The Best Caramel Chocolate Popcorn Recipe

Caramel popcorn with chocolate, pretzels, and peanuts makes a great snack for movie night. Or, you can share the popcorn treat during the holiday season, birthdays, or events.

Munch Popcorn – A Sweet And Salty Snack

 

There’s nothing better than a sweet and salty snack with a combination of chocolate, caramel, peanuts, and pretzels. The delicious fresh snack recipe is made with homemade caramel, and it tastes better than any store-bought popcorn snack you’ll find on the shelves.

The recipe is easy to make, and you can make at least two large Ziplock bags full of caramel popcorn with chocolate.

The great thing about this recipe is that it is versatile. You can add pretzels, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, M&M’s, peppermint candies, Jelly Beans, or just about anything you can think of.

You can even trade out the chocolate for white chocolate or live on the edge and add both to create zebra popcorn!

Watch The Video To See How It’s Made

Step-By-Step Instructions

Before you start on the homemade caramel, pop the popcorn kernels according to the directions and set them aside.

For this recipe, you can use microwave popcorn or pop popcorn on the stovetop.

TIP: I always add the popped popcorn to a super big bowl, or put it in two large mixing bowls, because you’re going to be mixing in the caramel, and you need room to be able to stir the popcorn to coat it.

For the homemade caramel sauce, add the butter to a medium saucepan on medium-high heat and start the melting process.

Next, combine brown sugar with butter.

Pour the Karo syrup into the saucepan and mix everything together.

Bring the brown sugar to a boil, add the vanilla extract, and mix.

The brown sugar mixture needs to boil for five minutes, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon.

You are timing the brown sugar mixture, so you won’t need a candy thermometer for this recipe.

When you reach the five minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the salt and baking soda, and mix well.

Pour caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir until most of the popcorn is coated.

If this is your first time making the recipe, be careful while stirring. I have burned myself a couple of times while accidentally flipping the popcorn out of the bowl and trying to pick it back up while hot.

Spread the popcorn out on two greased baking sheets.

Sprinkle the pretzels, nuts, sea salt, or whatever added treat you’d like right on top of the homemade caramel corn.

On a side note, if you just want caramel corn and not the other added treats, you can allow this to cool, and you’re done. But keep reading if you’d like to continue the recipe with more goodies.

Melting The Chocolate

Add the chocolate chips to a bowl. Pour one teaspoon of vegetable oil into the chocolate chips.

Melt the chips in the microwave for about one minute. Stir until all of the chips are melted.

TIP: If the chips are not fully melted, add them back to the microwave in increments of 15 seconds, stirring each time.

Once melted, drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture.

You don’t have to add vegetable oil, but it will help make the drizzling a lot easier.

Place the two cookie sheets in the refrigerator until the chocolate and caramel harden, which should take about an hour.

Once they harden, break up the popcorn and add it to cups or bags.

Optional Chocolate Choices:

• Milk chocolate chips
• Dark chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Peppermint chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Or your favorite flavor.

How To Store The Chocolate And Caramel Popcorn

Store the popcorn in an airtight container and keep it in a cool location, so the chocolate does not melt.

Can The Recipe Be Made Into Popcorn Balls?

Yes, you can make the recipe into popcorn balls. Spread the caramel-covered popcorn out onto the cookie sheet and allow it to cool for a few minutes.

Sprinkle the extra candies and pretzels that you’d like to have on it.

Once it cools down a little, spray your hands with non-stick spray and gather up some popcorn in your hands and form it into a ball. Allow it to cool, and add your chocolate drizzle over the top.

Can You Make Caramel In A Nonstick Pan?

Nonstick pans work great for making homemade caramel. It doesn’t stick as much and pours out easily.

How Do You Prevent Caramel From Sticking To The Pan?

Caramel is super sticky stuff. You are going to have some sticking to the pan, but you’re better off making caramel in a nonstick pan. It will slide off more easily, and you won’t have as big of a sticky mess.

Be sure to soak your pan in hot water after you’ve poured all of the caramel out. Soaking the pan will help break down the caramel, and cleaning up will be much easier.