Christmas Caramel Corn Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (2024)

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Christmas Caramel Corn

This is what I give every Christmas and everyone loves it. Pop the corn fresh using an air popper, a pot on the stove or my paper bag microwave method (see my video) but do not use store bought popped or the packaged microwave kind. You’ll need a baking sheet with a rim so the mixture doesn’t spill out when you stir it.- Jenny Jones

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Makes: about 9 cups

Christmas Caramel Corn Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (1)

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups fresh popped popcorn (1/3 cup popping corn)
  • 3/4 cup any nuts (almonds/walnuts/pecans/dry roasted peanuts)
  • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 250º F.
  2. Place popped corn into a large bowl. Place the nuts on top.
  3. Heat the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until butter is melted. Reduce heat and cook, undisturbed and uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  4. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in baking soda & vanilla.
  5. Pour the syrup over the nuts & popcorn, stirring quickly.
  6. Spread the mixture onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for one hour, removing briefly every 15 minutes to stir.
  7. Spread the mixture onto wax paper to cool. It will seem sticky at first but it will dry up nicely.

Note: Plain corn syrup is not the same as high fructose corn syrup.

Christmas Caramel Corn

Leave a Comment

  1. Debbie

    January 14, 2021 at 6:45 am

    Regarding your caramel corn. What does the baking soda do for the caramel. Just curious. Thanks

    Reply to this comment

  2. Shaunese Alexander

    June 15, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Hi Jenny. I love your caramel popcorn. Do you have a recipe for cheddar popcorn?

    Reply to this comment

  3. Martin Daynorowicz

    December 22, 2019 at 10:22 am

    Ms. Stronski — Despite your TV fame, I never knew about your Polish heritage and have enjoyed your YouTube vids as it aligns so much with my family’s traditions and cooking. (My father was also moreso the cook in the family as were most of the men — and now me, youngest of 7). Pierogi day is tomorrow and making Kruschiki, Kapusniak, and maybe a poppy seed roll if I have time. Since our folks are gone, I still try to keep tradition. Our Wegilia has morphed over the years but God forbid we have any meat on Christmas Eve! My mother would return from the grave and scold us. Passing the torch to the kids has been daunting. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Reply to this comment

  4. Kathy

    December 7, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    My college age granddaughter decided to make your Carmel corn for Christmas gifts…I offered to assist and provide guidance. She watched the video..it’s great. We had so much fun making a total of 7 batches back to back. She said that it is so good she almost wanted to keep it and not give it away. What a great day we had!

    PS: Whar size bag do you use and where do you get them?

    Reply to this comment

    • Tena

      January 22, 2020 at 9:02 pm

      Hi,
      I’ve noticed Amazon has the cellophane and paper bags for edible treats.
      Saw your question here and thought I would respond. Hope this helps ?

      https://www.amazon.com/StarPack
      -Premium-Cellophane-Christmas-

      Reply to this comment

    • AK

      February 21, 2019 at 5:37 pm

      Do you know what Temp the mixture is when it has boiled for 5 mins? I live at 8,000’ & must adjust recipes accordingly.
      Wonderful website. Great recipes, tips and sense of humor!

      Reply to this comment

    • deanna

      December 18, 2018 at 8:31 am

      Hi Jenny Merry Christmas to you and yours, This corn was so
      yummy!! thank you, tomorrow stuffed cabbage rolls! Thank You Jenny, you are a comic, and I love it! keep smiling! your friend ~Dee

      Reply to this comment

    • Janice Rose

      November 4, 2017 at 7:32 am

      You are so darn cute! I cannot wait to try your recipes. My kind of girl!

      Reply to this comment

    • Delphine Czewski

      March 31, 2017 at 11:21 am

      Jenny, love to cook and love your recipes. My husband loves everything I have made so far from your recipes. I was wondering if you had any gluten-free recipes especially in the line of sweets? I also am Polish and loved the paczki recipe that you bake instead of fry. I have made them both ways, but love yours better. Have made your muffins, cinnamon rolls, blueberry coffee cake and ribs. Love your videos and you. You make it so much fun! God bless you!!

      Reply to this comment

    • vfromkcmo

      December 26, 2016 at 11:15 pm

      I am so glad to see some new recipes… I stumbled onto your site this past year and love all your recipes also am signed up for youtube videos… sooo am always waiting for new recipes from you!! The caramel corn was great and easy!! Thanks for all your time and effort!!

