Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn
- kkottraba
- Aug 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 22
This pumpkin spice caramel corn will melt in your mouth! The added pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice makes this popcorn so festive and delicious. This is a must try fall recipe!
When I say that I am a lover of popcorn that's an understatement. I truly have yet to meet a popcorn that I don't love. Unless you count the one time I bought a bag of dill pickle popcorn at the grocery store and was very disappointed. One of my favorite popcorns of all time is kettle corn. Salty, sweet, crunchy, kettle corn has all the things and so does this pumpkin spice caramel corn.
Memories Of Popcorn
As a kid, there was a magical little store in Kalispell called The Popcorn Colonel (last I checked, there’s still one in Great Falls, Montana). Walking into the shop felt like stepping into a popcorn wonderland. They made every variety you could imagine, fresh in-store—kettle, cinnamon, huckleberry, white cheddar, rainbow, and, of course, the classic Chicago mix. I couldn’t get enough of their popcorn, and it was a favorite for my whole family.
Like many cherished places from childhood, The Popcorn Colonel eventually closed its doors. But the memories of those flavors have stuck with me, and I still find myself dreaming about that popcorn to this day.
My love for popcorn didn’t end there, though. My mom used to make caramel corn for us as a special treat, and it was always one of my favorites. The sweet, buttery caramel paired with the satisfying crunch of freshly popped popcorn was simply irresistible.
Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn
Ingredients
16 cups of air popped or microwave popcorn
½ cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup brown sugar packed
½ cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
¼ cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
How To Make Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn
Preheat the oven to 250°F to ensure even baking and a perfectly crisp caramel coating.
Prepare the baking sheets: Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup.
Pop the popcorn: Use your preferred method to pop enough popcorn to fill a large bowl. If a single bowl isn’t big enough, divide the popcorn between two medium bowls.
Make the caramel sauce:
In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, and ½ cup dark corn syrup.
Stir frequently until the mixture begins to boil.
Set a timer for 5 minutes and stir constantly as the caramel thickens and darkens in color.
Add pumpkin and spices: Remove the caramel sauce from the heat. Stir in ¼ cup pumpkin purée and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice until fully combined.
Coat the popcorn: Pour the warm caramel sauce over the popped popcorn. Stir thoroughly to ensure every piece is evenly coated.
Spread the popcorn: Divide the coated popcorn evenly between the prepared baking sheets, spreading it out into a single layer.
Bake the popcorn: Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes. Stir the popcorn every 15 minutes to ensure it bakes evenly and stays crisp.
Cool and break apart: Remove the popcorn from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, break it into bite-sized pieces.
Serve and enjoy: Your homemade pumpkin spice caramel popcorn is ready to enjoy! Perfect for fall snacks, holiday parties, or cozy nights in.
Nostalgic Treat
Recently, I decided to give this nostalgic treat a seasonal twist. I thought, why not add pumpkin purée and warm spices to the classic caramel corn? The result? Pure autumnal bliss! It’s sweet, spiced, and oh-so-crunchy—the perfect Fall rendition of one of my all-time favorite childhood snacks.
While testing this recipe it proved to be much more challenging than I thought it would. First, I added too much pumpkin and it was too soft and didn't have the desired crunch I was looking for. Then, I made a batch with too much pumpkin spice and that was overpowering. I believe I finally have the recipe just right and I am finally excited to share it with you!
Made This? I Want To Hear From You
Liked this recipe? Tag me on social or leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you! Thank you for stopping by and before you leave don't forget to click the link below for more Fall recipes that I'm sure you will LOVE!
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