PUMPKIN SPICE CARAMEL POPCORN

Pumpkin spice caramel popcorn combines the best flavors into one incredible treat! This recipe for homemade caramel popcorn adds warm Fall spices into sweet caramel corn everyone enjoys.

Baked caramel popcorn is coated with a pumpkin spiced caramel, chewy nuts like cashews and pecans, this is one tasty treat you will enjoy all season long! Whip up a batch of this homemade microwave caramel popcorn for your next family movie night and your whole family is sure to rejoice!

Pumpkin Spiced Caramel Corn 

We use warm and comforting spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, but if desired, you can totally add in some chili powder for a kick of heat! Either way, this pumpkin caramel popcorn should be added to your Autumn bucket list. Unlike other caramel corn recipes, this recipe is made with baking soda, making it nice and chewy and softer too. You will never want to pay for expensive caramel popcorn again with this simple caramel corn recipe in your back pocket. The most important thing to remember is not to skip out on the baking soda, it is the trick to fluffy and soft popcorn.

Why we think you will adore this easy popcorn recipe

If you are not already convinced to give this recipe a try, here are more reasons to convince you.

• It’s pretty easy. Sure, you will need to make a caramel sauce, pop some corn and check on it every few minutes or so, but that is all simple work. All of the work is well worth it in the end too.
• Great for snacking and parties. Serve up a big bowl of caramel corn for your next Halloween party, or serve it up on movie night with the family. It is just as tasty when shared with a large group as eating it yourself.
• It could help you to save money. If you are like me, you may find it hard to resist buying bags of caramel corn every year. Making it from scratch is far cheaper! Not only that, but you can customize your popcorn by changing the add-ins and making it more personalized to your tastes.

Pumpkin Caramel Corn Ingredients 

Popcorn– You will need 12 cups of popped popcorn. Using unseasoned/unsalted popcorn is best. You can air pop it or use microwave popcorn (about 3-4 bags).

Cashews– Add in 1 cup of cashews if desired, or if you want, use in any type of nut that you enjoy.

Pecans– You will want 1 cup of halved pecans for added flavor and fall flavor tastiness.

Butter– Using 1 cup of unsalted butter will make the caramel syrup really rich and flavorful.

Brown sugar– Use 2 cups of firmly packed brown sugar for a nice depth of flavor and sweetness.

Corn syrup– You will need ¾ cups of light corn syrup to make the caramel sauce thicker.

Salt– Adding in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt will help to enhance the flavors in the caramel popcorn.

Baking soda– Use 1 teaspoon of baking soda to make the caramel nice and fluffy. When it bakes, this will make it more crispy!

Vanilla extract– Add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for amazing added flavor.

Pumpkin pie spice– Use ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for warm fall flavors.

Cinnamon– By adding in ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, you can add more flavor to every bite.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn

Prep

Begin by preheating the oven to 250 degrees F.

Then, either pop the popcorn in the microwave or whatever your preferred method is.

Assembly

Next, in a large disposable pan, combine the popped popcorn, cashews, and pecans and set aside. I like to use the large aluminum pans like these, you can find them on Amazon or even your local Dollar Store.

After that, in a medium sized sauce pan, over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup and bring to a boil and let boil for 5 minutes. Stir regularly during this process.

Then, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the salt, baking soda, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Stir until combined.

Proceed to pour the hot sugar mixture over the top of the popcorn and nuts. Use a large spoon to stir together until well coated gently.

Bake

Place the popcorn pan into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Remove the popcorn from the oven and let it cool completely before eating or storing it for later.

Serve and enjoy!

Alternate Spicy Option

This popcorn is well spiced with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, but if desired, you can mix in 1 teaspoon of chili powder for a kick of heat. This would be added to the caramel mixture at the same time as the other spices. I love a nice mixture of sweet and spicy, this additional ingredient definitely kicks this recipe up a notch!

How to store this pumpkin spice caramel corn recipe

Keep your popcorn stored in an airtight container or ziplocked bag. This will help it to stay crispy for up to 10 days when kept stored at room temperature.

Can I freeze caramel corn?

While I don’t recommend it, you definitely could freeze caramel-coated popcorn like this recipe. It lasts for up to 1 year if stored properly in an airtight container. Just note that the popcorn will weep or sweat as it thaws, so it may not be crispy for too long once thawed.

Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar to make caramel?

Yes. If you don’t have brown sugar on hand, you can use 2 cups of granulated white sugar instead of 2 cups of brown sugar. Just stir 2 teaspoons of molasses into the granulated sugar before using, and the recipe will taste the same as if you had used dark brown sugar.

Check out these other great popcorn recipes!

• OLD FASHIONED PINK POPCORN
• GAME DAY POPCORN SNACK MIX
• CHOCOLATE CHERRY POPCORN
• BETTER THAN CARAMEL POPCORN
• COPYCAT CRACKER JACKS
• PEPPERMINT POPCORN
• MARSHMALLOW CARAMEL POPCORN
• MAPLE PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN
• PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN
• HALLOWEEN POPCORN
• OREO POPCORN
• CARAMEL POPCORN CAKE

Pumpkin spice caramel popcorn is a combination of some of the best fall flavors in one amazing treat! This recipe for homemade caramel popcorn is so easy to make, it comes together nicely to create a chewy and sweet treat.