Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes (2024)

Popcorn two easy ways! Caramel corn & Kettle corn recipes you can make right in the comfort of your own home. Gluten-free and full of great flavor make these two recipes so good!

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes (1)



I have always loved popcorn. I think my love for it is genetic. My dad has consumed mass quantities of popcorn on a regular basis over his lifetime! He loves to eat air-popped, lightly salted popcorn while watching a sports game.

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When it isn't doused in butter, popcorn can really be a healthy and satisfying snack.

When I need something sweet to snack on I love to make a batch of homemade kettle corn or homemade caramel corn. It is a sweet treat that I like to indulge in for special occasions...or anytime really.

If you are intimidated about making homemade kettle corn or caramel corn you don't have to be any longer! My caramel corn and kettle corn recipes are super simple, quick, and DELICIOUS!

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How To Make The Best Caramel Corn:

  • Preheat your oven to 315 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Pop your popcorn either in an air popper or in a traditional popcorn popper. Make 6-8 cups of popped popcorn then pour the popped popcorn in a large roasting pan and set aside.
  • In a medium size saucepan mix the following ingredients (below) - except for the baking soda and vanilla extract over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
  • Let boil for five minutes continuing to stir.Turn off heat and add the vanilla and baking soda stirring to combine.
  • Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn in the roasting pan and stir to coat evenly. Put the roasting pan with the caramel covered popcorn into the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Stir the caramel corn and bake an additional five minutes.
  • After it is done baking scoop the caramel corn into a large bowl (or two) and stir occasionally to break up the chunks as it cools.
  • Let the caramel corn cool for about 10 minutes and then enjoy!

Pour the cooled caramel corn into your favorite bowl and prepare to dig in! Be careful - it is very easy to eat it all in one sitting, I may or may not be speaking from experience!

Here is the printable recipe card for this amazing recipe!!

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Let's try my homemade kettle corn recipe. This recipe requires the popcorn to be made in a traditional oilpopcorn machine. If you don't have one (you should get one) you can use alarge pot with a lid to make the popcorn in instead.

* My all-time favorite popcorn popper is theWhirley Popper!! Trust me when I tell you this is the best because I have tried tons of different kinds of popcorn poppers and this is by far the best.

Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe

  • Pour 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in the popcorn popper or pot along with 2/3 cup of popcorn kernels. ( I prefer yellow popcorn versus white but use whatever you like best. )
  • Next, sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar (white sugar) over the un-popped kernels.
  • Over medium-high heat using a Whirley popperpopcorn machinebegin to pop your popcorn or if you are making it in a pot on the stove, put the lid on and turn the heat to medium-high. Shake the pot every few seconds to keep the kernels moving.
  • Once the popping stops remove the pot from the stove or turn off your popcorn machine and pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Lightly salt the kettle corn if you desire.

Here is a printable for the Kettle Corn Recipe:

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Since this post is all about popcorn I thought I'd share with you the tools I use to make the best popcorn.

My favorite traditional popcorn maker is the Whirley Popper Popcorn Machine.It is the most amazing popcorn popper. This popper can make 6 quarts of popped popcorn in 3 minutes! (I timed it and sure enough it only takes 3 minutes). You can make the kettle corn recipe (above) right in this popper too!

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes (7)
Amazon

Since I am a popcorn junkie it would be a big tragedy if my popper broke and I was left popcorn-less! To make sure this never happens I keep a backup popcorn popper. My backup popper is this cute air popper machine from West Bend called the Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker.

click HERE

If you are really in a bind and don't have access to a popcorn machine you can just use what you have on hand like alarge stockpot with a lid. This method too can make a pretty tasty batch of popcorn. I got my large stock pot on Amazon.

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I'm not overly picky about popcorn kernels however I do prefer yellow popcorn over white. I think yellow popcorn is bigger and has that fluffy appearance whereas white looks small and crumbles easier. White popcorn is the perfect kind to use when making popcorn balls though because of its size.

