Growing up there was always some sort of magic bubbling away in the kitchen. It was sometimes my Dad’s spaghetti sauce, maybe a baking fruit pie, or a deep amber caramel sauce. The caramel days were always my favorite… for obvious reasons.
I remember learning how to make caramel as a kid. Watching the sugar bubble with butter and corn syrup… it felt like I was learning a special science that would unlock an infinite amount of dessert possibilities. Um… I was. It also felt like I had super powers. Um.. I did.
Caramel can lead to so many good things, including (but totally not limited to) caramel corn!
I’ve grown up a bit from my early caramel days. I now adore a good dose of salt with my sweet caramel desserts. Combining buttery popcorn with salty pretzels feels like the perfect mixture of childhood snack and adult cravings, all wrapped together in the quick golden caramel sauce I’ve been making forever. Now, just extra salty.
This summer I held a charitable bakesale to benefit a local women’s shelter in Los Angeles. I made S’mores bars, jars of ginger syrup, and sooo many Chocolate Chip Cookies to help the Downtown Women’s Center is LA. So many of you came out to show your support this summer. I mean… it was RAD. Thank you! I feel like baking for a good cause is just that much sweeter.
These days I’m partnering with Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Syrup to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.
Fleischmann’s® Yeast, Fleischmann’s® Simply Homemade® Baking Mixes, and Karo® Syrup are launching the Baking A Difference campaign to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry. They’re helping to end childhood hunger in America through the power of baking.
It’s actually really cool! I’ll be working with them to twist their classic recipes for the Baking A Difference e-cookbook that’s going to be released in Spring 2014 as part of the Baking A Difference program.
You can get in on the action too! This September is No Kid Hungry month, and there’s lot of ways you can help: https://actioncenter.
Let’s get this sweet treat started!
I know… the bubbling sugars it takes to make caramel can be a little nerve-racking. Not to worry! If I can learn the tricks as a kid, you can totally do it now! This caramel recipe doesn’t require a candy thermometer. You can totally get through this with a little coaching if you’re nervous.
In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and a dash of water. Give it a stir and that’s it! Turn on the heat and watch it bubble away for five minutes. Really… no stirring. All you have to do is stand there an observe caramel-y bubbles form.
Remove the pan from the heat after five minutes and carefully stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. The baking soda will cause that key chemical reaction that fluffs the caramel (totally technical term) and the vanilla will add some flavor. Salt too! Now is a good time to add a big ol’ pinch!
The popcorn and pretzels are given a good strong stir to ensure that all of the bits are covered. Throw the glossy sweet mixture on a baking pan and let it sit in a low oven to dry out and set. Once it’s rested in the oven, I like to sprinkle it with more sea salt. Sweet and salty. I told you I love it!
Once the caramel corn is dried and cooled it will be crisp and chewy and ready to pack into little cups for snacking. I especially like to take this snack to my friends who worship football every Sunday. While football may not be my jam (mostly because I don’t know why they’re always blowing whistles), I sure know how to please a crowd on football day.
I’m trying to cover as many satisfying bases as I can with this caramel corn. We’ve got the sweet and salty combination suspended in melted butter and vanilla. We’ve got the crunch from pretzels. We’ve got the chew from cooked caramel. And we’re baking for charity!? I mean.. I think we have it covered.
Salty Pretzel Vanilla Caramel Corn
makes about 14 cups popcorn
adapted from Karo Syrup
about 12 cups popped popcorn
about 2 cups pretzel twists
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 250 degrees F, Grease a large (but shallow) roasting pan with butter or cooking spray, and add popcorn and pretzels to the pan.
In a 2 quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt Whisk over medium heat until it begins to boil. Allow to boil over medium heat (without stirring!!) for about 5 minutes. The mixture will be deep gold and bubbling.
Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda. The mixture will foam and froth. That’s ok. Keep stirring. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Quickly pour warm syrup over popcorn and pretzel mixture. Use to large spoons to toss the mixture, coating all of the popcorn and pretzels in caramel. Work as quickly as you can.
Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove and toss. Return to the oven to bake for another 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss. Allow to cool before handling and packaging.
Caramel corn will last up to 4 days well wrapped at room temperature.
91 Responses
I don’t know why this has such a long name – just call it crack, because that’s what it is.
I’m so going to add a cup of pecans to this, because I love them with caramel….indulgence to follow up my Thanksgiving Turkey dinner! :) Your friend between STL and ORD!
You have some of the most amazing recipes! Thank you for helping me keep my family feeling loved.
This looks amazing!!
Wow- what a great recipe for Halloween. Love the sweet & salty combo. Perfect! Thanks Joy!
Wow, this look to dieeeeee forrrrr. It honestly looks like heaven. I also love how you put the popcorn in those cute tin cans! Adorable!
Yum, this looks like a perfect fall snack.
Will be adding this to my Christmas baking list fosho! Looks so very yummy. Good job!!
I am in love from the bubbling caramel to those cute containers. I love everything about this post!!! Thanks for sharing the magic with us.
Good on you with the bake sale & this goodness. I think it’s excellent/important to encourage kids to get in the kitchen. delicious science is a great way – baking soda explosions = guaranteed to impress.
Heidi xo
Joy, first off, this recipe looks amazing. Secondly, I was really inspired by the bake sale for charity and it left me wanting to make a difference in my own way. I had my first child this year, so now more than ever, charities geared towards kids really tug my heartstrings. As a result of your post, I got to thinking and I think for my daughter’s first birthday, and hopefully for many birthdays to come, I want to have a party where everyone brings an item for less fortunate children instead of bringing another toy or outfit that my daughter does not need. I can’t wait to fill my heart with warm and fuzzies instead of filling my house with un-needed gifts! Thank you for inspiring me. :)
My goodness. This has just made my Christmas baking list. Can’t wait to see what amazing thing you come up with next Joy
This looks to die for, I am adding the to my long list of things I must bake. You so inspire me!!
http://www.wishfulwhisking.com
Salty… sweet.. OMG!
I live waking up to your tasty recipes and always great photos.
These look amazing! I’ll have to give them a try at the weekend. Thanks for another great recipe!
Such a great idea Joy! My sister and I both bake for our workplaces and raise money for different charities through the year via our baked goods – most recently my sister raised money for the RSPCA Animal Shelters with Strawberry Cupcakes :)
Also, I think if I make a batch of this for my Mum I might move into the coveted ‘favourite child’ spot…just sayin’….
Bizarre, I have a pot of caramel on the stove as I read this post! Nice job on the corn..
what Lindsey said.
First of all, this looks delicious and I’m so excited to make it. Secondly, I’m so happy you support such a wonderful organization…Share Our Strength absolutely amazing, and I’m so happy you helped to raise awareness of their message!
Heavenly!! I love the sweet and salty combo :)
Voila~
I’ve been searching of this recipe and here it is..thanks joy!
This is the kind of treat I would eat so much of that I’d get sick :) LOVE the cause, too!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Now I know what to do with that corn syrup I have in my pantry. THIS LOOKS BONKERS!!!
Looking at the photos, it looks like you cooked the caramel in an enameled pan, like maybe a Dutch oven? Can I use a Dutch oven for this? I don’t have any other enamel pans, just stainless.
Also, I was thinking of making a double batch, since I might (for quality control purposes) want to eat some before serving. Can I double the recipe, or should I make two batches?
Love the recipes and the photos. It helps having the visuals as a guide.
Thanks, Greg
I wish I could purchase some of this goodness at your bakesale! I guess I’ll have to make my own. Kuddos for helping out with such a worthwhile cause.
i’m sure this will seem high maintenance… but any alternative suggestions to corn syrup? what about agave?
you’re awesome!
Those would make a great movie snack :)
AmeriAus Blog
Oh all I have to say is…. yes PLEASE!!! How delicious! I’ll be making this for our next movie night! OMG some things are just too good to be true!
woah, the only thing that could make carmel corn better is adding pretzels. so simple, but so effective.
https://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2009/10/carmel-corn.html
Caramel popcorn may very well be my favorite Fall snack…this looks amazing!
Its like mixing two parts of joy with a part of my childhood… Gosh.. totally love this treat
This caramel corn looks so amazing! I love your salty sweet combination! I’ll have to bookmark this for when my braces come off :)
I like your Post !
This is my Blog on Blogspot follow me please!
https://justwassili.blogspot.de/
love caramel corn- I usually make it once a year! My recipe is similar but have started using a cane syrup and air popped popcorn they seem work well.
