This popcorn recipe for Caramel Popcorn Balls is chewy, sweet, and salty. They are the best and easiest gooey popcorn balls ever and they are perfect for fall gatherings, halloween, or anytime you want a sweet and salty snack.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- The gray sea salt sprinkling over top puts this popcorn recipe at the top of all its competitors.
- It is the easiest popcorn balls recipe to make, they are literally a no-fail recipe
- They are perfect treat for fall parties, halloween, and christmas parties.
🥘 Ingredients
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!)
🔪 Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
🥄 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
🥫Storage
I like to store these popcorn balls in an airtight container or individually in a bag at room temperature up to 2 weeks (if they last that long!).
📖 Variations
- Add chopped nuts to the popcorn mixture.
- Sprinkle the popcorn balls with some colored jimmies
- Drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkles
- Dip ½ of the ball in milk or dark chocolate
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper into the syrup mixture to for a sweet hot popcorn ball
💭 Tips
- Remove any unpopped popcorn kernels from the bowl before adding the syrup.
- To prevent the syrup from burning, stir constantly the entire 5 minutes of boiling time.
- Don't go over the 5 minute cooking time as you take the chance of hardening the syrup.
- The vanilla extract will bubble quickly when added to the syrup, so be careful when stirring it in.
- To prevent the caramel from sticking to your hands, rub some butter on your hands before shaping the popcorn balls.
- To prevent burning your hands, don't be in a hurry to shape the popcorn ball
📚 Related Recipes
Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn Snack Mix is another sweet popcorn recipe that I love to make for Halloween!
Love fudge? Try this Halloween Candy Corn Fudge Recipe!
Kids and adults alike will love to gobble down these Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats!
Grown-Up Halloween Party for more fun ideas.
🏫 The last word
I can't stress how easy these popcorn balls are to make. If you have been popcorn ball challenged, then this is the recipe to try. The magic ingredient that makes these so gooey and also easy to make is the sweetened condensed milk. They are a fun treat and everyone loves them!
*If you made this recipe, please give it a star rating!*
📖 Recipe
Caramel Popcorn Balls
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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.
Bobbie says
Should the cupcake liners be sprayed with cooking spray before putting the popcorn balls in them?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
You don't have to put them in cupcake liners if you don't want to. I basically did that for photo purposes. However, if you want to display them that way, you shouldn't need the liners as they aren't sticky once they are cooled down.
Barbie says
Can you use fine sea salt? I cannot find the grey seal salt in our stores
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Barbie, Yes, you can sprinkle lightly with fine sea salt, or leave it off entirely. Shelby
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make them?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
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!)
Linda Brockmiller says
Can you use Microwave popcorn?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Linda, you can, but I would be sure it was not a heavily seasoned or buttered popcorn. Shelby
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says
I love caramel corn, this looks like it would fit my taste just perfectly!
Sarah Reid says
I love popcorn in all different ways, I have to try this!