Sweet, salty, chocolate-covered perfection: stop what you’re doing right now and make a bowl of this Chocolate Covered Caramel Corn! Whether you drizzle it with white chocolate or dark chocolate (or both), it will be a game changer at movie night.
If you love sweet and salty treats, try this Salted Caramel Brownie recipe. The rich fudgy brownies with the sprinkle of sea salt is the perfect combo.
Homemade Caramel Corn
This stuff is addicting. I like regular old popcorn as much as the next person. During a movie or as an afternoon snack, I enjoy sharing a bowl of the salty stuff with family.
See, with regular microwave popcorn I have no problems stopping after a reasonable amount has been consumed. However, you give me some Chocolate Caramel Corn?
Oh mercy.
The recipe for this sweet and salty caramel corn originally came into my life via a church cookbook. (Thank you, Donna, for including that recipe!)
I’d made it several times as originally written and it was always a hit in our house. The caramel corn was delicious so, naturally, I took it one step further.
I tend to do that. I can’t stop myself. It’s the addictive part of my personality. And the chocolate loving part.
If everyone liked the caramel popcorn, why not make caramel corn with chocolate?
Chocolate addiction or not, I wasn’t sad that it lead to creating this treat! White chocolate and caramel fudgl is a favorite pairing of mine so I decided to melt some white chocolate wafers and give it a try.
Ingredient Notes
Once you learn how easy it is to make the best ever caramel corn with chocolate, you’ll be making it as often as I do! It’s so easy and only requires a few simple ingredients.
Here’s what goes into making Chocolate Covered Caramel Corn:
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Light Corn Syrup
- Baking soda
- Vanilla Extract– use my homemade vanilla extract recipe!
- Salt
- Popped popcorn – about 16 cups popped
- Ghirardelli dark chocolate and white chocolate wafers.
Caramel Corn Recipe
If you’re not a fan of chocolate or prefer not to use it, this caramel corn is still delicious without! Follow my recipe for homemade caramel corn to start!
I’ll often make a batch of this as half caramel corn with chocolate and half without. Everyone loves it!
Tips and Tricks
- Use a pan with enough space to spread the popcorn evenly. I make this with two large broiler pans. Friends of mine use those big disposable lasagna trays. Both work beautifully!
- Be sure to remove any unpopped kernels and seeds from the popped corn before making this recipe. The last thing you want is to break a tooth on a hard kernel when you’re trying to enjoy some sweet caramel corn.
- When giving this popcorn treat as a gift, store it in mason jars wrapped with ribbon or in colored plastic wrap with treats like candy canes or other wrapped candy to fill it out. Decorative tins are also wonderful for storing and gifting caramel corn!
Recipe FAQs
If your caramel corn is chewy, you probably didn’t bake it long enough, or allow it to set and cool. Check your oven temperature too.
The reason we use baking soda in the caramel is to react with brown sugar and corn syrup. It will create bubbles of air, which results in the foaming you see after adding it. Those air bubbles in the caramel become the soft texture (vs the hard caramel you typically see in store bought caramel corn).
If your caramel corn is sticky, it most likely hasn’t been cooked to the proper temperature.
To keep chocolate covered caramel corn fresh, store in airtight container or ziploc at room temperature for up to one week.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Homemade Cracker Jack
- Candied Pecans
- Veggie and Dill Pizza
- Rotel Dip
- Holiday Chex Mix
- Popcorn Balls
- Hanky Panky’s
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Chocolate Covered Caramel Corn
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 ½ bags popped corn about 16 cups popped
- 16 ounce Ghirardelli dark chocolate or white chocolate wafers melted
Instructions
- Place popped popcorn in a very large bowl or two large foil pans (lasagna pans or even broiler pans work). Set aside.
- Pan melt butter, stir in sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Gradually pour over popped corn in a large bowl or two large lasagna foil pans. Mix well.
- Bake at 250 degrees for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
- Break apart and store in covered containers. To go the extra mile, melt the white chocolate (or dark chocolate or both) completely, pour over cooled caramel corn. Lay out on wax paper to cool. Store in airtight Ziploc or tupperware containers.
Notes
- Use a pan with enough space to spread the popcorn evenly. I make this with two large broiler pans. Friends of mine use those big disposable lasagna trays. Both work beautifully!
- Be sure to remove any unpopped kernels and seeds from the popped corn before making this recipe. The last thing you want is to break a tooth on a hard kernel when you’re trying to enjoy some sweet caramel corn.
- When giving this popcorn treat as a gift, store it in mason jars wrapped with ribbon or in colored plastic wrap with treats like candy canes or other wrapped candy to fill it out. Decorative tins are also wonderful for storing and gifting caramel corn!
SLIGHT ERROR in instructions- if you choose 2 times or 3 times to increase recipe then the amount of popcorn bags change but 16 cups of popcorn does not. I am looking forward to making this. Thanks for such awesome recipes.
Yeah, unfortunately that feature is helpful most of the time, but defintely need to keep an eye on it. Thank you for sharing.
Looking forward to enjoying this later tonight for family movie night! The perfect combo of crunchy and sweet!
Delicious! This is the perfect snack for movie night! It was easy and my daughter had so much helping me!
This is pure deliciousness, our whole family loved it and they’re asking for more!
Just found your site! I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, but was too afraid to just go for it! My boys were in Boy Scouts and sold popcorn before Christmas every year. They sold chocolate covered caramel popcorn. I’ve been an addict since then! lol.. But I haven’t been able to find anyone that is still in to see if they still sell that or not.. So you’ve just saved me from drowning my sorrows yet again this year, in plain ol’ caramel corn.. o the sorrows I’ve lived! lol… And forget waiting for Christmas!! I’m making this tomorrow!!
This is the kind of treat that I simply cannot have in the house because I’ll eat it all myself in one sitting! Yum!
Oh my goodness. It’s one in the morning, and I should be going to bed, but instead I’m looking at your delicious food and my stomach is grumbling – there is seriously NOTHING better than, oh, I don’t know – ANYTHING with popcorn! I (surprisingly!) have all the ingredients for this, and will totally be making it in the morning!
Hi Aimee,
We just love Popcorn treat and your addition of chocolate make this one really special. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back real soon.
Hope you have a great week end!
Miz Helen
I can see how this would make a fantastic gift for someone.
You had me at caramel and chocolate! I pinned this so I can make it for the guys that work for my husband for Christmas! Thank you so much for linking up!
Hi! Thanks for linking up this week to Tasty Tuesday! Hope to see you back next week! http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/
What a great idea for holiday gifts! I love it!
I love popcorn! And this looks as if I will love this too!
I have made this type of popcorn before always tasty the way you served it up looks awesome as well very cute come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
um yes i am in love!!!
http://jaysonandashley.blogspot.com
Oh, man…this is right up my alley! I adore caramel corn…and love how you pushed this over the top! YUM!
What a great idea to give as gifts! Then I can make it and have little but get rid of it immediately! Can’t wait to try it.
This looks pretty darn good! I love sweet and salty! Please stop by www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I’m your newest follower!
oohh… this is addictive especially in front of the TV. I’m following you.