Uh… Ok… I read it really well like you said to (I won’t tell you about the mistakes I’ve made by not…) so… You said earlier to add some water to the butter, brown sugar, etc, but not in the recipe… When, and how much?
JOY! Hot damn, girl! x
I’m going to visit my daughter in Vancouver and my carry-on will be loaded with this! Thanks Joy. Also – the Baking a Difference looks like a really good cause – wish we had it in Canada too.
Ok first of all, absolutely LOVE this! Yum!!
Second, technical little thing here. Edit to say “no stirring” instead of “so” and you’re good :)
ah! i appreciate you! thanks!
I just love your pictures
And your recipes makes me want to cook all the time ;)
All the best from Denmark
Tanja
I love caramel corn and this is some of the best looking caramel corn I’ve ever seen! The other amazing caramel corn that comes to mind is Tracy’s (shutterbean) and it’s a version of something in your book! So …there’s to saying that you are the caramel corn queen. Pinned!
Great cause and thanks for getting involved. Before I had a child, this would likely not have been on my radar screen! Kudos to you, Joy!
No fair, I’m at work and have to wait 3 more hours to go home and make this
omggg this looks absolutely amazinggg.
gotta make this soon although i really shouldn’t.
Definitely trying this! I have all the ingredients…yay me! :)
we should be close friends. this is what dreams and sunshine are made of!!!
Everyone is making caramel corn lately. I saw a recipe for salted beer caramel corn the other day that also looked really good.
Wow! These look absolutely fantastic! Sweet and salty + caramel is one of my favourite flavour combinations.
nothing like sweet caramel and salt. never thought to add pretzels to the caramel mix though. now I want to dig out my simple baked caramel corn recipe made in a nesco roaster oven and add pretzels and extra salt ; )
I don’t think I have ever wanted caramel corn this badly in my life (other than walking down the pier and smelling it right there). Such delicious looking photos as well!
thank you, sara!!
Great cause. Geeze, I have a pal who doesn’t eat carrots because they are high glycemic, this post would make her swoon reading it.
Love your photography.
My sister and I are going on a road trip next weekend and we WILL be packing this caramel corn for sure. Baking a Difference sounds wonderful thanks for letting us know about it :-)
that is such a good idea! um… i once ate an entire cheesecake on a roadtrip. not my finest hours! enjoy the trip and drive safe!
This looks so good! I love your writing style!
Gosh, could baking for good cause get any better! I think not!
Wonderful combo, looks so crunchy!
What a great opportunity! Baking is so fun, but baking for others makes the activity even better! And this recipe looks so good! :)
https://sometimesgracefully.com
Joy, I love your blog and admire your fresh, courageous voice. However, I have to admit, I’m so disappointed in this post. While I fully support the No Hungry Kid campaign, those companies you’re working with are producing exactly the kind of foods we need to get kids to eat less of. Making sure no kid goes hungry–and stays healthy– requires feeding them whole, nutritious foods, not filling them up with corn syrup and pre-fab baking mixes. I applaud your good intentions, but I worry about the messages these companies are sending to our kids and their parents by using the “No Hungry Kid” campaign to advertise junk food to kids. While I’m sure your popcorn is bonkers-good–in the complicated fight against obesity and hunger, we need to prioritize whole foods first and treat foods second. There’s got to be a better way to end hunger and prevent obesity while eating well (and eating the occasional caramel corn). Let’s find a way.
Thanks and keep up the good work,
Lindsey Patricia Smith
you know, lindsey. i totally hear your words. and you make some really good points. thank you for taking the time to comment. i definitely approached this partnership with the best of intentions, and i’m certainly not suggesting we end childhood hunger by filling every child with sweet caramel corn. gosh. i wouldn’t want to put anyone through that!
i understand what you’re saying and i think you’re right about the conversations we need to have. thanks again!
I was a bit disappointed with the corn syrup thing too. What would be a good substitute? Brown rice syrup maybe?
I love you Joy the Baker!!!
What a great way to support a wonderful cause!
This popcorn looks outrageous… and dangerous.
This looks incredible!! I love caramel popcorn but always buy it from a bag which can taste quite bad. Need to attempt to make this!
themacaronaddict.blogspot.co.uk
Love this! A great way to support a wonderful cause — and with caramel! Perfect :)
I love the amount of caramel on this popcorn. It looks awesome!
heavenly!!!!!! i need so make this ASAP!