Perfect for party favors, friends, and family; these ooey-gooey caramel popcorn balls are just DELICIOUS.
Making caramel popcorn balls.
As I’ve mentioned before we love family movie night! AND we love popcorn! We tend to trade off between flavors (candied, kettle, butter) but the one we make the MOST often is Caramel Popcorn!
We make it three ways – these caramel popcorn balls, or more loose gooey popcorn or baked and crunchy popcorn!
The great thing about caramel popcorn balls is everyone get’s the same amount, no fighting… The BAD thing about it is they tend to be more messy… BUT hello… more CARAMEL!
I made a video showing how I create the caramel popcorn balls, they are actually super easy and a ton of fun, and something even the kiddo’s can help with.
And if your kids are anything like mine they LOVE to help in the kitchen. Sometimes the struggle is just finding something safe for them to help with!
So which way do you serve caramel popcorn? Gooey, caramelly, crunchy? There is NO WRONG ANSWER! The good news is you can have it both ways!
Go here to get the caramel popcorn ball labels (for neighbor gifts)!
Just take me to the popcorn ball recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my tips and tricks for getting perfect caramel popcorn balls, along with links to other caramel recipes and get straight to this delicious caramel treat – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
How to make caramel popcorn balls
For the popcorn balls pour the sauce over 1 – 1/ 1/2 batches of popcorn. Stir then let the popcorn cool enough to touch it without burning your hands.
Speaking of sticking, you’ll want to spray your hands with cooking spray when you start forming the balls.
Some of the balls might need to be stuck back together, so keep checking on your cooling caramel popcorn.
How to make gooey caramel popcorn
If you just want gooey popcorn pour over 2-3 batches of popcorn stir and serve. The more popcorn the less messy.
How to make crunchy caramel popcorn
If you want crunchy popcorn use 3 batches of popped popcorn. preheat your oven to 250.
Spread the caramel popcorn out on a jelly roll pan and bake for 20-30 mins, stirring occasionally. Then let it cool and break up the chunks.
To make these popcorn balls you’ll need
- Candy thermometer (<- this one is my favorite)
- Popcorn popper
- Mixing bowl
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Jelly roll pan
Gooey caramel popcorn balls
If you love these caramel popcorn balls as much as we do, please leave a 5 star review and be sure to share on Facebook and Pinterest! If you want to stay updated on new recipes sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group!
If you love caramel popcorn balls you’ll love these other gooey caramel recipes!
Salted Caramel Cheesecake | Caramel Brownies | Cheeescake Nachos with Caramel Sauce
Chocolate Caramel Tart | Buttery Homemade Caramel | Caramel Marshmallow
Connect with Ashlee Marie Online!
To watch me make this caramel popcorn play the video in the recipe card. There will also be a short teaser auto playing.
You can find all my cooking show style recipe videos on YouTube, or my short recipe videos on Facebook Watch, or my Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Caramel Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
- 1 C butter
- 1 C light corn syrup
- 2 C packed light brown sugar
- ½ C granulated sugar
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
- 15-30 C popped popcorn less will be messier, and gooier, but I like it, more for a looser caramel popcorn
Instructions
- Bring the butter, syrup, and sugars to a boil, keep bubbling over med heat until it hits the softball stage (240 degrees – use a candy thermometer)
- Add the sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla and boil 1 more min – let it cool a few mins so it doesn’t shrink the popcorn.
- pour over the popcorn and stir
popcorn balls
- use 1 – 1 1/2 batches of air popped popcorn for these balls
- spread the popcorn out and let it start too cool
- spray your hands with cooking spray and portion it out into 8 sections and ball up.
- Continue to check back and ball and turn until they cool enough that they stay in their ball forms
gooey caramel popcorn
- use 2-3 batches of air popped popcorn for this – serve immediately
crunchy caramel popcorn
- use 3 batches of popped popcorn for this – stir and coat as evenly as you can
- IF you want crunchy popcorn preheat your oven to 250 – spread it out in a pan and place in the oven and bake for like 20-30 mins, stirring occasionally, until it crisps up
Marcie
OMG!! SO I JUST MADE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER…AND IT IS AMAZING….I HAD TO POST MYSELF ON THE BACK AND GIVE A SHOT OUT TO YOU..LOL…YOUR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ARE AMAZING..
THANKS CAN’T WAIT TO TRY ANOTHER RECIPE
Ashlee
awww thank you so much! so glad you enjoyed it!
Janelle
super delicious! waiting for mine to cool now. is there a way to make them harden & keep their shape faster? putting mine in fridge before the party. what would you do?
Ashlee
you can use more popcorn and they’ll hold together quicker, but I like them goopier – so I just walk by and reshape every once in a while. but I don’t want mine hard – if you cook it a little longer the caramel will also be harder
Edytte
I was in a hurry and put them in the freezer for less than 10 minutes Immediately after shaping it, and it turns out perfect! They keep their shape until I served it.
Ashlee Marie
awesome! so glad that worked out!