      Reply to this comment

    • Barbo

      December 15, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      Making this tonight. Husband is a connoisseur of caramel corn. (he thinks)
      Let u know if this passes his taste test (smile)

      Reply to this comment

      • Barbo

        December 20, 2016 at 7:02 pm

        DH raved. It’s a winner!

        Also, I shall never make popcorn any way except the
        brown bag Jenny way.

        Reply to this comment

      • RHONDA DAVIS

        December 14, 2016 at 10:15 pm

        Thank you, thank you for the video! There were so many fine points covered that would not have translated without watching and listening to you. Love the final shot of you losing it! ?? I’m definitely going to make this for Bingo this weekend.

        Reply to this comment

        Leave a Comment

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        Just click on this link: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com.

Christmas Caramel Corn Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix soggy caramel corn? ›

Give it some time to cool. If it's still tasting soggy after 1–2 hours of cooling at room temperature, you may have under-baked the caramel corn. 1 hour in the oven is usually plenty. Additionally, be sure to cook the caramel on the stove for long enough.

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How do you make Martha Stewart caramel popcorn? ›

In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.

Get More Info
Why is my caramel corn chewy? ›

Generally, the caramel will have a higher 'water activity' than the popcorn. As a result, if you leave the popcorn for a while, moisture from the caramel will migrate into the corn. This causes the popcorn to lose its 'crunch' and become soft and chewy.

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Why is my homemade caramel corn soggy? ›

Make sure to allow your caramel corn PLENTY of time to cool before packaging it up into ziplock bags or an airtight container. Otherwise, condensation will form and the moisture will cause the popcorn to become soggy. And no one likes soggy caramel corn!

Tell Me More
What can I use instead of baking soda in caramel? ›

There are several pantry-friendly ingredients that you can use as baking soda substitutes, including egg whites, self-rising flour and even club soda.

Read The Full Story
Why is my caramel popcorn not crunchy? ›

The longer you cook the syrup (the mixture of sugar and water the forms the base of the caramel sauce), the crunchier your popcorn will be. For very crunchy popcorn (my favorite!), stop cooking when you see the first wisps of smoke coming from the sugar mixture.

Discover More
How do you fix caramel that is too soft? ›

Pour back into a prepared buttered pan. If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough. Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F.

Tell Me More
Why is my caramel gooey? ›

Certain ingredients like corn syrup can make it sticky. Not cooking the candy all the way to hard crack stage can make it more sticky. High humidity in the air can make it sticky.

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Why put an egg in caramel popcorn? ›

While some people said that she added the egg to absorb extra heat, others had different views. "Whole eggs absorb excess heat so it's an easy way to regulate the temperature balance of the other ingredients," a user wrote.

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Why put a whole egg in caramel popcorn? ›

Even if you want to add candy or sauces, it doesn't require an egg. Still, some say the egg keeps the kernels from sticking together, while others say it's to keep wannabe chefs from adding too many kernels to the pan.

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What is the difference between kettle corn and caramel popcorn? ›

Kettle corn is a combination of sweet and salty flavors. It is lighter in flavor and texture than caramel corn as the sugar and salt are mixed in during popping rather than coated.

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Do you Stir caramel while cooking? ›

Like dry caramel, you want to gently move the sugar mixture in that same side-to-side paintbrush-like fashion until the sugar dissolves. Then, as soon as the mixture comes to a boil, it should not be stirred, as the agitation can cause crystallization.

Continue Reading
Why is my caramel corn bitter? ›

Be very careful as you heat your caramel. Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

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Do you have to use baking soda for caramel popcorn? ›

Baking Soda – is key to achieving softer, silky texture of caramel sauce that sticks to the popcorn and doesn't get tacky and hard.

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What does baking soda do to cornbread? ›

It makes the batter rise a bit so your cornbread will be light and a little fluffy. If you omit some sort of leavening agent, and baking soda is just one kind, your finished cornbread after baking will be about an inch high, and shall we say, pretty dense.

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Why isn't my caramel corn shiny? ›

A granule of sugar, over-mixing, or uncooperative clumps of sea salt can turn caramel from a glossy, shiny confection into a dull grainy heap of chewy, brown sugar crystals. Candy making, or in this case caramel popcorn making, involves a significant amount of chemistry.

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What does sodium bicarbonate do to caramel? ›

The purpose of baking soda in the caramel is to react with the acid. It helps to soften the caramel for pour-over desserts and/or to use as an additive.

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