No Bake Caramel Popcorn

Who doesn't love caramel popcorn? I know there are some that don't ...but not at this house.



Most traditional recipes have you make the caramel then you have to BAKE the batch for some length of time. Well I never seem to be able to think ahead that long when we want it! If we rent a movie and someone says Caramel popcorn....with this recipe I can have it DONE in about 15 mins! I have used this recipe for about 6 years and learned it from a gal who taught my son when he went to head start. Thanks ~S!!! One note about the popcorn...you can use microwave kind but use 2 bags...I would use plain but if all you have is the buttered kind...it will taste slightly different...but not much. We use our air popper or just pop in a pan on the stove. I have read that you can pop corn in a simple brown paper lunch sack in the microwave too-who knew?!?

No Bake Caramel Popcorn
1/3 cup popcorn popped
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup butter
1 2/3 Tablespoon vinegar
Make popcorn and set aside in large bowl. In a large pan combine sugar, water, butter and vinegar. Turn to high/med high (you want this to boil) Stir just until butter melts and it all looks mixed while it's heating up.-Don't stir again. Now you'll want this to boil. Let it boil until you start to see some of it turn an amber color...this part can happen FAST so watch to not burn it! Once it turns amber, remove from heat and stir quickly to mix color...pour over popcorn and mix well with a large spoon. Keep hands and fingers off the syrup as it will BURN you!! Let cool, then eat. We always add peanuts with ours. Just toss some into the corn after you pop it.

Popped corn and peanuts waiting for their bath in caramel.

Ingredients mixed and stirred...waiting to turn amber.

We have reached an amber color..see it starting to show? This is all you need...don't go till everything in the pot turns amber or it will most likely burn. When it looks like this just pull the pan from heat and stir to mix the color up.


Now just pour over popcorn and stir to mix it all well. Don't get it on your hands...it's HOT! Let cool then go eat it up and remember to share!!

Here's a quick video on the microwave popped corn...I would skip the staple and just fold twice like the above article said!

DIY Microwave Popcorn For About $0.10 -

ENJOY!!

~Moxie