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Okay folks, this is my go-to caramel recipe. I almost want to keep it a secret. It is that easy and delicious. If you haven't figured this out about me yet I am a sucker for things that are awesome and easy. Does that make me lazy? Probably. Will I ever change? Doubt it.
Also, like all the other recipes I'll post on this blog, it is cost effective. I always have all these ingredients on hand (granted, the Karo syrup is only on hand for this very recipe, but still). You can use this caramel in a multitude of ways. My two favorites are caramel popcorn and caramel sundaes. Not your thing? Cake? Brownies? Dip for apples? Yes, yes and yes.
So, without further ado.
Recipe:
1 C. Brown Sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 C. light Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
It really is that simple.
If using for caramel popcorn pour over popcorn immediately (this recipe will cover three bags of microwave popcorn thoroughly).
As a side note, don't you think my sweet mother could use a new sauce pan? I think she got it for her wedding. Way to be frugal though mother dearest.
Get yourself a spoon and enjoy!
*I think it would be so cute to put this caramel in the baby canning jars to give as gifts, just enough for a few bowls of ice cream once opened.
*This post may be linked up at one of these fabulous linky parties, check them out!
**This post was featured by our amazing friends at:
Junk In Their Trunk!
**This post was featured by our amazing friends at:
Junk In Their Trunk!
looks delicious! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYum! I love caramel popcorn. Is this the soft kind?
ReplyDeleteThis caramel corn IS delicious. It is MY real Aunt Val's original receipe!!
ReplyDeleteOhhh caramel corn is delicious but I've never made it at home, will have to try this!!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
www.chocolatecoveredbuttons.com
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday this week. I don't know what else to say except oh, my! This is so delicious looking and Caramel Corn is my Favorite! Can't wait to try this recipe.
Hope to see you again next week. Have a wonderful weekend.
Michelle
I never realized how easy it was to make caramel, I will have to try this! The popcorn looks really good too. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday. I hope to see you there next week!
ReplyDeleteOh yum caramel! whats not to like :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds heavenly!! This is being featured today at {Junk in their Trunk}, thanks for linking up!!
ReplyDeleteHow much is 1 "cube" of butter? Like 1 whole stick?
ReplyDeleteYes, one whole stick! I'm sorry I should have been more specific! :)
DeleteI want to know what a cube of butter is also and how did you "can" the caramel sauce.
ReplyDeleteI don't actually process the cans typically, since it lasts so long in the fridge! If I give it as a gift I just leave a note saying to make sure you refrigerate!
DeleteAlso, yes, a cube of butter should read 1/2 cup! I'm sorry, I should have been more clear on that.
So by three bags of popcorn....are you using microwave popcorn that is salted and buttered or is it something different??
ReplyDeleteYes I use microwave popcorn! I have tried it with salted, buttered and plain and they all work great! Whatever your preference is, will work.
DeleteI think I just gained 5 pounds.....
ReplyDeleteI am on my way to the store for some popcorn!
Haha yay! I hope you love it :).
DeleteThis is the recipe I have used for years! It is awesome!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it delicious?? And the best part is how easy it is to make!
DeleteOn canning the caramel do you water bath or pressure cook the jars? If pressure for how long and what pressure? For water bath process time?
ReplyDeleteI don't actually process the cans since it keeps so long in the fridge. I just pour it in the cans, and if I give it as a gift I would just leave a little note saying that it needs to be refrigerated!
DeleteIs a cube of butter a stick?
ReplyDeleteYes, 1/2 cup!
DeleteIs the popcorn good after storing or does it need to be eaten right away?
ReplyDeleteIt will store well for a few days, (maybe 48 hours) in an airtight container. After that I personally don't like it as much!
Deleteblah don't know what I did wrong but when I poured my caramel on top it completely shrunk my popcorn n made it mushy.. Yuck!
ReplyDeleteOh no! I don't know what to tell you, I have never had that happen to me before. It is a soft caramel recipe though, so it shouldn't be crunchy or brittle afterward, it should be soft, but not mushy!
DeleteMy guess would be that maybe you used "light" margarine or butter, which has water in it...I have done that before and my popcorn totally shrunk too. Wonderful recipe!
DeleteThanks so much! And thanks for the heads up, now I will know how to answer that question!
DeleteMine was a mushy mess too, I did not use light butter either!! Super bummed, my kids LOVE caramel popcorn!!
DeleteMaybe it wasn't boiled enought to thicken or maybe it should be cooled for a bit to thicken just enough not to soak the popcorn?
DeleteThe best! Thanks for this post! Awesomesauce!
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome! I hope you love it.
DeleteNice easy recipe...and as a cook I have my favorite pots and pans and some are not that pretty anymore....so its okay for a pot to be Seasoned any true cook would understand...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteTo True thats a pot with character, and you know how much we all love a character.
DeleteYou are so sweet, thanks so much! It's true, I totally have favorite bowls and cups so I understand :).
DeleteCould you then squish them into popcorn balls? Think the soft kind would hold together? I love the portability of popcorn balls.
