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. Cris

    Thank you Mary, I made it with salted as you suggested and added pretzel M&M’s and then did a light drizzle of milk and white chocolate. I sent it to work with my husband and it was a huge hit. I’m now obligated to make them all a batch for Christmas. So delicious!

    Reply

    • Lenzi

      I cooked mine for 5 mins and it burned what did do wrong

      Reply

      • Mary Neumann

        It should not burn, Lenzi – did you bake it at 250 degrees f on the middle rack of the oven?

        Reply

  2. Lynn Comeau

    Hi. I live in Canada and have searched online for Chester’s Puffcorn but no luck. Do you think the popcorn twists would work? I don’t know if they’re the same, just a different shape. I’m really not familiar with that product at all. Thanks, Lynn

    Reply

  3. Lorene

    Try this recipe using Cheetos it is so good.

    Reply

    • Margrie

      I

      Reply

  4. Mandy

    Omgoodness!!!! I try not to eat popcorn bc the hulls bother my stomach! I am so excited, I’m making this right now with all the stuff my Nanny used to put in her caramel corn(pretzel sticks, unsweetened coconut strips and pecans!!!). I am so excited to find this!

    Reply

  5. Jen

    I made this and stirred in some mixed nuts. It was delicious! I took to a family gathering and brought home an empty bowl! I will definitely make this again!

    Reply

  6. Karen Ette

    This is so so good and extremely dangerous! I could eat the whole batch, if I didn’t really watch myself! Easy to make! I believe everyone is getting some of this for Christmas this year. If I don’t eat it all…

    Reply

  7. Pat

    I will probably sub honey for corn syrup. Pre diabetic n

    Reply

  8. Starr

    Omgosh. The best ever now my go to. Made two batches one plain and the other I put mini chocolate chip in it. This is so easy peezy

    Reply

    • Cris

      Do you use salted or unsalted butter?

      Reply

      • Mary Neumann

        I used salted, but you can use unsalted too, Cris.

        Reply

        • Cris

          Thank you Mary, I made it with salted as you suggested and added pretzel M&M’s and then did a light drizzle of milk and white chocolate. I sent it to work with my husband and it was a huge hit. I’m now obligated to make them all a batch for Christmas. So delicious!

          Reply

  9. Michelle K

    This is ridiculously easy and delicious! I couldn’t find corn puffs at my grocery store but knew the technique would work with other snacks, so I made it with Bugles. Delicious! Thanks!

    Reply

  10. Carol

    I made the Caramel popcorn and it was easy and yummy thank you for the recipe

    Reply

  11. Marta Peters

    Is it possible to use dark corn syrup? I have some on hand that I would like to use.

    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.

Can I substitute honey for corn syrup in caramel corn? ›

Instead of the usual corn syrup or brown sugar, this healthy caramel popcorn gets its sweetness from honey. The sweet taste of honey mixed with the richness of butter creates a homemade caramel sauce that's simple and yet so good.

Why is my homemade caramel corn soggy? ›

Do I have to bake the caramel corn? Yes. 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? ›

Your caramel corn will turn out gritty when the sugar crystals clump together. You can void this by adding baking soda, which breaks apart the sugar.

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 put an egg in pan when making 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.

Why is my caramel popcorn not crunchy? ›

So I suggest boiling the caramel just for 2 minutes as called for in the recipe then adapting the texture with the baking time. Less baking time = chewier popcorn, longer baking time = crispier popcorn harder. To make crunchy popcorn: Heat oven to 200°F.

How to crisp up caramel popcorn? ›

If you like gooey/sticky caramel corn, give it a sprinkle with a good pinch of kosher salt, let it cool and start eating! If you like it crunchy, keep going. To make crunchy caramel popcorn, pour it (pile it) onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

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.

Which is sweeter corn syrup or honey? ›

Otherwise, it's not an ideal substitute, as honey is about 25 to 50 percent sweeter than sugar, while corn syrup is much less so.

Can I substitute maple syrup for corn syrup in caramel? ›

Maple Syrup

However, if you are looking for something similar that will impart sweetness and a depth of maple flavor, this is a great alternative you most likely already have on hand. Use a 1:1 swap for corn syrup in baked goods, but avoid using this swap for candy making.

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? ›

4 Clever Substitutes for Baking Soda
  1. Baking powder. Like baking soda, baking powder is an ingredient frequently used in baking to promote rise, or leavening, of the final product. ...
  2. Potassium bicarbonate and salt. ...
  3. Baker's ammonia. ...
  4. Self-rising flour. ...
  5. Other tips to enhance leavening.

What gives Carmel its flavor? ›

What Is Caramel? Caramel is white granulated sugar that's been heated slowly to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. This gradual heating process breaks down the sugar's molecules and creates a deep golden brown color and rich flavor.

What happens if I put too much baking soda in cornbread? ›

Using too much baking soda or baking powder can really mess up a recipe, causing it to rise uncontrollably and taste terrible.

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