Grandma's Microwave Caramel Corn

My Grandma's super quick and easy recipe for caramel popcorn is made completely in the microwave! It's so crispy, crunchy, and buttery, and super easy!

Allow me to introduce a recipe to you that is about to change your life forever. This is my Grandma's recipe for caramel corn that is made completely in the microwave. It's dangerously easy and makes an amazing sweet afternoon treat that only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. 

The best part is that this caramel corn recipe is crunchy. I've seen other microwave recipes that are more chewy, which is not really ever what I'm looking for if I'm in the mood for caramel corn.

 

Grandma always uses the Act II Butter Lover's brand of popcorn for this. It's great because it's so easy and gives your caramel corn a good saltiness. I start out by popping two bags on my microwave popcorn setting and pouring them into a brown paper grocery bag. It seems like a lot of grocery stores these days don't carry paper bags, so you can buy them here on Amazon if you are having trouble finding them!

 

Next you're going to combine butter, brown sugar, and pancake syrup in a microwave safe dish. I like to cut up the butter so it's easier to stir. When I say pancake syrup, I mean the FAKE kind like Mrs. Butterworth's that's made of corn syrup. The corn syrup helps the sugar from crystallizing so the end caramel is smoother. You can try replacing with maple syrup or honey. I'd love to hear how it turns out for you! 

You're going to microwave this caramel mixture for five minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.

 

Remember as you stir it to try not to get any caramel near the rim of your measuring cup. This will help prevent your caramel from boiling over in your microwave. 

Now you are going to add baking soda and vanilla to your caramel. As you stir it, it will become foamy from the baking soda. 

Now you are going to pour this foamy caramel over your popped popcorn. Stir it very well (and remember, it's HOT). Make sure there are no clumps of caramel in your popcorn or they will burn. 

Roll up the top of the bag and place it in your microwave again. You're going to microwave it for another 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds again. Make sure you stir very well, getting the corners especially so it doesn't burn. 

Then You're going to pour it out onto a prepared sheet of parchement and see if you can wait long enough for it to cool to taste it. Good luck. :)