Easy Old Fashioned Caramel Corn

This easy old fashioned caramel corn recipe is quick, crunchy, sweet and delicious! It’s so addicting that you may want to double the batch…especially around the holidays! With just 6 ingredients and no candy thermometer required, this recipe is one you will want to save to make again and again!

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We make this old fashioned caramel corn recipe often around the holiday and throughout the winter. It’s one of our families favorites! I found this recipe in a vintage Better Homes and Garden’s cookbook and have been making it for nearly 30 years. If you’re looking for some other holiday favorite recipes, try our favorite peanut butter balls, spiced pecans or puppy chow!

What you Will Need-Grocery List

• 7-8 cups popped popcorn
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons light colored corn syrup
• 1/4th teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• parchment paper or aluminum foil
• 12×17 baking sheet with sides

How to Make Old Fashioned Caramel Corn

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees and prepare a 12×17 baking sheet with sides by covering with foil and greasing with butter or adding a parchment sheet.
• Pop 7-8 (I use 7 to make easier to coat) cups plain popcorn and add to a large mixing bowl. Note: lightly buttered/salted popcorn is what I prefer to use! I use lightly buttered microwave popcorn and lightly salt it as it comes out of the microwave.
• In a sauce pan, mix 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons light corn syrup and 6 tablespoons butter. Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil.
• Once the mixture comes to a steady boil, set a timer for 5 minutes. Continue to boil without stirring.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Pour mixture over popcorn, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon coat popcorn evenly with mixture as much as possible.
• Pour popcorn onto prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly.
• Bake on 300 for 15 min. Stir the popcorn mixture and bake for 5 minutes more.
• Remove from pan and lay popcorn out on another buttered parchment sheet or foil to cool. Cool completely before storing into a ziptop bag or airtight container.

Tips for the Best Caramel Corn

• The recipe calls for 7-8 cups of popcorn, but I’ve found using 7 cups helps with coating the corn more evenly!
• Plain popcorn is recommended, but I use lightly buttered microwave popcorn and will lightly salt before adding caramel mixture.
• Store the caramel corn in an airtight container. For the best taste, store no longer than a few days. Although, this caramel corn usually disappears immediately!
• This caramel corn makes a great Christmas treat to gift to friends and family. I love adding the caramel corn to these cute tree containers and finish off with a cute bow or ribbon.

Final Thoughts

This heirloom Old Fashioned Caramel Corn recipe is one of our favorite family recipes! It’s always in our home around the holidays and one we love to make when we curl up to watch movies. I hope this will become a family favorite in your home too! Don’t forget to print off this recipe or save to your Pinterest board! Happy Baking!