Baked Caramel Corn with a Crunch

If you love a sweet and crunchy snack, this recipe is perfect for you. It combines golden caramel with a satisfying crunch that’s sure to become your new favorite treat.

★★★★★5(2 reviews)Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Prep Time 10 min

Cook Time 1 hr 12 min

Total Time 1 hr 22 min

Difficulty Hard

Ingredients 0/8

2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ cup unpopped popcorn 2 cups dark brown sugar 1 cup butter ½ cup white corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon baking soda

Why You'll Want This Again

This treat combines sweet, buttery caramel with a satisfying crunch. It’s a perfect snack for movie nights or parties. The balance of flavors keeps you coming back for more.

Kitchen Advice

- Use fresh popcorn for the best texture.
- Stir the caramel continuously to prevent burning.
- Let the caramel cool completely before breaking into pieces.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Pour some oil into a large saucepan and heat it over medium-high. Toss in a few popcorn kernels and cover the pan. Once they pop, add the rest of the kernels in a single layer. Cover again, take the pan off the heat for about 30 seconds, then put it back on and gently shake it from side to side until the popping slows down to a few seconds between pops. Take the pan off the heat and pour the popcorn into a big bowl.

Step 2

Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat it up, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Let it bubble away for about 5 minutes without stirring, then take it off the heat. Stir in vanilla extract and baking soda, mixing well until everything is combined.

Step 3

Pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and stir it all together so every piece is coated. Spread the sticky popcorn out in a shallow, oven-safe dish. Pop it in the oven and bake, stirring every 15 minutes to keep things from sticking. After about an hour, test a piece once it’s cooled—it should be nice and crunchy. Enjoy!