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.
Renee says
A great snack for anytime!
Cindy Kerschner says
I could snack on these anytime!
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads says
I have to try these! Totally my kind of recipe!!
Renee Paj says
What cute little bites! I know Joe would love these! I'll have to make them for him one day!
Sandra Shaffer says
These are perfectly sized for munching! I love the sweet and salty combo.
Carrie R says
Now this is my kind of treat! I love the sweet & salty with the crunchy & chewy. 🙂 These are definitely a winner in my book!
Valerie Cathell Clark says
First, your presentation is adorable! I could eat a ton of these! I love popcorn and the gooey, chewy perfect photo is making me drool! Nice post!
Sara Glover says
These are going to be addicting! Can't wait to make them!
Rebekah Hills says
Oh my goodness - those look WONDERFUL! Perfect snack / dessert to enjoy and share!
Wendy Klik says
Yum. These have my vote for best in dessert category.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I just love these! Sweet, salty crunchy goodness!
Lauren Everson says
PERFECT recipe for tonight! I'll take them all, thank you.
The Ninja Baker says
Soooo cute, Shelby! You've inspired me to start using little flags =) Where did you get them? Thank you for the great tips to replicate your yummies. Your words gave me confidence that I truly can make popcorn balls easily =)
Foodie Stuntman says
Sweet and salty seems to be a theme this week and this is another great addition to the mix!
Laura Dembowski says
I'm obsessed with popcorn lately and these candies are totally calling my name!
Tammi @ Momma's Meals says
I love the combo of sweet and salty! These would not last long in my house!
Mary Ellen says
These look so good. I love sweet and salty!
Tara Noland says
These look fantastic as I love sweet and salty together, perfection!!
Christie Daruwalla says
I would love to be able to grab one right through the computer screen. Salty and sweet are my favorite combination.
Liz Berg says
Now, these are what I'd gravitate towards when choosing a munchie to eat during the Oscars!!! I have no will power when it comes to popcorn or popcorn balls!