Microwave Caramel Popcorn

  4.7 – 405 reviews  • Popcorn Candy Recipes

These cookies are all their name says.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Servings: 16

Ingredients

  1. 4 quarts popped popcorn
  2. 1 cup brown sugar
  3. ½ cup butter or margarine
  4. ¼ cup light corn syrup
  5. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  6. ½ teaspoon salt
  7. ½ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  1. Place popped popcorn into a large brown paper bag.
  2. Combine brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl or dish. Microwave for 3 minutes, then stir until well blended. Microwave for another 1 1/2 minutes.
  3. Remove brown sugar mixture from the microwave and stir in baking soda. Pour over popcorn in the bag; fold the top edge of the bag once or twice to close, then shake to coat popcorn.
  4. Place the bag into the microwave and cook for 70 seconds. Shake the bag, flip over, and cook for 70 seconds more.
  5. Pour popcorn out onto waxed paper and let cool until coating is set, 3 to 5 minutes.

Reviews

Brian Allison
I ended up with a paper bag with a huge messy bunch of caramel and only covered the popcorn near it so 75% was not covered. Threw it in a bowl and scraped as much coating off the bag as I could. Thought I would get in there with my hands and coat the rest. Ya, don’t to that ouch. Ended up with this. Might try again or find another recipe.
Joshua Richardson
My 5 year old and I made this together, it was easy and fun. I had my doubts about using the microwave, but it tastes great and clean up was a snap! We can’t stop munching on it!
James Torres
I made a healthier version. I used butter instead of margarine, coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and honey instead of corn syrup. I heated it in a pan on the stove, after heated I added the baking soda stirred it with the popcorn in a bowl and then put it in a paper bag and microwaved it. So good!
Samantha Smith
I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve made this stuff. It is so easy and so yummy. It travels well and makes a great bake sale item. I tell everyone the hardest part about it is finding someplace to get the paper bags.
Natalie Wilson
It was good but made it again with unsalted butter and doubled the vanilla and added it after the 3 minute heating and it made it better!
Brianna Parker
Turned out great! My only recommendation is to use half the mixtures over half the popcorn…shake in bag…add the rest of the popcorn and remainder of the Carmel…shake again….Carmel covers more popcorn this way. I also found the Carmel sticks better when popcorn is warm so I just left mine in sealed bag after popping until I was ready to mix.
Kelly Zavala
Perfect every time! I do a half recipe with one bag of popped microwave popcorn. Everyone loves it and cannot believe it’s so quick.
Madison English
This is perfection but you do need to be aware of how the microwave’s power strength. A high power microwave will need a lot less time, I used 30 seconds for each bag shaking step and that was perfect. Don’t blame the recipe, use your own intuition and experience with your machine.
Jennifer Cummings
I’ve made this recipe for several years now and absolutely LOVE it! I sometimes add 1/2-3/4 cup almonds to the recipe. This is an excellent treat for Christmas gift giving!
Alexis Webb
So delicious! Crack popcorn! I did everything as stated, except for the margarine—instead I used one and a half sticks of butter. Everyone loved it!
Rodney Nguyen
So easy and fast. I use two bags of microwave popcorn. I spray the inside of the paper bag with cooking spray before adding the popped corn. I also add honey roasted peanuts and after final microwave I place in oven on 300 for about 15 minutes.
Shelly Cox
Terrible recipe. How can you put popped corn back into the microwave without having it burn, which is what happened.to me.
Michael Holden
I wish I could post a picture of my popcorn. About 30 seconds into the 1min 10, black smoke started coming out of the microwave. Definitely way too long to put the caramel in, as my popcorn is black, and house smells. The first several steps are all great, and the leftover caramel is tasty… I just need to find a better way to coat the popcorn.
Matthew Lloyd
Used butter instead of margarine and added additional 1/8 teaspoon of salt because of that substitution. This stuff was amazing! Started with 1 cup unpoppped popcorn kernels and made the popcorn from that. Will totally make again!!
Dustin Reeves
This recipe is the easiest and most consistent. Biggest problem is having a microwave big enough for the paper bag.
David Park
So good easy and gluten free
Crystal Frederick
Yummy! Added peanuts as well!
Olivia Richardson
I have made this recipe since my kids were small & they are now in their mid 30’s. It’s always a hit. The only thing that has changed is that due to increased wattage in microwaves the time that I microwave the popcorn and caramel in the paper bag has changed. I place the bag in the microwave for 30 seconds then shake and turn bag over for another 30 seconds. Then I pour it onto the wax paper.
Gregory Miller
I’ve made this over and over. I really like it. I always leave out the baking soda.
Ryan Gonzalez
Super easy and YUM!!
Jessica Novak
I was out of sugar so I substituted half a bag of marshmallows. This is deliciouso!

 

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