ReplyDeleteHi! They would definitely mold to a ball, I just don't think they would hold their shape very well. My favorite thing about this caramel popcorn is its softness, I don't love crunchy popcorn balls, but I agree they are super cute and portable! I would put a scoop of this popcorn in the clear small cups and then cover them with cellophane or something! Good luck ;).
Deletethis looks so yummy! Might have to try it for Halloween nite snack. As far as the pot goes, a lot of my favorite kitchen things are the ones that look the worst...they are just well-loved - just like an old teddy bear. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet! It's true, I use my same favorite appliances all the time :). We are making this caramel popcorn for Halloween too, it's tradition and i'm already so excited! I hope you enjoy yours.
DeleteThanks for posting Jessica. This is the easiest recipe for caramel pop corn I have ever seen, I'm Australian and you have a lot of different terminalogy for products to us so please could you explain what karo syrup is, I would think it to be corn syrup would I be right or wrong.?
ReplyDeleteHi Kerri-Anne! So sorry for the delayed response. You are exactly right, Karo syrup is just a brand of corn syrup, its just what I have always called it! So sorry for the confusion and good luck with your caramel... it's delicious!
DeleteI can't wait to try this! If I use a hot-air popper, do you have any idea what measurements of unpopped kernals, OR about how many cups of popped popcorn would equal the 3 bags of microwave popcorn?
ReplyDeleteCher, I was wondering about that too so I looked it up! According to Pop Secret, one bag of microwaveable popcorn contains 3 tbsp. of unpopped popcorn. This translates to 4 cups of popped popcorn. So - for three bags of popcorn we would want to air pop 9 tbsp. of kernels to make 12 cups of popped popcorn! :)
DeleteThanks Sarah :)
DeleteWow, that was so easy and so dang good. Thanks for sharing. It was a perfect after church snack.
ReplyDeleteAmber, thanks for coming back to let me know how it went, you totally made my day! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. All the best! :)
DeleteDo you think you can use hulless popcorn>
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have never tried, so I can't say for sure. I imagine it would work? Let me know if you try it! Good luck :)
Deletehi sarah.. you said that this popcorn recipe is a soft one. but after a while the csramel will harden right? it wont be sticky?
ReplyDeleteHi! Actually no, it shouldn't harden! To me, that is what makes it so darn delicious! I hate popcorn that feels like its cracking your teeth, but it's completely personal preference. If you want a hardened popcorn ball type recipe this isn't the one for you. Good luck!
DeleteDid you use light or dark brown sugar?
ReplyDeleteWhat size can of sweetened condensed milk did you use? This sounds delicious!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I found this on Pinterest and tested it out for a get together! Here are my results: http://pintriedit.com/homemade-caramel-popcorn/
ReplyDeleteWhat size can for condensed milk?
ReplyDeleteMine shrunk up as well. I am assuming that I used to much condensed milk. I use 1/2 of a 12 ox. can. How big of a can are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteCould you add marshmellows to this recipe?
ReplyDeleteI made this for my son's 1st birthday party (carnival theme). It got RAVE reviews. My cousin has since made about 15 batches for the nurses she works with. I am about to use the caramel in teacher gifts too. We can't get enough!!Thanks for the fabulous recipe!!
ReplyDeleteI made this super simple and yes delicious treat for myself and my kids last week... Needless to say I have bought enough ingredients to make 6 two gallon buckets for Christmas family gifts!!and another batch for home.... Yummy
ReplyDeleteI just made this with my four year old daughter. We added peanuts and m&Ms and it's super yummy. Thanks for the great recipe.
ReplyDeleteLove the recipe and so easy! My only suggestion (and maybe you have it there) is to pick the seeds out BEFORE you poor the carmel. Darn me! :) Amazingly good though! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is our new favorite recipe for caramel corn. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCould someone let me know how much or size can of condensed milk
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry! It is the regular 14 oz can! Good luck!
DeleteI plan on making this recipe BUT I'm going to used AIR popped popcorn (don't have a microwave)and I'm going to go with MORE popcorn than what your recipe called for!! I'm not looking for a thick covering of the popcorn but just enough to give me the taste and maybe lower the intake of tons of lovely caramel (honestly I could eat tons of this) but I have to cut the calories some way!! just my thought!! Thanks I'll come back and give you feedback!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jessica. I just came over from pinterest, and I didn't even realize it was your site until I went to pin it myself! I think I'm going to make some of this right now!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what I did wrong, but after pouring the caramel over the popcorn and mixing it never hardened enough where you could eat it with your hands. We literally had to use a fork it was so sticky. Not sure why. We save the rest to use to dip fruit in. It tasted pretty good!
ReplyDeleteHi there! This recipe is AMAZING!! I use the PUFFCORN and it is wonderfull.. I also save some of caramel for dipping apples!!! I just put in the fridge in a covered dish!!! It lasted almost a month in the fridge before I finished it!!!
ReplyDeleteVery good and easy
ReplyDeleteI used about 15 cups of air popped popcorn and I poured about half of the caramel over it. It covered it sufficiently and I was able to save the other half of the caramel for later. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe end of the recipe says to grab a spoon, so I think for the popcorn it isn't supposed to really harden. Either way, if I have to use a spoon or my fingers, this stuff is delicious. I have an entire jar left over for ice cream and whatever else my little heart desires.
ReplyDelete