Soft Caramel Popcorn Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

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posted by Christy Denneyon Jul 25, 202151 comments »

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Soft Caramel Popcorn is a soft, gooey popcorn that is delicious and addicting! A great snack or dessert!

SOFT CARAMEL POPCORN

I’ve eaten this caramel corn more times than I can remember. It’s soft, gooey, and addicting. This tried and true recipe comes from a family friend, Tiffany Thornton. I don’t know if I should thank her or spank her for introducing us to it! I used to enjoy her famous caramel corn often when we visited my husband’s family in Denver, but now that my in-laws have moved I get to make it at home.

In the Denney family, my sister-in-law Kim is our resident expert at making Tiffany’s popcorn. Since it’s so gooey, once you grab a handful…you’re committed. I remember watching a movie with my husband’s family and laughing so hard as we glanced at each other and we were all holding up a “claw” (our designated popcorn hand) in the dark.

I made this popcorn for my son Austin and his friends who spontaneously threw a “pool” party at our house. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that our “pool” is actually just a hot tub. It was a little crowded in there but they didn’t care. As soon as I brought it out they all jumped out and said, “Can we have some?”

HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL CORN

In a large saucepan melt together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup.
Bring mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium heat and add the can of sweetened condensed milk.
With the rubber spatula, stir constantly for 4-5 minutes scraping the sides and especially the bottom of the pan to prevent any burning. The longer you cook it the firmer it will be. If you like it on the softer side, cook it closer to 4 minutes.
Pour over popcorn and stir well.

A good heavy saucepan and a high quality rubber spatula really make a difference when making this recipe.

SOFT VS. CRISPY POPCORN

The amount of time that you boil the caramel mixture will determine if you have a soft caramel popcorn or a crispy caramel popcorn. If you like a softer popcorn boil it closer to 4 minutes.

OTHER POPCORN RECIPES

Peanut Butter Popcorn
Cinnabon Popcorn
Candy Cane Popcorn
White Chocolate Frito Popcorn
Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Popcorn
Gingerbread Caramel Popcorn

Soft Caramel Popcorn

4.53 from 17 votes

Soft Caramel Popcorn is a soft, gooey popcorn that is delicious and addicting! A great snack or dessert!

PrintPinRate

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

about 20 cups microwave or air popped popcorn, popped
1/2 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 (14 ounce can) sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Pop popcorn according to package directions and make sure you get rid of any unpopped kernels. This seems like a lot of popcorn but trust me it will get eaten! Place popcorn in a large bowl...larger than you think you will need.
In a large saucepan melt together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium heat and add the can of sweetened condensed milk. With the rubber spatula, stir constantly for 4-5 minutes scraping the sides and especially the bottom of the pan to prevent any burning. The longer you cook it the firmer it will be. If you like it on the softer side, cook it closer to 4 minutes.
Pour caramel over popcorn and stir until coated. This will take a lot of stirring to get it all incorporated. It's great warm or at room temperature. Feel free to add in M&Ms, nuts, or drizzle it with chocolate. I like it plain and classic. Enjoy!

Notes

Source: Tiffany Thornton

Cuisine: American

Course: Snack

Author: Christy Denney

All Desserts All Recipes Desserts Snacks

published on Jul 25, 2021

51 comments Leave a comment »

Soft Caramel Popcorn Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (7)

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51 comments on “Soft Caramel Popcorn”

