Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (2024)

by Mary Neumann · 56 Comments

Today’s share is a great one – the most awesome, fastest, easiest, best caramel recipe…ever!! Puffcorn Caramel Corn!! Even better, there are no hulls, so people of all ages can enjoy this addictive treat!!

AWESOME & EASIEST EVER!! Makes a GREAT GIFT!! This recipe is from my friend, Danni, of Silo Hill Farm – “When I say this is the easiest, I’m not kidding! Less than 10 minutes to make, 45 minutes to bake, no candy thermometer and you can be eating this in less than an hour. When I say it’s awesome, I’m not kidding there either…I have NEVER met anyone who didn’t love this caramel corn. It has no hulls and no seeds, so little kids and older people love it too!”

Read rave reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest!

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Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (1)

I first heard about this recipe from my Aunt Linda about 10 years ago and later my friend, Danni, from Silo Hill Farm, shared her recipe with all of us. My aunt calls it Crack Caramel Corn. Danni calls it the most awesome and easiest caramelcorn ever – killer stuff!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BEST, FASTEST, EASIEST CARAMEL CORN

2 bags Puff Corn Butter Flavor (3.5 ounces bags – 7 ounces needed for recipe), 1 cup butter (do not substitute), 1 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup and 1 teaspoon baking soda – that’s it!!

Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (2)


HOW TO MAKE THE BEST, FASTEST EASIEST CARAMEL CORN

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. , spray a large roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Using a 3 to 4 quart sauce pan, bring butter, brown sugar and corn syrup to a boil over medium to medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Once it begins to boil, boil for 2 minutes, then add baking soda (the caramel mixture will foam up when baking soda is added). Stir well and remove from heat. Pour evenly over puff corn and mix well, being sure to coat the puff corn evenly.

Bake on middle rack of oven for 45 minutes – stirring every 15 minutes. When ready, remove from roasting pan and spread caramel corn on wax paper and allow to cool. Once cooled, break any large pieces into smaller bite size pieces – Enjoy!

Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (3)

Easy clean up too – just hot water and soap. You can find the Puff Corn at Target, Walmart and local grocery stores.

Pinnable Image

Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (4)

This makes a great gift during the holidays!!

Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (5)

Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! Puffcorn Caramel Corn

Ingredients

  • 2 bags Puff Corn Butter Flavor (3.5 ounces bags – 7 ounces needed for recipe) See Tip Below
  • 1 cup butter (do not substitute)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Spray a large roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Using a 3 to 4 quart sauce pan, bring butter, brown sugar and corn syrup to a boil over medium to medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Once it begins to boil, boil for 2 minutes, then add baking soda (the caramel mixture will foam up when baking soda is added). Stir well and remove from heat. Pour evenly over puff corn and mix well, being sure to coat the puff corn evenly.

Bake on middle rack of oven for 45 minutes – stirring every 15 minutes.

When ready, remove from roasting pan and spread caramel corn on wax paper and allow to cool. Once cooled, break any large pieces into smaller bite size pieces – Enjoy!

Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.

*TIPS

You can use other brands of Puff Corn like Clancy’s Puff Corn from Aldi, Old Dutch Popcorn Twists.

Many people have left comments on social media posts saying vanilla extract is a great addition – 1 teaspoon.

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Smacks409

    You’ve created a monster!!! Thank you!! 😈🍿

    Reply

  2. shelley eades

    can the caramel corn be frozen?

    Reply

  3. Margie

    My recipe calls for 1 tsp of butter flavoring added just before the 1 tsp of soda. I can’t imagine my caramel corn without it. Try it you won’t be sorry!

    Reply

  4. Diana

    Oh my gosh we just made this for movie night tonight with my sister and brother in law and I told my husband we better take a picture of it and tell them about it or else we will either eat it all or hide it for just us and they will never know it existed. It is THAT good.

    Reply

  5. Judith Cox

    Used to make popcorn balls at Christmas as a kid. Could you form it into balls once it comes out of the oven?

    Reply

    • Mary Neumann

      I am not sure that would work for this recipe, Judith.

