Description
This Praline Popcorn is the perfect combination of sweet and salty with a rich, buttery caramel coating, toasted pecans, and a satisfying crunch. The caramel sauce made from brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter coats each kernel, while the addition of vanilla and baking soda makes this treat light and crispy. Ideal for holiday gatherings, movie nights, or as a homemade gift, this popcorn is sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 bags (3.3 oz each) of microwave popcorn
- 3 cups pecan halves
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup corn syrup
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- ¾ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven:
Preheat your oven to 250ºF (120ºC). - Pop the popcorn:
Pop the 2 bags of microwave popcorn according to the package directions. Be sure to remove any unpopped kernels. - Combine the popcorn and pecans:
In a large bowl, combine the freshly popped popcorn and pecan halves. Toss them together to mix evenly. - Make the caramel coating:
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Stir occasionally and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it boils, let it cook for 4-5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up. - Coat the popcorn and pecans:
Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and pecans. Toss gently to coat the mixture evenly. - Bake the popcorn:
Spread the coated popcorn and pecans onto a rimmed 15×10-inch baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes to ensure the popcorn gets evenly coated and crispy. - Cool and break into pieces:
Once the popcorn has finished baking, remove it from the oven. Spread it onto wax or parchment paper to cool. After it cools, break it into pieces and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover praline popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Nuts: If you don’t have pecans, you can use walnuts, almonds, or cashews as a substitute.
- Make-Ahead: This popcorn makes a great gift or snack for parties. Make it ahead of time and store it in mason jars or festive bags for easy gifting.
- Spice it up: For an extra twist, add a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper to the caramel sauce for a hint of heat.
- Be Careful with the Syrup: The caramel syrup can be very hot, so be careful when pouring it over the popcorn mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snack, Holiday Treat
- Method: Stovetop, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg