Have you ever wondered how to make those soft caramel popcorn balls from scratch? Let me show you how to make this old-fashioned treat for kids of all ages!
It's so easy! Popcorn mixed into homemade caramel sauce made with sweetened condensed milk for that chewy texture you crave!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No candy thermometer is needed!
- Delicious caramel sauce from scratch, so NO unwrapping a million little caramels!
- Individually wrapped make these perfect treats for a Halloween party or for trick-treaters!
- Not a fan of crunchy caramel popcorn? You'll love this chewy caramel corn version!
Ingredient Notes and Expert Tips
- Brown Sugar - I use light brown sugar, but if dark brown sugar suits your tastes more, you can substitute it.
- Light Corn Syrup - Many people cringe at the thought of using corn syrup; however, it does serve a purpose. Corn syrup keeps the sugar molecules in the brown sugar in balance to prevent a grainy caramel sauce. If you absolutely must, you can substitute honey or agave for the corn syrup.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - Please note that sweetened condensed milk is not the same as evaporated milk and cannot be substituted for it.
- Butter - both unsalted butter and salted butter work for this recipe.
- Popcorn - This recipe is for air-popped popcorn, not microwave popcorn. If you don't have a popcorn popper, see this post on how to make Stovetop Popcorn. If you have the kernels and a brown paper bag, you can even pop the Popcorn in the Microwave! Or did you know you can even Make Popcorn in an Instant Pot?
How to Make
- Pull out your air popper, pop ½ cup of popcorn kernels the old-fashioned way and set it aside in a large bowl.
- Measure the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup into a medium pot and place it over medium heat on the stovetop. (Please note that I was making a double batch, so picture 2 shows twice the amount of butter and brown sugar called for in the recipe)
- Once the butter is melted, the contents in the pot are mixed together and begin to boil; turn down the heat to medium-low heat and boil the caramel for 3 minutes. This will slightly thicken the sauce while the sugar dissolves.
- Remove the pot from the heat and immediately whisk in half a can of sweetened condensed milk.
- Pour the hot gooey caramel sauce over the popcorn and mix until all the popcorn pieces are well coated.
- EXTRAS - If you're planning to add mix-ins like seasonal sprinkles, a cup of M&M candies, or peanuts, this is the time to add them.
- TIP - It is helpful to use a rubber spatula or a silicone spatula for this instead of a wooden spoon for easier cleaning.
- Spray the inside of a 1 cup measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray.
- Scoop 8 cupfuls of caramel popcorn onto a sheet of wax paper, spacing the piles out so they don't touch.
- TIP - as the caramel is very moist, parchment paper doesn't work nearly as well as wax paper because it gets a little soggy.
- If you have popcorn left in the bowl, divide it up among the 8 piles.
- Spray your hands lightly with non-stick cooking spray (this keeps the caramel from sticking to your hands) and press each pile into a ball.
- The popcorn ball tends to re-expand a bit with the first pressing. I usually go back and re-press them into tighter balls after I've shaped them all the first time.
- The balls of caramel popcorn should be roughly 3-inch balls (a little smaller than a softball).
- Allow them to set and cool completely before wrapping each ball in plastic wrap, putting them in individual holiday bags or simply placing them all in an airtight container.
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
What is the best way to store popcorn balls?
These are best when wrapped individually in plastic wrap or bagged in individual treat bags. You can store them together in an airtight container; however, they may stick to each other a little bit.
Why won't my popcorn balls stick together?
If your popcorn balls aren't sticking together, it's likely because you have too much popcorn. Be sure to measure the popped popcorn so you don't accidentally use too much.
How do you keep caramel popcorn from getting soggy?
Sogginess is caused by way too much caramel. Once again, be sure to measure the popped popcorn so you don't have too much or too little. However, this issue is easier to fix than having too much popcorn. If you feel you need more popcorn, just pop a little more popcorn and mix it in. 1-2 cups of additional popped corn should do it.
