Description
Homemade {christmas} caramel popcorn blends sweet nostalgia with festive cheer. Holiday kernels drizzled in buttery caramel create an irresistible seasonal treat that captures family memories and delights guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 14 cups stovetop popcorn
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter
Syrup and Flavoring:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Decorative Ingredient:
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
Instructions
- Distribute freshly popped kernels evenly into two spacious mixing vessels.
- Heat oven to 250°F and prepare two rectangular baking sheets with light greasing.
- Combine butter, rich brown sugar, and golden corn syrup in a saucepan, bringing to a rolling boil and maintaining for exactly 3 minutes.
- Remove caramel mixture from heat, quickly incorporate baking soda and pure vanilla extract, stirring until mixture becomes light and foamy.
- Separate caramel sauce into distinct portions, introducing festive coloration to each section if desired.
- Gently cascade caramel over popcorn, using careful folding motions to ensure comprehensive and uniform coating of each kernel.
- Transfer coated popcorn to prepared baking sheets, placing in preheated oven and rotating trays every quarter-hour during 45-minute transformation process.
- Allow caramelized popcorn to rest and solidify completely at room temperature, ensuring crisp texture and maximum flavor development before serving.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by using freshly popped kernels instead of pre-packaged popcorn for a richer, more authentic taste.
- Experiment with different food colorings to create festive holiday themes or match party color schemes.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure all ingredients like corn syrup are certified gluten-free and use alternative baking soda brands if needed.
- Reduce sugar content by substituting some brown sugar with natural sweeteners like maple syrup or using monk fruit sweetener for a low-carb option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 184
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg