Golden Caramel Popcorn
🍿 Recipe · Sweet

Golden Caramel Popcorn

The golden promise from every amusement park: crunchy-sweet, a little sticky, irresistible.

⏱ 20 min 👩‍🍳 Medium 🍽 4 servings

Perfect to make for the next big movie night - once you try it, it's hard to stop.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 3 tbsp oil (for popping)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 1/2 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  1. Pop the kernels and sort out any unpopped ones.
  2. Simmer the sugar with water and butter in a pot until golden-brown caramel forms - don't stir, just swirl the pot so nothing crystallizes.
  3. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the baking soda and salt (the mixture will foam up briefly - that's supposed to happen).
  4. Pour it over the popcorn right away and mix quickly.
  5. Spread out on parchment paper and let cool completely before breaking apart.

Tips & Variations

  • The baking soda is the key trick for a crispy shell instead of a sticky, chewy one.
  • Use mushroom kernels instead of butterfly - the round shape holds the caramel coating better.

Good to Know

Noticeably higher in sugar and calories than unsweetened varieties - a treat in moderation, not a diet recipe.

Pairs especially well with: UFO Popcorn Machine

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