Related Popcorn Recipes
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Soft Caramel Popcorn Balls aka Caramel Corn Recipe
Have you ever wondered how to make those soft caramel popcorn balls from scratch? Let me show you how to make this old-fashioned treat for kids of all ages! It's so easy! Popcorn mixed into homemade caramel sauce made with sweetened condensed milk for that chewy texture you crave!
Ingredients
- 16 Cups Popped Popcorn about ½ cup unpopped kernels
- ½ Cup Butter
- ½ Cup Light Corn Syrup
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 7 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk ½ can
Instructions
- Pull out your air popper, pop ½ cup of popcorn kernels the old-fashioned way and set it aside in a large bowl.
- Measure the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup into a medium pot and place it over medium heat on the stovetop. (Please note that I was making a double batch, so picture 2 shows twice the amount of butter and brown sugar called for in the recipe)
- Once the butter is melted, the contents in the pot are mixed together and begin to boil; turn down the heat to medium-low heat and boil the caramel for 3 minutes. This will slightly thicken the sauce while the sugar dissolves.
- Remove the pot from the heat and immediately whisk in half a can of sweetened condensed milk.
- Pour the hot, gooey caramel sauce over the popcorn and mix until all the popcorn pieces are well coated.
- EXTRAS - If you're planning to add mix-ins like seasonal sprinkles, a cup of M&M candies, or peanuts, this is the time to add them.
- TIP - It is helpful to use a rubber spatula or a silicone spatula for this instead of a wooden spoon for easier cleaning.
- Spray the inside of a 1 cup measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray.
- Scoop 8 cupfuls of caramel popcorn onto a sheet of wax paper, spacing the piles out so they don't touch.
- TIP - as the caramel is very moist, parchment paper doesn't work nearly as well as wax paper because it gets a little soggy.
- If you have popcorn left in the bowl, divide it up among the 8 piles.
- Spray your hands lightly with non-stick cooking spray (this keeps the caramel from sticking to your hands) and press each pile into a ball.
- The popcorn ball tends to re-expand a bit with the first pressing. I usually go back and re-press them into tighter balls after I've shaped them all the first time.
- The balls of caramel popcorn should be roughly 3-inch balls (a little smaller than a softball).
- Allow them to set and cool completely before wrapping each ball in plastic wrap, putting them in individual holiday bags, or simply placing them all in an airtight container.
Notes
- These are best stored when wrapped individually in plastic wrap or bagged in individual treat bags. You can store them together in an airtight container however, they may stick to each other a little bit.
- It's important to measure the popped corn to make sure you don't have too much or not enough. If there's too much then the balls won't stick together. Not enough and they'll end up soggy.
- Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutrition
Calories: 1524kcalCarbohydrates: 313gProtein: 38gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 176mgPotassium: 942mgFiber: 42gSugar: 67gVitamin A: 62IUCalcium: 135mgIron: 10mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Jaimie Walker
Can’t find the measurement either 🙁
Mindee
16 Cups Popped Popcorn about ½ cup unpopped kernels
½ Cup Butter
½ Cup Light Corn Syrup
1 Cup Brown Sugar
7 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk ½ can
Detailed recipe instructions and measurements are on the recipe card at the end of the post.
Gloria
Ok , I must be blind because I can't find the measurements for any of the ingredients . Any help out there . I need to make them tomorrow. Oct . 30
Mindee
I emailed you the ingredients but they are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Renee
These were so easy to make and delicious! I sprinkled a little course salt on mine. Can’t wait to make these again.
Greg
I don't intend to eat the whole thing but I can't stop myself. These are yum!!!
Tavo
I love this idea! Popcorn and caramel! sounds like the perfect treat!
Catherine
Such a fun treat for Halloween. I've never made my own but these are delicious snacks!
Farah Maizar
This looks so perfect for the season! I love caramel, and this is so simple to make can't wait to try it out!
Emily Flint
These were so easy to make! We added salted peanuts and were in heaven!
Andrea
These caramel popcorn balls are calling my name. I'm a huge fan of caramel corn but never had it this way. Much easier to eat and share.
Mindee
Best Halloween Treat!