Caramel Popcorn Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

FAQs

Why put an egg in pan when making caramel popcorn? ›

Even if you want to add candy or sauces, it doesn't require an egg. Still, some say the egg keeps the kernels from sticking together, while others say it's to keep wannabe chefs from adding too many kernels to the pan.

The longer you cook the syrup (the mixture of sugar and water the forms the base of the caramel sauce), the crunchier your popcorn will be. For very crunchy popcorn (my favorite!), stop cooking when you see the first wisps of smoke coming from the sugar mixture.

Do I have to bake the caramel corn? Yes. Baking the caramel-coated popcorn helps to set the caramel sauce. By skipping this step, the caramel corn will become soggy.

When it comes to snacking, caramel-coated popcorn may be a popular choice, but it's essential to know that it may lead to a low food score due to its high simple carb content in the form of corn. The sugar in the caramel can also cause spikes in blood glucose levels, leading to hyperglycemia.

In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.

Generally, the caramel will have a higher 'water activity' than the popcorn. As a result, if you leave the popcorn for a while, moisture from the caramel will migrate into the corn. This causes the popcorn to lose its 'crunch' and become soft and chewy.

Overheating the mixture

Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

Once most of the kernels have popped, add granulated white sugar to the pan and shake well to mix it. Turn off the stove, and dump the popcorn into a bowl after it's been coated evenly with sugar.

If you like gooey/sticky caramel corn, give it a sprinkle with a good pinch of kosher salt, let it cool and start eating! If you like it crunchy, keep going. To make crunchy caramel popcorn, pour it (pile it) onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Ingredient Differences

Toffee is a product of heating sugar or light corn syrup and butter at 300F. Therefore, it tastes like light buttery, and sugary candy. The sweet buttery taste balances well with the saltiness of the popcorn. On the other hand, caramel has dark corn syrup, milk or cream, and water.

Is white or yellow popcorn better for caramel corn? ›

Caramel: You will need brown sugar, butter, light corn syrup, salt, vanilla, and baking soda to make the caramel mixture. Popcorn: I prefer white popcorn in this recipe. However, you could use white or yellow.

While some people said that she added the egg to absorb extra heat, others had different views. "Whole eggs absorb excess heat so it's an easy way to regulate the temperature balance of the other ingredients," a user wrote.

Yes, we've discontinued the Melt On Caramel Gourmet Popping Corn. We're so sorry for your inconvenience. Thanks for sharing your interest, we definitely will inform our team you want it back!

Baking soda is what makes caramel corn chewy with a bit of crunch and gives it the classic brittle texture. The baking soda also helps the mixture to increase in volume which ensures it covers all of the popcorn. It's an essential ingredient and without it you'll likely find the texture of the caramel corn to be off.

Caramel Popcorn: Corn Syrup Solids, Brown Sugar, Sugar, Popcorn, Corn Oil, Butter (Cream, Salt), Molasses, Salt, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Beta Carotene (Color). CONTAINS SOY AND MILK. May Contain Peanut, Tree Nut, Wheat and Egg Ingredients.

Using a thin pot

This can cause portions of the sugar to burn before the rest of it has melted. Instead, choose a sturdy, heavy-bottomed metal pot (like stainless steel) with tall sides. You also want the bottom be light-colored so you'll notice the caramel's precise color changes.

It has a lower concentration of water (25% water) than the egg (90% water). To reach equilibrium, osmosis causes the water molecules to move out of the egg and into the corn syrup until both solutions have the same concentration of water. The outward movement of water causes the egg to shrivel.

Steam + Pressure = Explosion

“The water inside the egg heats up rapidly, turning into steam, but this steam doesn't have an easy way to escape. If the pressure builds up too much, the egg will explode.” This pressure is exacerbated by the egg's structure since eggs have a thin membrane that seals liquid inside.