Did you know that there are blue popcorn kernels? The blue (or purple) corn tastes similar to standard popcorn and is fluffy with very little crunch. Some would say it has a sweeter taste with a milder popcorn flavor. I recommend this Amish Country popcorn that comes in a 3lbs bag. If you have never had it you should give it a try!


On a side note - did you know Home Depot sells popcorn? Weird (but totally awesome) right? I discovered this the other day when my husband and I were there shopping for some plumbing parts. I love wandering around the store just looking at things! That is when I discovered popcorn! Here is one of my favorites - a 4 lb. Yellow Popcorn in a plastic container with a screw-on lid! Keeps it fresh and 4 lbs should last a little while.

Other Popcorn Toppings

Since I am a huge fan of popcorn it won't surprise you that I've tried a variety of different toppings as well. Right now my favorite flavors are white cheddar, cheddar and ranch. I've lost count as to the number of times I've ordered these flavors on Amazon but I haven't tired of them yet.

What is your favoritepopcorn topping? The fact that you can put just about anything on popcorn as a topping makes this treat so much fun!

Enjoy your popcorn, I know I will.


Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is kettle corn the same as caramel corn? ›

Kettle corn is a combination of sweet and salty flavors. It is lighter in flavor and texture than caramel corn as the sugar and salt are mixed in during popping rather than coated.

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.

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.

What's so special about kettle corn? ›

Kettle corn stands out for its unique flavor profile, combining sweetness and saltiness in a way that appeals to a wide range of tastes. The preparation process, involving popping the kernels in a kettle with oil, sugar, and salt, creates a satisfying snack that is both nostalgic and delicious.

What is cowboy kettle corn? ›

Cowboy Kettle Corn ​Cowboy Kettle Corn is family owned and operated. We have an old-fashioned cast iron kettle, use premium mushroom popcorn, and stir the corn by hand with a wooden paddle. We cook our Cowboy Kettle Corn using a secret recipe known only by a few, but loved by many.

What can I use instead of corn syrup in Carmel? ›

Golden Syrup

It has the same light color and sweet flavors, and is also an invert sugar, making it a good candidate for candies. Try it as a 1:1 substitute for corn syrup the next time you want to make peanut brittle or soft and chewy caramel candies.

What does cream of tartar do in Carmel? ›

You can also use a pinch in whipped cream to help avoid it from deflating. Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

Why isn't my caramel corn 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.

Why put 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.

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.

What thickens homemade caramel? ›

To thicken a caramel sauce, use one tablespoon of cornstarch or tapioca starch (sometimes known as tapioca flour) and one tablespoon of water per cup of caramel. Then simmer the caramel, stirring it constantly with a wooden spoon until it becomes thick.

What is another name for caramel corn? ›

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.

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 is a substitute for 1 cup of corn syrup? ›

You can replace 1 cup of corn syrup with one of these simple substitutes: 1 cup sugar dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water. 1 cup honey. 1 cup light molasses.

What kind of corn is kettle corn? ›

Regular popcorn comes from butterfly flakes or snowflakes, which are irregular in shape with many popping “wings” that stick out, hence the name. Butterfly flakes are much more tender and have a better mouthfeel. Mushroom flakes, used to make kettle corn, are mostly spherical in shape and can be either round or oblong.

What's the difference between corn and kettle corn? ›

Kettle corn is also made from regular popping corn. The difference is how it's popped. Kettle corn is traditionally made in a large, iron kettle that has been oiled. The popcorn is popped before it is tossed with a little salt, and of course some sugar, to give it that addictive flavor.

Is kettle corn the same as sweet and salty popcorn? ›

Popcorn is often considered a salty snack, popularly flavored with cheese or cinnamon, among other flavor profiles. The neutral taste of popcorn is always there, modified slightly by choice of seasoning. Kettlecorn has a dominantly sweet flavor, with just a hint of salt noticeable to the palate.

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