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    You are here: Home / 30 Minutes & Under / Vegan Popcorn with Caramel

    Vegan Popcorn with Caramel

    Published: January 31, 2021. Last Updated: January 31, 2021 by: Ginny McMeans

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    Spilled popcorn box of caramel popcorn with two standing behind.
    Spilled popcorn box of caramel popcorn.

    Vegan Popcorn with Caramel has a lovely light sweetness. You'll learn how to make caramel popcorn on the stove and without corn syrup. 8 cups for you and your friends!

    Caramel popcorn spilled out onto a white table from a popcorn box.



    I made some Easy Caramel Popcorn and I am feeling proud. Isn't it nice that you can get such a great snack out of simple corn kernels?

    You can pop your snack in so many ways too. On a stovetop, in an instant pot or in a popcorn maker.

    Popcorn is a year-round treat and it can be dressed up in so many ways. I finally broke down and bought a popcorn maker. It makes life easier and much cleaner.

    It is one by Orville Redenbacher and I highly recommend it if you're in the market. So now I can make popcorn any time I want in just minutes and eat it with a multitude of toppings such as this wonderful vegan caramel popcorn recipe.

    If you can bear to part with any of your treat it would also make a wonderful homemade gift.

    Jump to:
    • Caramel popcorn without corn syrup
    • Tips for making easy caramel corn
    • How to make caramel popcorn on the stove
    • Vegan caramel corn variations
    • How to use a candy thermometer to make caramel
    • What are some other popcorn toppings
    • FAQ's
    • More snack like desserts
    • 📋 Recipe
    Two boxes a snack treat up close to the camera.

    Caramel popcorn without corn syrup

    This is really very easy and you don't need corn syrup at all. You just need to cook the caramel sauce about a minute longer than you would if you were using corn syrup.

    You could use a candy thermometer and you cook it to the temperature of 255°. I've included exact steps below if you are interested in going with a candy thermometer.

    Tips for making easy caramel corn

    The recipe card is below but I'm going to give more hints, and tips here that can't fit into the recipe card.

    Make sure the corn kernels are certified organic and that means it will also be non-GMO because genetically modified ingredients are prohibited for organic products.

    Make the popcorn according to your package directions. 8 cups of it. After it's all popped pick out any of the corn kernels that have not popped so you don't bite into one while you're enjoying your vegan popcorn.

    After baking your snack take it out of the oven and spread it out on two baking sheets if you'd like to cool the caramel down faster.

    Spilled snack out of a red and white box onto a white table.

    How to make caramel popcorn on the stove

    • Cook popcorn on the stove, in an Instant Pot, or in a popcorn maker.
    • Pour into a bowl and set aside.
    • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
    • In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and salt
    Ingredients for a sweet sauce and a saucepan with butter and sugar added.
    • Cook until butter is melted and continue cooking for 4 minutes without stirring. It gets rolling.
    • Add baking soda and vanilla, stir to combine
    • Pour over popped corn and stir well.
    Cooking the caramel and then showing it over popcorn in a bowl.
    • Immediately spread evenly onto a cookie sheet. The mixture starts to cool pretty fast so that is why you want to do this right away.
    Wide photo showing a snack treat spread out on a baking sheet.
    • Bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees.
    • Cool completely.
    • Store in airtight container or eat. 🙂

    Vegan caramel corn variations

    If you're looking for something like cracker jacks then you can add peanuts. They go in at the very end right after you've taken the vegan popcorn out of the oven.

    Stir as usual and you're ready to enjoy a delicious snack.

    Another nice addition is dried cranberries. So, let's say you have just added peanuts and now you can add cranberries. They add a really nice sweet/tart texture.

    Now you have two variations. Here's a picture of this easy caramel popcorn with the variation of both peanuts and dried cranberries being added.

    Large heavy bowl filled with easy caramel popcorn and spilling over the side.

