Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn combines the beloved flavors of pumpkin spice with the sweet crunch of caramel-coated popcorn, making it an irresistible snack for cozy evenings. This delightful caramel popcorn recipe not only satisfies those seasonal cravings but also offers an easy way to impress friends and family!
Making pumpkin popcorn at home is a simple and rewarding process. The homemade caramel for popcorn transforms ordinary popcorn into a flavorful experience that celebrates the season!
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn: A Delicious Autumn Treat
This pumpkin spice popcorn snack captures the essence of fall in each bite. This treat not only satisfies sweet cravings but also evokes the warm, cozy feelings associated with the fall season. The balance of flavors makes it a popular choice during Halloween and Thanksgiving gatherings.
Creating an ideal Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn involves carefully selecting ingredients, perfectly balancing flavors and textures, and executing precise preparation techniques. Each step contributes to the overall quality and taste of the finished product.
Exploring this tasty recipe allows for creativity and customization, such as adding nuts or chocolate for extra texture. Mastering Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn is a surefire way to elevate holiday snacking and create lasting memories with loved ones.
Why you’ll love this Caramel Popcorn Recipe
- Easy steps. The recipe is easy to follow, making it accessible for both novice and experienced cooks. Simple ingredients come together to create a delicious snack.
- 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.
- Perfect sweet gift. This treat also makes a lovely gift. Packaged in a jar or box, it offers a personalized touch for friends and family. Enjoying caramel popcorn sparks joyful moments, celebrating the season with every bite.
Pumpkin Caramel Corn Ingredients
Popcorn: You will need 12 cups of popped popcorn, unseasoned/unsalted popcorn works best. You can air pop it or use microwave popcorn (about 3-4 bags).
Cashews: Use 1 cup of cashews, if desired, or use in any type of nut that you enjoy.
Pecans: Adding 1 cup of halved pecans gives the treat more flavor and crunchy texture too.
Butter: 1 cup of unsalted butter will make the caramel syrup rich and flavorful.
Brown sugar: You need 2 cups of firmly packed brown sugar for a nice depth of flavor and sweetness in the caramel coating.
Corn syrup: Add ¾ cups of light corn syrup for a thick, sweet caramel sauce.
Salt: Enhance the flavor by adding 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
Baking soda: Use 1 teaspoon of baking soda to make the caramel sauce nice and fluffy. After the popcorn bakes, this ingredient will help make it crispy!
Vanilla extract: Adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract gives the treat an even more amazing flavor.
Pumpkin pie spice: For the warm, fall taste we are going for, use ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
Cinnamon: You need ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon to give the candy coating a nice warm taste.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn
Prep
Get started 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 saucepan, over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it 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 again until well combined.
Proceed to pour the hot sugar mixture over the top of the popcorn and nuts. Now use a large spoon to stir the ingredients together until the popcorn and nuts are well coated.
Bake
Place the popcorn pan into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent it from 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!
PUMPKIN SPICE CARAMEL POPCORN
Ingredients
- 12 cups unseasoned popcorn popped
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- 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 5minutes. 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!
Notes
Nutrition
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How to store this pumpkin spice caramel corn recipe
Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn should be stored in an airtight container to keep it fresh. Keeping it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight will help maintain its texture and flavor.
This will help it to stay crispy for up to 10 days when kept stored properly at room temperature.
Can Pumpkin Caramel Popcorn be made in advance for events?
Yes, Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn can be prepared in advance. It typically lasts for about 1-2 weeks when stored properly. Making it ahead of time can save effort on the day of the event.
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
- S’MORES POPCORN
- GAME DAY POPCORN SNACK MIX
- CHOCOLATE CHERRY POPCORN
- CINNAMON POPCORN
- BETTER THAN CARAMEL POPCORN
- COPYCAT CRACKER JACKS
- PEPPERMINT POPCORN
- MARSHMALLOW CARAMEL POPCORN
- BETTER THAN CARAMEL POPCORN
- MAPLE PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN
- SNICKERS PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN
- PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN
- HALLOWEEN POPCORN
- HOT CHOCOLATE 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.
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