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Best Ever Caramel Corn

5 from 25 votes
Best Ever Caramel Corn easy recipe | lecremedelacrumb.com
The best ever caramel corn recipe with PERFECT crispy outside, chewy center, and sweet 'n salty flavor. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings:12 cups

Ingredients

  • 4 bags popcorn, popped (un-popped kernels discarded), butter, plain, or kettle corn all work
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste, (you can also leave out the sea salt and use salted butter instead)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Fill two large bowls with the popcorn and set out two large baking sheets. 
  • In a large sauce pan on the stove, combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a rapid boil. Continue to stir for 3-4 minutes, remove from heat and stir in vanilla then immediately stir in baking soda (be careful, mixture will bubble up!). Pour caramel over popcorn and stir with a rubber spatula until well-coated. 
  • Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and cook for 15-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. ***For chewier popcorn, cook only 15-30 minutes. For crispier popcorn, cool closer to 45-60 minutes. My favorite is about 35-40 minutes for a crispy start and a chewy finish!
  • Allow to cool, then serve or store in airtight container up to 3 days. 

Notes

Flavor tip: Add a sprinkle of sea salt after removing from the oven! 

Nutrition

Calories: 317 kcal, Carbohydrates: 47 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 15 g, Saturated Fat: 10 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 41 mg, Sodium: 112 mg, Potassium: 55 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 47 g, Vitamin A: 473 IU, Calcium: 37 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Tiffany