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If you like peanut butter, you’re going to love this Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn! It’s a new twist on our favorite Caramel Popcorn Recipe that’s easy to make and tastes great. Perfect for snacking on this fall or for putting in small trick-or-treat bags for Halloween.
(Post modified on 11/8/23.)
This recipe is also a wonderful way to get children involved in cooking and making snacks. They love to help shake the bag of popcorn to mix the caramel mixture. And of course, helping with the candy add-ins!
Please see my notes at the end of this post for recipe modifications, which are so easy to make, whether you simply want plain caramel popcorn, or you prefer other add-ins. Making these changes are easy-peasy!
More Fun Snack Ideas
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- yellow popcorn (I like to use Papa Baldy’s)
- butter-flavored coconut oil (for making the popcorn)
- brown sugar
- butter
- creamy peanut butter
- light corn syrup
- salt
- baking soda
- vanilla extract
- butter flavoring
Add Ins
- roasted peanuts (or Spanish peanuts)
- candy corn
- peanut butter candies
A Note About Ingredients and Equipment
For this recipe, I like to use a large yellow kernel popcorn such as Papa Baldy’s, which is grown right here in Kansas. It’s jumbo-sized and is quite tasty. You can find this popcorn in grocery stores or Online Here.
You may make your popcorn the old-fashioned way in a cast iron kettle, or in the microwave, or some other popping method. But I prefer making ours with a Whirley-Pop Popcorn Maker. Your choice.
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Begin by gathering your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
Pop the Popcorn
Using preferred popcorn maker, pop 4 quarts of popcorn. (This is approximately 1 cup of uncooked kernels.)
I like to use a Whirly-Pop Popcorn Maker, but you may use your favorite method for making popcorn. Heat the Whirly-Pop on medium-high heat along with the butter-flavored coconut oil. Add 2-3 popcorn kernels to the pan and wait for it to pop. Once it pops, add the rest and begin to turn the wheel. Continue turning until the last kernel pops.
Deposit the popped popcorn in large paper grocery sack, along with the roasted peanuts. Repeat with another batch of popcorn.
Using a large paper sack allows plenty of room to stir the popcorn and will transfer to the microwave without any problems simply by folding it down.
Prepare the Peanut Butter Caramel Mixture
In a large microwavable bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, corn syrup, salt, and baking soda.
Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir to combine. Microwave again on high until it reaches a full, rolling boil (approximately 1 1/2 – 2 minutes).
Remove from microwave and stir in the vanilla extract. (This will bubble up. Don’t worry.)
Slowly pour the sugar mixture over the popcorn and peanuts. Using a long-handled wooden spoon, mix to coat well.
Fold the bag down and place in microwave. Cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Do this three times stirring, or shaking bag vigorously between each heating.
Spread the popcorn out onto two baking sheets.
It’s not necessary to butter or grease the baking sheets. The popcorn will harden and will not stick to the pan.
Sprinkle with candy corn and peanut butter candies.
Allow the popcorn to cool and harden before serving. This makes nearly 20 cups. To store, place popcorn in a container with a tight-fitting lid, or in plastic bags. This popcorn snack may be stored this way for 2-3 weeks, but I doubt it will last that long!
Modifications to This Recipe
This is such an easy caramel popcorn recipe to make and can easily be modified to fit your needs. If you’d prefer a basic caramel popcorn, simply omit the peanut butter. Everything else stays the same.
You may also substitute other toppings in this recipe for the candy corn, peanut butter candies, and peanuts. A few suggestions are:
- M&M candies
- red hot candies
- roasted almonds
- cashews
- mixed nuts
No matter how you end up making this caramel popcorn snack, I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!
See more Popcorn Recipes Here. Browse Snack Ideas Here.
Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 quarts popped popcorn about 1 cup uncooked
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup peanut butter creamy
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon butter flavoring
Toppings
- 1 cup roasted peanuts
- 1 cup candy corn
- 1 cup peanut butter candies
Instructions
- Begin by gathering your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
- Using preferred popcorn maker, pop 4 quarts of popcorn. (This is approximately 1 cup of uncooked kernels.)
- Place cooked popcorn in a large paper grocery sack along with the roasted peanuts.
- In a large microwavable bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, corn syrup, salt, and baking soda.
- Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir to combine. Microwave again on high until it reaches a full, rolling boil (approximately 1 1/2 - 2 minutes).
- Stir in vanilla extract and butter flavoring.
- Slowly pour the sugar mixture over popcorn. Using a long-handled wooden spoon, mix to coat well.
- Fold the bag down and place in microwave. Cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Do this three times shaking bag vigorously between each heating.
- Spread the popcorn out onto two baking sheets.
- Sprinkle with candy corn and peanut butter candies. Allow the popcorn to cool and harden before serving. This makes nearly 20 cups.
Notes