Kathryn Dybwad
OMG, my Pastor said he wanted popcorn balls. His wife was busy cooking for the Christmas fellowship after service so my husband and I got together and made these. Actually used 12 cups of popped popcorn. Never made caramel popcorn balls these turned out awesome. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will continue to use it!!!!!
Ashlee
yay! so glad you enjoyed them! and hope everyone else did too!
Penny
Ashlee, How many ounces of condensed milk? What sized can should I buy? Thank you.
Ashlee
I’ve never seen multiple sizes of sweetened condensed milk – 14 oz is all I’ve ever seen or used – does that help?
Londa Caldwell
I only have dark brown sugar. Will this work?
Ashlee
I’ve never tried it with dark brown sugar- the recipe should work just fine, but the flavor will be more molasses-y
Darlene Mazv
I am making it for the school cake sale
Ashlee Marie
hope it goes well!
Edytte
I did it yesterday, as treat, for my 7 years old daughter’s Soccer team.
I did popcorn balls smaller than shown. I wanted them easy to handled for small children’s hands.
I also was in a hurry… I begun to did them 30minutes before the game! So I put them in the freezer for less than 10 minutes, Immediately after shaping, and they turned out perfect! They keep their shape until I served it. On 25 balls, I stayed with only 3!
I will do it again for sure! My only modification will to cook the sugar slower (more medium heat than medium-hi heat) and pour only half of the sweetened condensed milk for a harder flavor, less buttery.
But it was Absolutely delicious!
Marty white
my first time to make them super easy but took more than 8 cups of popped corn more like 12 cups had to pop corn to add to the caramel but THEY ARE GOOD
Ashlee
My sister uses 12 cups, I like mine more caramel, I’ll make some notes.
Dreama
What is the trick for getting rid of kernels?
Ashlee
http://ashleemarie.com/get-kernels-out-popcorn/
Sandy
Hi Ashleemarie, I was looking for a cooking project to do with my granddaughter. Followed your recipe and video as directed. added 12 cups of popcorn and the balls were super soft and soggy. What did I do wrong? Thank you, Sandy
Ashlee
I’m so sorry to hear that. My guess would be that the caramel sauce wasn’t cooked quite enough. Did you adjust the candy thermometer to your altitude? also did it rain that day – barometer pressure is murder on candy making. AND sometimes candy making is just sensitive – every once in awhile it needs more or less popcorn!
Cindy
How long do they keep after you make them 1week ? And when you put them in a bag do they stick or are they firm.
Ashlee Marie
I keep them in plastic bags and they last a few days, but the popcorn does just get a little to hard for me after a few days. But personal preference. I’ve been told they freeze well, I just never have leftovers!
Sue
Hi, this recipe sounds awesome, can’t wait to try it! However, at the moment I don’t have popcorn kernels in the house, do you think it would work with microwave popcorn? Maybe I’ll give it a try anyway. Thanks!
Ashlee Marie
plain non buttered popcorn sure,
Morris
So easy and so delicious thank you
Kerry
I was thinking of making these up for lunch box treats. Do you think they would stay fresh for 5 to 6 days? I will probably have to hide them to make them last all week.
Ashlee Marie
I like them best in the first few days. I wrap them tight in plastic wrap to keep them fresh. But they are safe to eat much longer
Tricia
Made them today, had to add some more popcorn because there was so much caramel. But turned out great!!!! Thanks
Ashlee Marie
I add more popcorn for just gooey caramel popcorn and even more for crunchy popcorn! the best part of cooking for yourself is personalizing it!
Katie
Any suggestions for those of us that don’t have a candy thermometer? Any tricks? I can go get one but I don’t want to wait to make these! Lol
Ashlee Marie
you can do the ice water test, but a thermometer is always best (and easy to find)
Rhonda
How do I make the crunchy popcorn with your caramel recipe that you mentioned? I would like to try the loose crunchy recipe. Thanks!
Rhonda
Ashlee Marie
for crunchy popcorn I use 3 batches of popped popcorn – stir and coat as evenly as you can
IF you want crunchy popcorn preheat your oven to 250 – spread it out in a pan and place in the oven and bake for like 20-30 mins, stirring occasionally, until it crisps up
J Davis
This is fantastic, the whole family loved it!!
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Rebecca
Oh my!!! So glad to find this recipe!! To die for and oh so easy!! I went old school for soft ball stage…..drop of caramel in cold water to check it!! So quick and easy!!! Thank you!!
Missy
Can you use microwave popcorn?
Ashlee Marie
yes as long as it’s plain, I don’t recommend buttered popcorn
Felicia
Speaking of caramel and apples, could the caramel part be used for caramel apples?
Ashlee Marie
not this caramel recipe, it would be too thin! I’d use this recipe for that https://ashleemarie.com/buttery-homemade-caramel/
Emperor
If you added salt to this recipe, I think you could use less of the sweeteners (less calories) but I don’t know how much less. Do you use any salt besides what is contained in the butter and other ingredients already?
Ashlee Marie
I don’t count calories, I just enjoy good food. You can totally add more salt, but I wouldn’t change the sugar amt