to the fair, cozy nights in, or simply enjoying a homemade treat that's surprisingly easy to make.

Creating this delicious snack at home is not only rewarding but also gives you the freedom to enjoy it freshly made, with no preservatives or artificial flavors. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of Soft Caramel Popcorn that everyone will love.

The Recipe: Soft Caramel Popcorn

To make this delectable treat, you'll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 can condensed milk

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Caramel:
   Start by mixing all the ingredients—brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and condensed milk—in a large pot on the stove over medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly to ensure that all the ingredients melt together smoothly.
2. Watch the Heat:
   It's important not to overcook the caramel mixture. You’ll want to heat it just enough to melt everything together into a silky, rich sauce. Overcooking can make the caramel too hard once it cools, but the goal here is a soft, luscious coating.
3. Combine with Popcorn:
   Once the caramel is ready, carefully pour it over freshly popped popcorn. Stir thoroughly to make sure each piece of popcorn gets coated with the warm caramel goodness.
4. Let it Set:
   Allow the caramel-coated popcorn to cool slightly before serving, but don't wait too long – it's best enjoyed while the caramel is still a bit warm and gooey.

This Soft Caramel Popcorn is perfect for snacking, whether you're watching a movie, hosting friends, or just craving something sweet. The buttery caramel sauce brings a depth of flavor that perfectly complements the light, airy popcorn.

What’s even better is that you can easily tweak the recipe to suit your taste. Want it saltier? Add a sprinkle of sea salt over the top before the caramel cools. Prefer something extra sweet? Drizzle some melted chocolate over the popcorn for a decadent twist.

The Perfect Sweet Snack

Soft Caramel Popcorn is a snack that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Its combination of textures and flavors hits just the right balance of sweet and savory. Plus, it’s so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you ever bought store-bought caramel popcorn in the first place. So next time you're craving something sweet, skip the candy aisle and make this homemade Soft Caramel Popcorn. You won’t be disappointed.

Here are a few reliable sources for making Soft Caramel Popcorn and similar caramel popcorn recipes:

1. Taste of Home offers a variety of caramel popcorn recipes, including Chewy Caramel-Coated Popcorn, which provides a soft and gooey caramel that melts into popcorn. This recipe is ideal if you're looking for a soft, buttery caramel coating rather than the crunchier variety. You can read more here​Taste of Home.
2. Another recipe from Taste of Home is Caramel Puff Corn, which combines popcorn or puffcorn curls with a caramel sauce, resulting in a sweet and slightly crispy treat. The sauce uses butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup, which could also work well for a softer version of caramel popcorn. You can check out the details here​Taste of Home.
3. If you're interested in adding a twist to your caramel popcorn, Ultimate Caramel Chocolate Popcorn is a more indulgent option. This recipe combines caramel-coated popcorn with drizzles of chocolate for added richness. Learn more about this recipe here​Taste of Home.

These sources should give you a good range of options for creating your ideal Soft Caramel Popcorn.