This popcorn recipe for Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Balls is chewy, sweet, and salty. They are the best and easiest gooey popcorn balls I have ever made! It is perfect for fall gatherings, halloween, or anytime you want a sweet and salty snack. The gray sea salt sprinkling over top puts this popcorn recipe at the top of all its competitors.
This is a stovetop popcorn recipe, no need to turn on the oven in any capacity. The popcorn is some oil, cover with a lid, and shake when you hear the kernels popping. The caramel portion of this recipe is made with butter, sweetened condensed milk, and brown sugar.
Jump to:
Halloween Popcorn Recipe
Popcorn makes a great Halloween treat. Popcorn Balls are my number one favorite way to do Halloween up and do it up right. Kids and adults alike love this popcorn ball recipe and they will disappear fast as soon as they are spotted on the table.
I always relate popcorn balls to fall and Halloween because that was my favorite treat I would receive when I went trick or treating as a child. We had a neighbor who made a popcorn ball with brown sugar and I absolutely loved the flavor and texture of that recipe.
Sweet and Salty Flavors
As an adult, my taste buds moved into enjoying salty and sweet flavor combinations. I love salted popcorn, and adding the sweet caramel puts it up another notch. So, it made sense to make these Sweet and Salty Popcorn Balls to appease my adult taste buds!
I love popcorn of all kinds. But give me those with a little something extra and I'm super happy. These Sweet and Salty Popcorn balls do the trick as well as this recipe for Sweet Hot Caramel Corn and Chocolate Drizzled Kettle Corn with Almonds! The textures, sweet, heat, salt and crunch have me hooked!
Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.
Popped popcorn kernels, I love this brand.
Sweetened condensed milk. Since the entire can is not being used, I recommend purchasing it in a squeeze bottle for convenience sake.
Brown sugar, light brown sugar is best for keeping the color light and still adding the caramelized flavor.
Vanilla extract for flavor enhancement.
Grey sea salt to sprinkle over the popcorn balls (optional but delicious!)
Equipment
Medium saucepan (2-4 quarts),
Large mixing bowl (will hold 10 cups)
Wooden spoon for stirring the caramel sauce
Silicone spatula, to scrape the saucepan clean of caramel sauce.
Air Popper for popping the popcorn
How To Make Gooey Caramel Popcorn Balls
Step 1:
- Air pop or stove-top pop the popcorn kernels. For 10 cups of corn, you will need ½ cup popcorn kernels.
- Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl making sure there are no unpopped kernels in the bowl. Set aside.
Step 2:
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Combine sugar and corn syrup with butter. Bring caramel mixture to a boil.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Stir they syrup constantly to prevent scorching.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir gently to coat completely. Set mixture aside to cool about 5 minutes.
Step 3:
- Scoop out about ¼ cup measure of popcorn mixture and shape into balls. Place on waxed paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with fleur de sel.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Top Tips
- Be sure to remove any unpopped popcorn kernels from the bowl.
- Once the syrup has come to a boil, immediately add the sweetened condensed milk, then stir constantly the entire 5 minutes of boiling time. Not stirring constantly causes the syrup to burn.
- Start a timer for 5 minutes as soon as the sweetened condensed milk is added to the syrup. Don't go over the 5 minute cooking time as you take the chance of hardening the syrup.
- As soon as the 5 minutes is up, slowly pour the vanilla extract into it. The vanilla extract will bubble quickly when added so be careful when stirring it in so you don't spatter yourself with hot syrup.
- Use cooking spray or butter on your hands when shaping the popcorn balls. This will prevent the syrup from sticking to your hands.
- Don't be too anxious to start shaping the popcorn balls. Make sure to let it cool down enough to not burn your hands when shaping.
Variations to this recipe
- Stir in some chopped nuts to the corn mixture before shaping into balls
- Instead of vanilla extract, use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon of banana or almond extract.
- Sprinkle the popcorn balls with some colored jimmies
- Drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkles
- Dip ½ of the ball in milk or dark chocolate
- Stir in ½ cup chocolate chips or white chocolate chips just before shaping into balls.
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper into the syrup mixture to for a sweet hot popcorn ball.
- Sit each salted caramel popcorn ball on parchment or wax paper to cool and set.
More Fall Snack Recipes
Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn Snack Mix is another sweet popcorn recipe that I love to make for Halloween!
Another delicious popcorn recipe is Halloween Popcorn that is coated with orange and black candy coating.
These Super Easy Halloween Pretzel Bites are made with only 3 ingredients!
These Nutter Butter Halloween Bat Cookies, remind me of my love for those cookies and they are cute to boot!
Love fudge? Try this Halloween Candy Corn Fudge Recipe!
Kids and adults alike will love to gobble down these Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats!
Check out this Kid-Friendly Halloween Party post this Grown-Up Halloween Party for more fun ideas.
*If you made this recipe, please give it a star rating!*
📖 Recipe
Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 10 cups air popped popcorn
- grey sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Place popcorn in a large bowl making sure there are no unpopped popcorn kernels in the bowl. Set aside until syrup is ready.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Combine sugar and corn syrup with butter. Bring caramel mixture to a boil.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent scorching.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and stir gently to coat completely. Set mixture aside to cool about 5 minutes.
- Scoop out about ¼ cup measure of popcorn mixture and shape into balls. Place on waxed paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with fleur de sel.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Top Tips
- Be sure to remove any unpopped popcorn kernels from the bowl.
- Once the syrup has come to a boil, immediately add the sweetened condensed milk, then stir constantly the entire 5 minutes of boiling time. Not stirring constantly causes the syrup to burn.
- Start a timer for 5 minutes as soon as the sweetened condensed milk is added to the syrup. Don't go over the 5 minute cooking time as you take the chance of hardening the syrup.
- As soon as the 5 minutes is up, slowly pour the vanilla extract into it. The vanilla extract will bubble quickly when added so be careful when stirring it in so you don't spatter yourself with hot syrup.
- Use cooking spray or butter on your hands when shaping the popcorn balls. This will prevent the syrup from sticking to your hands.
- Don't be too anxious to start shaping the popcorn balls. Make sure to let it cool down enough to not burn your hands when shaping.
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make them?
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Vanessa, my apologies, I am just seeing your question this morning. These will last a good 2 weeks on the counter (if you can resist eating) them!)
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty]
I love caramel corn, this looks like it would fit my taste just perfectly!
Sarah Reid
I love popcorn in all different ways, I have to try this!