Caramel Puff Corn

Name: Caramel Puff Corn
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 9 ounce bag puff corn (✅ ); 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar (can use light brown sugar); 2 sticks butter; 1/2 cup Karo syrup; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (✅ ); 1 teaspoon baking soda (✅ )

Caramel puff corn is a delicious recipe that’s sweet, salty, and crunchy all at once! Made with puff corn, dark brown sugar, and butter. It’s boiled and then baked into a crunchy snack that will be requested all the time. Gluten-free.

Our version of puff corn is a kid (and adult) approved snack that is extremely easy to make and requires under 10 ingredients. Plus, you can serve these popcorn puffs without the fear of hulls or unpopped kernels.

For more sweet and salty snacks, check out our recipes for Saltine Toffee, Pretzel Christmas Treats and Pumpkin Spice Popcorn. You will be glad you did!

Puff Corn

Let today be the day you learn how to make caramel corn with puff corn! It is a simple yet addicting treat that is perfect for the home or to gift to co-workers, teachers or friends around the holidays.

The crunch on the outside paired with the fluffy inside is what makes this snack so unbelievably delicious. You can choose to serve as is or pick any of our variations below.

If on the search for more quick and easy snacks that are great for holiday gifts, we have you covered with our Christmas Oreos, Old Fashioned Fudge, No Bake Peanut Butter Balls and Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies.

Now, let’s get started. Gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!

Equipment

Ingredients

9 ounce bag puff corn ✅
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar can use light brown sugar
2 sticks butter
1/2 cup Karo syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract ✅
1 teaspoon baking soda ✅

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

How To Make

Preheat the oven to 225°F

Prep the puff corn

Place the puff corn in a large roasting pan. Set aside.

Boil the sauce

In a large stockpot add the brown sugar, butter, karo syrup, and salt. Bring it to a boil.

Once the mixture is boiling set a timer for 5 minutes. Stir the mixture constantly until the timer goes off.

Carefully stir in the vanilla and baking soda. The mixture will puff up.

homemade caramel poured onto gluten free puff corn

Pour the sauce onto the puff corn

Carefully pour the sauce onto the puff corn. Mix well using a spatula.

Bake

Bake in 15-minute increments for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Pour onto parchment paper

Pour the cooked puff corn onto parchment paper in a single layer.

Break the puff corn apart as soon as it slightly cools. Leave the puff corn until it’s completely cool.

Variations

Make this the best caramel corn recipe by adding any of these ideas to the mix!

Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice
Swap the vanilla extract with 1/2 Tablespoon of almond extract
Toss with mini chocolate chips, M&Ms or butterscotch chips after cooled
Toss with pecans, peanuts or walnuts after cooled
Sprinkle with sea salt once removed from the oven
Drizzle with melted semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate or peanut butter while cooling
Sprinkle with festival sprinkles while cooling
Toss with a cinnamon and sugar mixture while cooling

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to store homemade caramel corn?

This puff corn can be stored for up to 2 weeks at room temperature. Take into consideration of any additional ingredients added as these may alter the shelf life of the recipe.

How to gift puff corn?

Gift by placing a scoop or two of puff corn into a plastic bag tied with a bow, in a mason jar with a lid or in a festive cardboard box with a closed top. Use our printable labels to indicate the name, ingredients and use by date.

Can you use cheddar puff corn?

Yes, the cheddar puff corn would work. However, we can’t speak to the final flavor as we use buttered puffcorn but would love to hear how you like it!

top down view of caramel puff corn in bowls

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

The oven is preheated to a lower temperature to allow the puff corn to caramelize without burning over a period of time.
A large oven safe baking dish would work in place of a roasting pan. You can also use a sheet pan; however, it makes it more difficult to stir.
It is a great idea to wear oven mitts when pouring the hot caramel onto the puff corn.
Break the puff corn apart with a spatula as it cools to prevent it from cooling into a block.

More Gluten Free Snacks

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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