Homemade Werther’s Caramel Popcorn Copycat
This Homemade Werther’s Caramel Popcorn recipe brings the rich, buttery flavor of classic caramel candies to fresh, crunchy popcorn. Perfect for movie nights, parties, or gifting, it’s an easy and versatile snack that delights every age group.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 50
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup kernels)
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels to yield about 10 cups of popped popcorn. Remove unpopped kernels. Place popcorn in a large heatproof bowl or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Melt over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
- Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly, then let boil 4–5 minutes without stirring until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Immediately pour caramel over popcorn. Fold gently with a heatproof spatula to coat evenly.
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Spread coated popcorn on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 45–50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Break into clusters or pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Work quickly when coating popcorn to prevent caramel from hardening.
Optional: Add nuts or drizzle melted chocolate over cooled popcorn for variation.
Ensure popcorn is plain and unsalted for best results.