Description
Turtle Popcorn is a sweet and crunchy snack featuring fluffy popcorn coated in homemade caramel, drizzled with melted chocolate, and topped with pecans — a delightful twist on the classic turtle candy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1 cup unpopped kernels)
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans (chopped or whole)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate (couverture or chips)
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn using an air popper or stovetop method. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Let boil for 4–5 minutes without stirring.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and gently fold to coat all pieces evenly.
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Spread caramel popcorn onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle pecans on top.
- Melt semisweet chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over popcorn and let set before serving.
Notes
- Use an air popper for a lighter version or stovetop for more flavor.
- Don’t overcook the caramel—4 to 5 minutes is ideal.
- Try dark, white, or flavored chocolate for variety.
- Enhance flavor with a sprinkle of sea salt before serving.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: turtle popcorn, caramel popcorn, chocolate pecan popcorn, sweet snack, party treat