Skip the line at the candy shop and whip up your own batch of irresistibly sweet and crunchy caramel corn right in your kitchen. This old-fashioned treat is surprisingly simple to make—no fancy gadgets or candy thermometers required.
When we visit my parents in Sarasota, our evenings often include a stop at Kilwin’s, a beloved ice cream and candy shop on Lido Key. The scent of freshly made waffle cones and the sight of candy-makers mixing fudge right in the front window is part of its charm, and it’s hard to pass by without stopping in. The best part? Sampling different sweets while waiting in line. We all love the sweet, crunchy caramel corn, so I thought it would be fun to recreate it at home.
Turns out, homemade caramel corn is surprisingly easy to make and doesn’t require any fancy equipment, not even a candy thermometer. But be warned: it’s habit-forming. Seriously, don’t make this stuff unless you have the willpower of a saint or many friends to share it with!
- Vegetable Oil: Used to pop the popcorn kernels. It has a high smoke point, making it ideal for high-heat cooking without imparting much flavor.
- Popcorn Kernels: It’s easy to make homemade popcorn on the stovetop, but if you’d like to use plain microwave popcorn or air-popped popcorn, note that 2/3 cup kernels makes about 16 cups popcorn.
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the caramel sauce.
- Light Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and a slight molasses flavor to the caramel.
- Light Corn Syrup: The corn syrup helps to prevent the caramel sauce from crystallizing, which results in a smooth texture (sugar crystals make caramel grainy).
- Maple Syrup: Adds a unique, rich flavor to the caramel different from traditional recipes. It gives a subtle maple undertone that pairs well with the buttery caramel.
- Salt: Enhances the flavors of the caramel and popcorn, and balances the sweetness.
- Baking Soda: Reacts with the acidic components in the caramel to create tiny air bubbles, making the caramel lighter and more aerated so it’s not rock-hard when you bite into it. This reaction also helps ensure the caramel spreads more easily over the popcorn.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by making the popcorn. Heat the vegetable oil in a very large pot over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, then cover with a tight-fitting lid.