Description
This Coconut Caramel Popcorn recipe combines the rich sweetness of caramel with the tropical flavor of sweetened coconut flakes. Lightly salted and baked to a crunchy perfection, it’s an irresistible snack that’s perfect for movie nights or sharing with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn
- 10 cups of popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup of brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup of light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (or to taste)
Coconut
- 1 cup of sweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn: Use an air popper or stovetop method to pop about 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels into 10 cups of popcorn. Transfer the popped popcorn to a large mixing bowl, ensuring no unpopped kernels remain.
- Make the caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, unsalted butter, and light corn syrup. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a boil. Once boiling, stop stirring and let it cook for 4-5 minutes until the caramel turns a golden color.
- Add flavorings and coat popcorn: Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately stir in the vanilla extract and sea salt. Pour the hot caramel sauce evenly over the popcorn and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all the popcorn pieces.
- Bake the caramel popcorn: Spread the caramel-coated popcorn onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in an even layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 250°F (120°C) for 45 minutes, stirring gently every 15 minutes to ensure even baking and prevent burning.
- Cool and serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the popcorn cool completely on the parchment paper. Once cooled, break the popcorn into clusters and serve immediately or store for later enjoyment.
Notes
- Be careful while handling hot caramel as it can cause burns.
- Using parchment paper helps prevent the caramel popcorn from sticking to the baking sheet.
- For a crunchier texture, make sure to bake for the full 45 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Store cooled popcorn in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Adjust sea salt amount to taste for optimal sweetness balance.