Robert Canum — Sat, 20 May 2023 @ 23:08:38 EDT Reply
Pretty awesome but didn’t have a Carmel taste. Maybe I did something wrong??
- Christy Denney — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 @ 23:40:25 EDT Reply
  Maybe you didn’t cook the sugar mixture long enough?
Cassie — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 @ 16:40:18 EST Reply
Tip for gooey popcorn, my mom always coated her hands in butter, not a lot! before she formed the balls, doesn’t change the taste and it keeps them from sticking to your bag or box.
- Christy Denney — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 @ 01:42:42 EST Reply
  Great tip!
Heart Ata — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 @ 07:33:28 EDT Reply
Can I make this and put in a bag? What’s the shelve life?
- Christy Denney — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 @ 02:14:27 EDT Reply
  It does tend to get soggy after a day.
  - Candice — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 @ 10:46:23 EDT Reply
    Can’t wait to make them!
Erika S — Thu, 14 May 2020 @ 15:42:01 EDT Reply
Can this me made a day ahead?
- Christy Denney — Tue, 19 May 2020 @ 01:40:20 EDT Reply
  Yes. Just make sure you boil the mixture on the early end (less time) so it stays soft.
Annette — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 @ 23:30:30 EST Reply
Is it too gooey to put in bags to give as gifts?
- Christy Denney — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 @ 22:21:33 EST Reply
  Yes, it’s pretty gooey. If you had a nonstick box maybe?
Brittany Rhodes — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 @ 21:21:17 EST Reply
So dang good!
- Christy Denney — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 @ 23:09:32 EST Reply
  Thank you!
Emmanuel E Daniel — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 @ 22:40:20 EDT Reply
All so beautiful please keep me up dated on the latest pop corn recipe
Tassma Powers — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 @ 11:12:18 EDT Reply
Why is it 22 hours prep time??
- Christy Denney — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 @ 16:23:35 EST Reply
  Sorry. It’s a bug in the recipe card.
marsha senn — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 @ 20:04:28 EST Reply
would it be possible to color it pink for a baby shower? I’d like to try this it looks so good.
- Christy Denney — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 @ 22:56:31 EST Reply
  I have not tried it so I’m not sure!
Ellen — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 @ 10:19:08 EDT Reply
I want to make this for my Halloween party and am thinking of making them into mini popcorn balls with a pretzel rod as an edible stick. Is the popcorn ball going to hold it’s shape or is it too gooey?
- Christy Denney — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 @ 23:56:15 EDT Reply
  It’s probably too gooey to be honest.
Jennie O. — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 @ 17:36:19 EST Reply
Best caramel popcorn ever!! I can’t stop eating it and it’s supposed to be for gift baskets!! Way to go!! A++
- Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 @ 22:26:26 EST Reply
  I know! It’s so addicting.
Josie — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 @ 23:51:59 EST Reply
Just made this and it was perfect! I used three cups of kernels since I use an air popper.
This is definitely a keeper, thank you!
Coleen — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 @ 22:12:39 EDT Reply
Pro Tip: Do this with the butter flavored puff corn instead! Same taste not a single kernnel or skin.
KayleneP — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 @ 05:47:40 EDT Reply
Wow it would be hard to stop once you started eating this popcorn!
MJ — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 @ 18:31:10 EST Reply
Just tried this. I halved the recipe and it worked out perfectly. Very tasty. Thank you so much!
cheap bookmarking service — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 @ 06:53:47 EST Reply
QWxMLu I appreciate you sharing this article.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
Tiffany1 — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 @ 18:10:03 EDT Reply
Just made this, excellent! Good taste, texture and chewiness, it is good alright!. Thanks!
Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 @ 02:32:03 EDT Reply
Awesome and easy recipe! I searched all over and by far this is the best recipe. The caramel popcorn is yummy!
jacobsmommy — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 @ 04:14:30 EDT Reply
This needs pretzels and m&ms. Or just pretzel m&ms! Do you think you could add salt to the caramel? I bet thar would be super yummy.
Also the way we make microwave popcorn at home is also a pinterest trick. Just kernels in a brown paper bag! My four year old loves having his own little special bag of popcorn. And he refuses to eat it without ranch seasoning. Funny thing is he doesn’t know he is getting a healthy whole grain snack! (I won’t tell if you won’t tell!! *winks)
Traditionally at Christmas my mom and I always make almond bark treats. Our favorite is covered popcorn! We play with adding roasted peanuts and broken up pretzels and it’s so delicious we can hardly stay out of it until the chocolate dries lol I just adore sweet and salty things!! Can’t wait to try this popcorn. Thanks Christy!
Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 @ 03:38:39 EDT Reply
@Jessica,
Great question. Use a 14 ounce can!
Jessica — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 @ 01:21:39 EDT Reply
What size of can for the sweetened condensed milk??
Katrina {In Katrina's Kitchen} — Fri, 27 May 2011 @ 16:39:53 EDT Reply
I madethis and am featuring it on my blog today! Thanks for sharing your tasty recipes! 🙂
k — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 @ 03:28:24 EST Reply
i just made this and, um, ate most of it by myself. love it! thanks for another awesome recipe!
grace wood — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 @ 21:49:28 EST Reply
I laughed out loud when you talked about the “claw”! I have this same recipe, and we love it, but yes the “claw” is real, haha.
Cassie — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 @ 21:07:35 EST Reply
This sounds divine!
Val — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 @ 21:08:34 EST Reply
Amazing!!
Natalie — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 @ 05:00:50 EST Reply
Oh dear. This looks right up my alley. I’m in sooo much trouble now! 😉
Nikki (Pennies on a Platter) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 @ 04:00:44 EST Reply
Wow! I’ve been wanting to make caramel corn and definitely bookmarking this to give it a try! Beautiful photos, too!
Mary — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 21:25:50 EST Reply
That looks silly delicious!
Mary xx
Delightful Bitefuls!
Kimi D — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 17:31:48 EST Reply
Yes, Kim says calorie free!
(and the internal exclamations of joy totally drown out the internal voice of guilt that tries to make you stop)
Laurel {Make and Takes} — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 17:03:05 EST Reply
This looks so good and like I probably couldn’t stop eating it! I’d love for you to submit this to the M&T Spotlight at http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight. We’re also featuring cookies this week so if you have any great cookie recipes you can submit those too!
Carrian — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 16:33:21 EST Reply
we love finding new ways to make popcorn, thanks!
Megan — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 14:08:41 EST Reply
I should know by now never to check your site before I eat breakfast! Now instead of the slimfast I should be having, I want something ooey and gooey! This looks so good!
cookies and cups — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 14:00:43 EST Reply
oh wow! I just made a version of caramel corn yesterday that I am going to post, but if I had seen this first I would have totally used this recipe! Sweetened condensed milk?! Awesome!
Christy {The Girl Who Ate Everything} — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 13:56:14 EST Reply
Kim says it’s also calorie free???
warmvanillasugar — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 13:55:07 EST Reply
Caramel corn is so darn good. I’ve never made it myself, but have always wanted to try. Thanks for the recipe!
Caroline — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 13:52:46 EST Reply
LOVE caramel corn. Been trying to convince the hubs to let me try it for a while, but the darn diets (and lack of willpower) make this dangerous to have in the house!
Lauren at KeepItSweet — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 13:03:58 EST Reply
This looks dangerously addictive.
Kimi D — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 05:34:14 EST Reply
Kim also says that it is worth EVERY bit of effort to pick out all of the un-popped kernels (or grannies, as I call them). Seriously, worth EVERY effort!
Holly — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 @ 05:19:58 EST Reply
This looks DEEEEVINE!!! I love my caramel corn soft and gooey:)