    How to use a candy thermometer to make caramel

    • In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and salt,
    • Bring to a boil (over medium-high heat) stirring (almost) all the time so as to not burn. When it comes to a boil clip on the candy thermometer. This is what my candy thermometer looks like.
    • At this point, you only need to stir occasionally. Be very careful as it is at a rolling boil. Cook until the thermometer reaches the hard ball stage. That is 255 degrees on the thermometer.
    • Remove the candy thermometer carefully and don't get any hot mixture on your skin.
    • You'll have to work quickly with the caramel because it will start to cool while mixing with the popcorn. Pour over the popcorn eyeballing half of the mixture. Stir with a large wooden spoon.
    • You can pour some into a large mixing bowl and stir that way in a few smaller groups. Place back onto the baking sheet and place in a 300-degree oven and bake 10 minutes.
    • Remove from oven stir and bake 5 more minutes.
    A spilled box of a vegan snack with two more boxes behind.

    What are some other popcorn toppings

    • Nutritional Yeast and cumin of course.
    • Dairy-free butter and Franks's hot sauce or Sriracha.
    • A vegan dry mix for cool ranch dressing.
    • Chili seasoning mix. Here's my recipe for Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix.
    • And you can dress up this recipe in other ways too!
      • Salted caramel
      • Chocolate caramel
      • Caramel apple

    FAQ's

    Cab you freeze popcorn?

    Indeed! There are so many plusses for freezing it.
    Popcorn is super cheap and a few corn kernels pop up huge quantities. Of course, it's very easy to eat a couple of cups at a time.
    Go ahead and put it in an airtight container or freezer bag and then in the freezer because it stays good for weeks!
    Not only that popcorn never actually freezes and never turns stale when stored this way. Amazing!

    Why do you add baking soda to caramel?

    Baking soda stops the reaction of the sugar seizing up in the cooking. You get a nice smooth caramel.

    Closeup of vegan popcorn at the top of a red and white box.

    More snack like desserts

    • There are so many delicious snack muffins to enjoy and these Banana Macadamia Muffins are one of the best.
    • Pineapple Coconut Bars are sweet and satisfying!
    • These Date Energy Balls are sweet and have lots of nice energy -packing goodness.

    📋 Recipe

    Caramel popcorn spilled out onto a white table from a popcorn box.

    Vegan Popcorn with Caramel

    Ginny McMeans
    Vegan Popcorn with Caramel has a lovely light sweetness. You'll learn how to make caramel popcorn on the stove and without corn syrup.
    4.56 from 9 votes
    Print Save Saved
    Prep Time 4 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 24 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 8 Cups
    Calories 169 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 cups popped popcorn
    • ¾ cup organic brown sugar
    • ¼ cup dairy-free butter
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Cook popcorn on the stovetop, Instant Pot, or in a popcorn maker.
    • Pour into a bowl and set aside.
    • Preheat oven to 300 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
    • In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and salt.
    • Cook until butter is melted. Continue cooking for 3 minutes without stirring.
    • Add baking soda and vanilla extract, stir to combine.
    • Pour over popped corn and stir well.
    • Spread evenly onto the prepared cookie sheet.
    • Bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees.
    • Cool completely.
    • Store in an airtight container.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1CupCalories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 314mgPotassium: 65mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 22IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Blue graphic snowflake as Vegan in the Freezers logo.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Allison - Celebrating Sweets

      December 11, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      I always add peanuts to my popcorn - I love the crunch. This looks incredible! Pinning to try soon!

    2. Sandra Shaffer

      December 11, 2017 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      For years my kids gave my dad a tin of popcorn for his birthday that's in December. I'm going to encourage them to making it homemade this year. He would love cranberry caramel popcorn!

    3. Luci's Morsels

      December 11, 2017 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      What a great, seasonal twist on a fan favorite snack! I have to try this. Yummy!

    4. Cláudia Caldeira

      January 31, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, this sounds amazing, my tomorrow snack 🤤

    5. JoAnn

      February 01, 2021 at 1:59 pm

      What is 1.4 teaspoons Ive never seen that before
      Thank you

    6. Ginny McMeans

      February 01, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      Sorry about that JoAnn. It's 1/4. My finger was one over in my typing 🙂

    « Older Comments

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    For years I dabbled in cooking vegan food, but since I became a mom it has become more important for me than ever. What I’m after is a great collection of healthy and not time-consuming vegan recipes that make the whole family look forward to meals together.

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