Caramel Apple Popcorn is a tasty blend of sweet and salty. Enjoy this caramel popcorn for a fall treat everyone will love.

Caramel apple popcorn in a bowl.
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Caramel corn is a much-loved treat around here and the addition of apple is so delicious. The combination of the flavorful apple chips, savory popcorn, and additional spices creates an incredible first bite. I have been making this easy baked recipe for years.

It is the perfect treat for Fall festivals, movie night or hanging out with your family. We love this flavor combination and also make Caramel Apple Cupcakes, Homemade Caramel Apples and Salted Caramel Apple Pie Recipe.

Why We Love This Recipe

It is inexpensive to make and so yummy. You can feed a crowd without a ton of time or expense. The sweet and salty combination is perfect and makes an absolutely delicious crunchy snack.

This delicious popcorn is not overly sweet and has the perfect blend of amazing flavors. It is so easy to make and tastes just like expensive gourmet popcorn without the fancy price tag.

Ingredients

Ingredients for caramel apple popcorn. - brown sugar, baking soda, popcorn, corn syrup.

Get the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.

Variations

  • Sea Salt. Sprinkle sea salt on the pan of popcorn before it cools.
  • Apple Pie Spice. Substitute apple pie spice for cinnamon in this recipe for another fun Fall favorite.
  • Add more apples. If you love apple flavor, try adding more apple pieces to the recipe. You can add according to taste.
  • Nuts. Try adding nuts to the recipe. We like almonds, pecans, walnuts or peanuts for a great addition.
  • Maple Syrup. This is a delicious flavor and can easily be incorporated into the recipe if desired.

How to make Caramel Apple Popcorn

Popcorn in a bowl.

Step 1. Get out a large bowl. Place the popped corn in a large mixing bowl and remove any un popped popcorn kernels.

Apples added to bowl and placed on top.

Step 2. Gently stir in the dried apples.  

Melted butter in saucepan.

Step 3. Melt the unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Do you use a small saucepan because you will need room to add the sugar and syrup in the next step.

Brown sugar mixture in saucepan.

Step 4. Then stir in the dark brown sugar, light corn syrup, ground cinnamon and salt.  Bring this golden syrup mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Then boil without stirring for approximately 4 minutes. 

Brown sugar coating being poured on popcorn.

Step 5. Remove from the heat and then stir in the baking soda. Then pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and dried apples. Stir to coat all the popcorn with the caramel sauce.

Popcorn in baking sheet.

Step 6. Spread the popcorn on baking sheets. Bake for about 45 minutes. Make sure to stir every 15 minutes). Allow to cool and then serve.

Caramel apple popcorn in a bowl.

Storage

Store the leftover popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Any longer and the popcorn will start to change the texture and not be as crunchy.

Expert Tips

  • Stir every 15 minutes while baking. Don’t forget to check on the popcorn every 15 minutes and stir. This will ensure it cooks evenly.
  • Line the baking sheets. The caramel mixture is sticky and lining the pans will help with clean up. You can use parchment paper or silicone liners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to bake the popcorn?

Yes, the popcorn needs to bake. This helps to make the texture crunchy. It also helps during storage to keep it crispy and not soggy.

Why is there baking soda in the caramel mixture?

Baking soda makes the caramel mixture soft and not hard during the cooking process. If you omit this ingredient, the caramel mixture will be too hard to eat on the popcorn once it sets.

What if my popcorn is stale?

Reheat the popcorn on a baking sheet for 5 minutes in a 250 degree oven. This should bring the popcorn back to life and return it to its original texture.

More Popcorn Recipes

Try These Apple Recipes

Make a batch of homemade Caramel Apple Popcorn today. Please leave a comment and star recipe rating once you try it.

Caramel Apple Popcorn

5 from 1 vote
Caramel Apple Popcorn is a tasty blend of sweet and salty. Enjoy this caramel popcorn for a fall treat everyone will love.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 618

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Place the popcorn in a large mixing bowl.  Gently stir in the dried apples.
  • Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Then stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup, ground cinnamon and salt.
  • Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Then boil without stirring for approximately 4 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and then stir in the baking soda.
  • Then pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and dried apples and stir it to coat all the popcorn with the caramel sauce.
  • Then place the popcorn in two large shallow baking dishes/ or pans and bake in a preheated oven, for approximately 45 minutes (stirring every 15 minutes).
  • Remove from the oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.
  • Then the popcorn is ready to serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 618kcal, Carbohydrates 95g, Protein 4g, Fat 27g, Saturated Fat 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 61mg, Sodium 535mg, Potassium 149mg, Fiber 3g, Sugar 71g, Vitamin A 734IU, Vitamin C 0.01mg, Calcium 62mg, Iron 2mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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