Caramel Popcorn Balls

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.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love it
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🥄 Equipment
• 🥫Storage
• 📖 Variations
• 💭 Tips
• 📚 Related Recipes
• 🏫 The last word
• 📖 Recipe
• Top Tips
• 💬 Comments

❤️ 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

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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

1. Air pop or stove-top pop the popcorn kernels. For 10 cups of corn, you will need ½ cup popcorn kernels. 
2. Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl making sure there are no unpopped kernels in the bowl. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Combine sugar and corn syrup with butter. Bring caramel mixture to a boil.
4. Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Stir they syrup constantly to prevent scorching.
5. Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and stir gently to coat completely. Set mixture aside to cool about 5 minutes.
7. 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!

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📖 Recipe