Honestly, does anything go together more than kids and popcorn? Whether it’s covering popcorn with chocolate, shaking on a special seasoning or mixing in your favorite treats, they turn everyone’s favorite snack food into something truly decadent. This peanut butter caramel popcorn recipe is our favorite at the moment! Just grab some popcorn… air-popper, microwave or stove top, choose your favorite method and here you go. The kernels are lightly coated and not real sticky like other caramel corn we’ve tried (and we’ve tried a lot). You can package it in a variety of ways, and it keeps very well, making it a fantastic food gift!
Key Ingredients for the Caramel Popcorn
- Canola oil
- Corn kernels (unpopped)
- Peanuts (or sliced almonds)
- Brown sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Unsalted butter
- Creamy peanut butter
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt (for sprinkling)
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to make the caramel popcorn
- Pop the corn – Heat oil in a pot, add kernels, cover, and shake until popping slows. Remove from heat and mix in peanuts or almonds.
- Make the caramel – Boil brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt for 3 minutes. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
- Coat & bake – Pour caramel over popcorn, stir to coat, spread on parchment-lined tray. Bake at 250°F (120°C) for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.
- Cool & serve – Let cool completely before serving.
(Photo by Sophie Smarket)
Caramel Popcorn with Peanut Butter
This peanut butter and caramel popcorn is the epitome of a gourmet snack for a movie night!
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/2 cup corn kernels, unpopped of course
- 1/2 cup peanuts (or sliced almonds)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup light corn syrup
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sea salt for sprinkling (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and cover. Cook for about 4 minutes or until the popping stops almost completely, shake the pot frequently. Remove the pot from the heat, remove the lid and add the peanuts (or almonds).
- In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract. Pour over popcorn and use a rubber spatula to mix and coat.
- Spread popcorn on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
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