The weather has finally started to feel more like Autumn this week. Which means squeezing into jeans (whilst swearing that being packed away in the back of your wardrobe has somehow caused them to shrink), getting to wear my boots and replacing beach days with cuddled up movie sessions… which I doubt is going to help with the aforementioned jeans issue, especially when you start to involve popcorn.
To be completely fair to popcorn, the air popped variety is actually surprisingly good for you and very inexpensive. It’s a wholegrain that is high in fibre and polyphenols (an antioxidant) as well as relatively low in calories – a 3 cup serving is around 100 calories. It’s the added extras; salt, butter, sugar etc. that give it a terrible reputation.
Whilst I usually have my popcorn lightly salted with added spices (cinnamon, paprika and cardamon are my favourite additions), making it a light, healthy snack, my salted caramel popcorn is one of my favourite quick recipes if I want to make something sweet for friends, but don’t have much time to make something or go to the shops to buy ingredients.
I have to make a confession and say that I rarely actually have a piece of this salted caramel popcorn. This has nothing to do with me not enjoying it. In fact, it’s the total opposite. This caramel popcorn is crack. Seriously. Once you start eating it, it’s really really hard to stop… Trust me, I have a lot of friends who will back me up on that one.
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
- 1 tbls honey
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tbls butter
- Himalayan pink sea salt
- Air pop 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a popcorn machine. Alternatively, you can follow the instructions on the back of the popcorn kernel bag. Transfer popcorn to a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, place the sugar, honey, butter and a good pinch of sea salt into a saucepan over a medium heat. Stir the mixture occasionally until all of the sugar melts. This should take around 3-5 minutes. Keep the caramel mixture on the stove until it starts to turn a golden colour. Once this has happened, stir the mixture again, and leave it on the stove for an extra few minutes until the colour deepens one shade.
- Take the caramel off the stove and pour it over the popcorn, stirring it through to provide an even coating. Pour the caramel coated popcorn onto a tray lined with baking paper and spread it out with a spoon. Sprinkle extra salt over the top. Place popcorn in the fridge for 5 minutes, or until cooled to room temperature and hard to touch. Remove from fridge and roughly break apart popcorn into a bowl. Cover with cling wrap until ready to serve.
- Be careful not to burn yourself on the caramel as you are mixing it through the popcorn. Also, pour water into the saucepan as soon as you pour the caramel onto the popcorn. This will help with cleaning later. Same thing applies with the mixing bowl.
This recipe goes two ways – you’ll either make friends or lose friends who have limited self control. Either way, the popcorn will be a hit. Plus, salted caramel is so in right now.
I might have to buy new jeans.
xx Liz
13 Comments
Wow! This popcorn is singing to me. I have a serious addiction to popcorn. This is just mouth watering goodness. Now I just need a good romantic comedy and comfy couch to enjoy it on! Take care.
It’s hard not to have an addiction! I am enjoying actually getting the chance to watch movies now that I am on a break from uni for a few weeks. I might watch “About Time” today – it’s one of my favourites. Enjoy! xx
Ooh, sign me up for this NOW please!! Salted caramel anything gets a big thumbs-up from me. So glad to hear you are getting some lovely autumn weather too. I have been loving it! Here is Bris it’s still at that stage when you can wear t-shirts and thongs during the day but can put on a light jumper and snuggle up on the couch at night. I’m loving having the best of both worlds! And hurrah for long weekends – so excited to have yet another coming up. I hope you enjoy yours, Liz! x
I hope that you enjoy it. It’s the best weather. They has been rain around too, which is extra lovely.
Thank you so much. You too. xx
Hehe you’re very brave getting into jeans! I don’t think I am quite ready for that yet (maybe next Summer) 😉
Haha… Bikini bodies are made in Winter apparently. I highly doubt it. xx
I think I need to make a batch of this for my caramel loving mama, she would be over the moon! 😉
Making caramel corn at home has been on my list for a while now. And this looks fabulous. I can’t wait to try it. I’m totally ready to become addicted!
I hope that you enjoy it! xx
I can’t stand those recipes that are just so delicious you eat it all up in one sitting! SO annoying because you can’t enjoy it for a longer duration of time! This salted caramel popcorn looks and sounds addictive, I agree! It’ll be hard to share it as well because it will taste just that good!
I completely understand that! I avoid making certain recipes for myself because I have no self control when I make it (e.g. polenta chips). I hope that you enjoy this version. xx
Lizzie, this sounds scrumptious as I read this out to Jud who is sitting here sipping on Liquid Gold overlooking Victoria Harbour. Wishing we had some of your popcorn to munch on – thank you for sharing this recipe!
I hope that you are enjoying your time together! I wish that I was with you. I cannot wait to come back to visit. xx