      Reply

  6. Joyce Townsend

    This last month I have made this 4 times. My husband really enjoys this and so do friends as you have no hulls to worry about.

    Reply

  7. Debra Chandler

    I love it

    Reply

  8. Ethel hutcheson

    Where can you buy the puff corn in Algonac mi.

    Reply

    • Mary Neumann

      Ethel, try calling your nearest Walmart or Target – hopefully you will find it there.

      Reply

    • Robyn

      Meijers carry’s it and so should Kroger in algonac as well. I live in Cottrellville mi. Enjoy love this popcorn!! Will try this recipe

      Reply

      • Robyn

        Ethel hutcheson This is for you

        Reply

  9. Sue

    This is SO good! My 10:year old granddaughter said, “Grandma, this is what it must be like to be addicted to crack,”:😊

    Reply

  10. Adrienne

    I was just wondering where you got the butter flavored puff corns. I can’t find them anywhere
    There one of my favorites

    Reply

    • Ada Garcia

      Family dollar , dollar general they are in chip isle

      Reply

    • Joyce Townsend

      Check on their website. I got it at Walmart and Foodlion

      Reply

      • Cindy

        Is there a way to make them not crunchy. More creamy ?

        Reply

  11. Alison

    My coworker brought each of us a bag of this for Christmas and it was so delicious. I had my bag eaten before I left work!! I seriously can’t wait to make this!!

    Reply

  12. Mary E Stacy

    Could you freeze this

    Reply

  13. SAndy Sacco

    It is really good except there is to much butter flavor in the popcorn. When they had plain it was the best.

    Reply

  14. Terri

    Have you ever tried it with cashews or pecans? Just wondering since the nuts would be baking 1 hr. Or maybe add the nuts after 30 mins of baking….

    Reply

  15. Gramma Janice

    Added
    1/4 cup honey to Karo, sugar, butter mix
    1 jar lightly salted dry roasted peanuts to puffed corn
    Awesome! (Our family calls this “Crack” 😊)

    Reply

  16. Debbi

    i make something very similar and it is a huge hit. i suggest adding 1/2 t of vanilla when you add the baking soda and it adds to the flavor. also, my family enjoys peanuts mixed in with the popcorn before the caramel sauce is added. yum!

    Reply

  17. Anonymous

    I make this every xmas with puff corn. It is truly a welcome by everyone that I give it to. Grandkids always ask, are you making your carmel corn grandma! I even have a son-in-law tht eats it with milk like cereal. Like I said it is a great hit in my house. And so easy to make!!

    Reply

  18. Anonymous

    Folks use the puff corn so little kids don't have deal with the hulls off real popcorn.

    Reply

  19. Anonymous

    I'm totally addicted! It's too easy to make. Turns out wonderful everytime I make it. Thanks…I THINK 😁

    Reply

  20. Mary H

    So pouring it on the puffed corn hot doesnt melt the puffed corn?

    Reply

    • Gramma Janice

      No. it does not melt the puffed corn. It is sticky however. Once in the oven it dries, then let it cool totally before trying to break apart.

      Reply

  21. Anonymous

    I have made this with air popper corn and it was very good.

    Reply

  22. Jeff Gitter

    do you have to use store bought puffed corn? I love the idea, but would like to air pop my own corn. fussy mommy, and I babysit her kiddos.
    Thanks for the idea. i may make it anyway. I love…..this stuff!!! Keep recipes coming!

    Reply

    • Tracy Buckner

      yes,…. you can pop your own popcorn….I do mine in an air popper with no butter at all.

      Reply

  23. Claudia

    We have named it "Crack" where I live. They call me the "pusher". It is very addicting. My recipe calls for 3 bags of puffed corn and we add some vanilla to the caramel with the baking soda. Not sure if the amounts of the other ingredients are the same.

    Reply

    • pam

      Will it be sticky when it comes out of the oven?

      Reply

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Best Caramel Corn Recipe Ever! (Puffcorn Caramel Corn) (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Martha Stewart caramel popcorn? ›

In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.

Why is my caramel corn not shiny? ›

A granule of sugar, over-mixing, or uncooperative clumps of sea salt can turn caramel from a glossy, shiny confection into a dull grainy heap of chewy, brown sugar crystals. Candy making, or in this case caramel popcorn making, involves a significant amount of chemistry.

Which caramel popcorn is best? ›

Nutrition info refers to 1 ounce, roughly ½ a cup.
  • Werther's Original Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • Harry & David Moose Munch Premium Classic Caramel. ...
  • G.H. Cretors Handcrafted Small-Batch Caramel Corn. ...
  • Popcornopolis Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • The Original Cracker Jack. ...
  • Poppyco*ck Original Gourmet Popcorn. ...
  • Crunch 'n Munch Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts.
Feb 3, 2023

Why is my homemade caramel corn soggy? ›

Baking the caramel-coated popcorn helps to set the caramel sauce. By skipping this step, the caramel corn will become soggy.

Why is my homemade caramel corn gritty? ›

Grainy caramel is caused by crystallization, which is easy to avoid (and can also be fixed). Caramel becomes grainy when the sugars crystallize, a process that happens when the melted sugar splashes up onto the cold sides of the pan. It loses its moisture and turns back into a sugar crystal.

Why put an egg in caramel popcorn? ›

While some people said that she added the egg to absorb extra heat, others had different views. "Whole eggs absorb excess heat so it's an easy way to regulate the temperature balance of the other ingredients," a user wrote.

Is caramel corn the same as caramel popcorn? ›

Caramel corn or caramel popcorn (toffee popcorn in the UK) is a confection made of popcorn coated with a sugar or molasses based caramel candy shell that is normally less than 1mm thick. Typically a sugar solution or syrup is made and heated until it browns and becomes thick, producing a caramelized candy syrup.

Why is my caramel popcorn not crunchy? ›

If you prefer chewy caramel corn, let it sit until the caramel has hardened. If you prefer crunchy caramel corn, Preheat oven to 250 F. and bake for 30-40 minutes, tossing occasionally. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, break the larger clumps into smaller pieces if desired.

Why is my caramel corn bitter? ›

Be very careful as you heat your caramel. Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

What thickens caramel? ›

For each cup (240 mL) of caramel sauce that you need to thicken, run 1 tbsp (14.7 mL) of cold water into a measuring cup, and slowly stir in 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into your pot caramel sauce, and stir constantly. Keep the sauce on low heat until it begins to thicken.

Is caramel popcorn good or bad for you? ›

While caramel-coated popcorn may be a tempting snack, its simple carbs and high sugar content can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia and other health problems.

How do you keep caramel popcorn from getting soggy? ›

How Do I Get My Popcorn Crunchy and Not Soggy? The longer you cook the syrup (the mixture of sugar and water the forms the base of the caramel sauce), the crunchier your popcorn will be. For very crunchy popcorn (my favorite!), stop cooking when you see the first wisps of smoke coming from the sugar mixture.

Is white or yellow popcorn better for caramel popcorn? ›

Yellow popcorn has a slightly stronger flavor than white popcorn and can hold up well to a variety of toppings, such as butter, cheese, and caramel. It is also a good source of fiber and vitamin A.

Do you have to use baking soda for caramel popcorn? ›

Baking Soda – is key to achieving softer, silky texture of caramel sauce that sticks to the popcorn and doesn't get tacky and hard.

What happens when you add baking powder to caramel? ›

Why do caramel recipes often call for baking soda? When you add baking soda to cooking caramel, it foams up rather dramatically. That foam is creating tiny air bubbles, which aerate the caramel and prevent it from becoming too dense.

What does sodium bicarbonate do to caramel? ›

The sodium bicarbonate allows it to achieve the 'brittle' texture you are looking for in carmel corn. Without it the stage at which you stop cooking the caramel would result in a very sticky consistency. It serves the same purpose in peanut brittle.

What can I use instead of baking soda in caramel? ›

Baking powder is, without a doubt, the best baking soda substitute you can find. They're not the same thing (baking soda is about three times stronger), but they are both leavening agents that work in similar ways.

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