Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

Our pumpkin spice popcorn is coated with a spiced caramel sauce poured over freshly popped popcorn mixed with pecans and cashews. It’s baked on low till it’s perfectly crispy. Gluten-free.

This pumpkin popcorn is one of the best fall snack foods to enjoy at home or package as a festive gift for friends and family. It is also a great recipe to serve or bring to your next seasonal event. Everyone will be raving over this spiced popcorn.

When crafting your very own pumpkin popcorn, you have multiple options for popping the popcorn: the microwave, stovetop, air popper, or even a convenient pre-popped bag. To achieve optimal results, we suggest popping the popcorn on the same day you intend to prepare this recipe.

For more tasty ways to flavor popcorn, check out our homemade Cheesy Popcorn Seasoning and Caramel Popcorn Seasoning. Both delicious and gluten-free!

Ingredients

• 12 cups popped popcorn ✅
• 1 cup cashews, optional ✅
• 1 cup pecan halves, optional ✅
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda ✅
• 1 teaspoon salt ✅
• 1 teaspoon vanilla ✅
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice ✅
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon ✅

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 Pumpkin Pie Popcorn

Preheat the oven to 250°F.

Combine the popcorn and nuts (if using)

Combine the popcorn, cashew, and pecans to a large disposable pan.

Boil the butter and sugar

Place the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a medium-sized pan. Bring to a boil then cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Stir in the spices

Remove from the heat and stir in the salt, baking soda, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Pour over the popcorn. Using a large spoon, gently stir until coated.

Bake

Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. This ensures all the kernels of popcorn get evenly coated with the caramel sauce.

Serve

Let cool and store in an airtight container or ziplock bag.

Tips and Tricks

• Prep Work: Make sure to have all your ingredients measured and ready before you start. Once the caramel mixture is ready, you’ll need to work quickly.
• Disposable Pan: Using a disposable pan can make cleanup much easier. Make sure it’s large enough to comfortably stir the caramel mixture into the popcorn and nuts.
• Stirring the Caramel Mixture: When you’re boiling the butter, sugar, and corn syrup, make sure to stir continuously. This helps to evenly distribute the heat and prevent the mixture from burning.
• Use a Candy Thermometer (Optional): If you have a candy thermometer, you can use it to monitor the temperature of the caramel. You want it to reach the soft-ball stage, which is around 235-240°F (113-116°C). However, if you don’t have a thermometer, you can rely on the 5-minute boiling time mentioned in your recipe.
• Be Cautious with Hot Caramel: Be extremely careful when working with hot caramel. It can cause severe burns. Keep a bowl of ice water nearby in case of any accidental spills or splatters.
• Stirring in Spices: When you remove the caramel mixture from heat and stir in the spices, do it gently but quickly. The baking soda will cause the mixture to bubble up, creating a light and airy texture on the popcorn.
• Baking and Stirring: Stirring every 15 minutes during the baking process helps ensure that the caramel coating is evenly distributed over the popcorn and nuts. This also helps prevent clumps of caramel from forming.
• Cooling and Storage: Allow the caramel popcorn to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container or a ziplock bag. This helps maintain its crispiness and prevents it from becoming soggy.
• Variations: Feel free to get creative with this recipe. You can add different nuts, spices, or even drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled caramel popcorn for extra flavor.

FAQ

Storage Instructions

First, allow the caramel-coated popcorn to cool completely at room temperature before storing it. This helps prevent condensation inside the container, which could make the popcorn soggy. Once cooled, transfer the popcorn into an airtight container with a securely sealing lid. This airtight seal is crucial in keeping air out and preserving the popcorn’s freshness.

It’s also important to protect the caramel popcorn from moisture, as moisture can quickly diminish its crispiness. Ensure that the storage container is completely dry before adding the popcorn, and always store it in a cool, dry place. If you need to stack multiple layers of caramel popcorn in the container, consider placing sheets of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers to prevent sticking.

Healthy Fall Snacks

• Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins
• Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries
• Brussels Sprout Apple Salad
• Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bar
• Gluten Free Apple Muffins
• Air Fryer Banana Chips