Description
Toffee Popcorn is a sweet and salty treat that combines buttery popcorn with a crunchy toffee glaze, creating a satisfying snack with a rich caramelized flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup popcorn kernels (or approximately 12 cups popped popcorn)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 2 cups brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn kernels using an air popper, stovetop, or microwave. Remove any unpopped kernels and place the popcorn in a large mixing bowl.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes without stirring until it reaches a deep golden color.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the salt, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Be careful as the mixture may bubble vigorously.
- Pour the toffee mixture over the popped popcorn and gently fold with a spatula to evenly coat each kernel.
- Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C) and spread the toffee-coated popcorn evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes for even toasting.
- Let the toffee popcorn cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it apart and transferring it to an airtight container for storage or serving immediately.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, use certified gluten-free popcorn kernels.
- For a vegan version, substitute dairy-free butter or coconut oil for unsalted butter.
- You can replace brown sugar with coconut sugar or agave syrup to reduce refined sugar intake.
- Maple syrup or honey can substitute corn syrup for a more natural sweetener.
- Feel free to add flavor variations like cinnamon, nutmeg, or chopped nuts, or even chocolate chips or candies for an extra layer of sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: toffee popcorn, caramel popcorn, sweet popcorn, crunchy popcorn, snack recipe, easy popcorn treat